BIRMINGHAM, Mich., March 31, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A Birmingham chiropractor has adopted a program that emphasizes a more positive view of ADHD so that patients and their families can emphasize on supportive wellness care. Dr. Jennifer Bonde of Birmingham Wellness Center states that the clinic has embraced the SHINE (Special Help Integrating Neurological Experience) Program developed by Dr. Edward Hallowell, M.D., Ed.D. "This program allows patients to sidestep negative feelings about their ADHD and see it as a source of tremendous creative energy," says Dr. Bonde. "This enables them to feel pride instead of shame and helps us focus on supportive treatment."
ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, is a common condition affecting millions of people of all ages. It may first manifest itself during childhood through behaviors such as fidgeting, constant activity, impulsive reactions and daydreaming. ADHD appears to have a strong genetic component, though other factors such as low birth weight or exposure to environmental toxins may also play a role in bringing it about.
The condition and its tendency to create focus problems may worry parents, teachers or the affected individuals. However, Dr. Hallowell, M.D., Ed.D, a world-renowned expert on the subject who had dealt with ADHD his whole life, has built the SHINE Program on an entirely different premise. "Dr. Hallowell points out that many of the most successful artists, inventors and businesspeople in the world have ADHD," notes Birmingham chiropractor Dr. Bonde. "These are people who have decided to embrace who they are instead of seeing their condition as a limiting factor."
The SHINE Program teaches families and practitioners to reframe their thinking about ADHD, viewing the affected individuals as productive, high-energy people who, in Dr. Hallowell's words, "have Ferrari engines for brains, but with bicycle brakes." The program encourages participants to scrap negative phrases such as "stubborn" or "restless" in favor of positive terms such as "persistent" or "energetic." The idea is that patients can then apply themselves to improving their overall wellness and focusing powers instead of turning to pharmaceutical solutions that might dull their characteristic drive and imagination.
According to Dr. Bonde, the program meshes well with the clinic's treatment options. "We believe in natural solutions that help the body heal itself, and the SHINE Program provides a perfect emotional and attitudinal environment for healing."
The clinic employs various wellness care methods, including spinal adjustment and nutritional counseling, to help patients develop firmer control over their focus. For example, limiting sugar and supplementing with omega-3 fatty acids may reduce hyperactivity and improve mental focus. "We feel that the SHINE program and our natural treatment methods is a powerful combination to help people with ADHD meet their full potential," says the Birmingham chiropractor.
Birmingham Wellness Center offers chiropractic adjustment, massage therapy, posture analysis and physical therapy for injuries, chronic illnesses and wellness care for patients in Troy, Bloomfield, Royal Oak and West Bloomfield.