First things first – This book is not the “Anti-Prescription”, which means prescriptions can be okay, even necessary, they just shouldn’t be used initially to suppress symptoms.
What do I mean by symptoms? You might think that constipation, diarrhea, acid reflux, irritability, aggression, poor sleep patterns and ADHD are “the problems”, but they are often just symptoms of medical issues that need to be addressed on a deeper level.
Think of it this way:
If you’ve ever gone on a trail ride, you know that once in a while a horse might become irritable and act out during the ride. Does the leader stop the trail ride and say, “Hey, does anyone have an antipsychotic approved for irritability in horses?”
No, that would be silly. They stop the ride and look for a source of discomfort, dysfunction or pain for the horse. They check the hooves, under the saddle, around the bit, listen to the belly. Duh! This seems so reasonable and common sense, so why don’t we do this with our autistic children and adults? But noooo, if an autistic child or adult is irritable and have difficult behaviors, they are handed an antipsychotic.
The pattern continues…If they have disrupted sleep patterns, they are given a sleeping pill. Constipation? They are expected to take laxatives or stool softeners for the rest of their lives. Can’t focus or pay attention? Stimulants are here to save the day. Few doctors look for a source of pain, dysfunction or discomfort before reaching for the prescription pad.
Are We Asking the Right Questions?
These medications can all be good tools to have in the toolbox, but the right questions need to be asked. Instead of asking which drug and what dose shall we use, the very best questions start with why:
- Why is my child irritable or aggressive?
- Why is sleep so difficult?
- Why is she constipated?
- Why are he hyperactive or unable to focus?
- Why so many colds, infections or allergies?
There are scientific and medical reasons for all of these, and this book is going to lead you on a step-by-step explanation of the “Why”. I’ll show you what to do to help relieve constipation, promote better sleep, eliminate irritability and difficult behaviors, and help with language and learning. Sound good? Of course, it does!
