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Dr. Whitney Young ND

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ADHD

Sleep and behaviour in children

August 16, 2013 By //  by Whitney Young, ND

Getting yourself and your children into a healthy sleep routine is key to improving mood and behaviour.

A study published in the July/August issue of the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics revealed the following:

A cohort study of almost 9000 preschool-aged children showed that those who averaged fewer than 9 hours of sleep per night were significantly more likely to show impulsivity, anger, and overactivity and to have tantrums than their peers who averaged more nightly sleep.  The children with less sleep were also 80% more likely to show aggression.

If your child is having behavioral issues, start moving bedtime earlier by 15 minutes each week.  If your child is having difficulty getting to or staying asleep, book an assessment and let’s work together to see what can be done.

 

Sleep and behaviour in childrenRead More

Filed Under: Mood, Naturopathic Medicine

Is ADHD over-diagnosed?

June 4, 2012 By //  by Whitney Young, ND

As many of you know,  I am not opposed to medication.  I am opposed to treating a condition that isn’t there which is why proper diagnosis is so very important.  A proper diagnosis is given after extensive interviews, paperwork, and tests.  It takes months, not days or weeks.

Maclean’s has written a wonderful article that is worth reading regardless of your viewpoint on this.  It speaks to the reasons why some believe ADHD is being over-diagnosed.

To all you mom’s out there who are questioning a diagnosis given to your child, this article can give you confidence.

As for my opinion, I believe that our school system needs to educate teachers on how to modify the classroom so that everybody can learn.  Some kids are not wired to sit and focus and follow directions to the T.  Some kids are full of energy and NEED to burn it in order to focus.

I’d like to see how we can encourage our children to think for themselves and not blindly follow direction.  I’d like to see teachers be willing to be challenged.  Maybe that four-year old has a good point when they ask ‘why?’.  Why does it have to be done that way?  Maybe if the tea

I have learned a lot from Patrick challenging me.  Sometimes I do things just because it’s the way my parents did it or simply because I’m demanding obedience.  While sometimes obedience is not-optional, many times when I stop and think, he has a good point.  Why can’t he do it his way?

When I listen and modify my behaviour because he has a good point, I believe that I am instilling in him that his voice counts.  I also believe that I am teaching him to listen to what others think and to consider if it’s valid before dismissing their ideas.

 

 

Is ADHD over-diagnosed?Read More

Filed Under: Mood

Being labelled

February 20, 2012 By //  by Whitney Young, ND

For many people, a diagnosis of a mental health disorder, like ADHD, depression, anxiety, bipolar, fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome is  viewed as a label and is attached with a lot of stigma and fear.

What if we change the perspective or the meaning associated with a diagnosis?

I offer this metaphor:

You’re driving towards a tunnel.  It’s a beautiful day and you’re having a lovely drive.  You enter the tunnel without a worry in the world.  By the time that you come out of the tunnel, you’re a mess.  There are scratches everywhere, you’re angry, and you’re confused.  What just happened?  It was too dark in the tunnel to see anything.  You feel like you were just beaten up.

You decide to carry on, and shake it off.  Back to life you go.

A few days or weeks later, you’re driving on the road, towards another tunnel.  Feeling good and positive, you go through the tunnel.  Same thing happens though.  Something in the tunnel caused your car to get all wrecked and you are furious.  What happened?

You start asking other people if it happens to them?  They look at you like you’re crazy.  What do you mean ‘something’ is in the tunnel?  There’s nothing there.

Now you’re feeling confused and embarrassed.  Maybe it was just my imagination.  Maybe it is ‘all in my head’.  I’ll go through another tunnel and it will be fine.

But again, you experience this ‘something’ in a very real way.  There are visible scratches on your car and you’re pretty shaken up.  But no one else gets it.  They don’t get why things change ‘only for you’ in the tunnel.

To make matters worse, they are getting frustrated with you.  Every time that you crash, you need their help.  You need financial aid to fix your car, you need rides while the car is being fixed, and worst of all, sometimes you are not the only one who gets hurt.

So finally you take your car to a new mechanic and he says, “Of course you’re crashing.  You don’t have lights.”  Huh.

The diagnosis of not having lights explains everything.  You didn’t know that other people could see in the tunnel and they never thought to ask if you had lights because “everybody has lights”.  Finally, your diagnosis explains everything.

Now there are two ways to handle things.

Check back next week to see what they are 😉

Kerri

 

Being labelledRead More

Filed Under: Mood

Mental health – it’s not all in your head

November 14, 2011 By //  by Whitney Young, ND

Did you know that most of the serotonin that your body produces is in your intestines?  Serotonin is the chemical the tends to be low in depression.

Far too often people believe or are told that’s in all in their head.  Attitude is everything and you just need to think positively.  While this is partly true, it is very hard to implement when you’re feeling terrible.

Virtually every mental health diagnosis – anxiety, depression, ADHD, bi-polar – has a basis in chemistry.  Our neurotransmitters, serotonin, dopamine,and epinephrine need to work together for us to be well.  We understand this concept with diabetes – insulin levels need to be manipulated to cure the illness.  When this cannot be done with diet and lifestyle, we use meds.

When it comes to mental health though, so many people are reluctant to work with their chemistry.  They believe that they should feel good without it. I’m not saying go on meds.  I’m saying, play with the chemistry.  There are lots of natural ways to adjust serotonin, dopamine and epinephrine.  Some of them start out simply by looking at your guts.

 

Mental health – it’s not all in your headRead More

Filed Under: Mood

ADHD resources

September 12, 2011 By //  by Whitney Young, ND

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ADHD, is amongst the mental health diagnosis that elicits strong responses.

I have a special interest in it as many of my closest friends and relatives deal with it daily (some suspect that I may as well).

ADHD is still very misunderstood.  There are still people, including physicians and educators, who ‘don’t believe in it’.  They still think that these kids and adults just need to ‘buckle down, focus, and get it done’.  They see it as an excuse for undesirable behaviour.

ADHD is a chemical disorder, not a mental disorder.  Like so many disorders in mental health, there is a physical basis for why this condition exist.  As such, there are many treatment options available.  Some treatments include behaviour modification (like sleep hygiene, mindfulness, exercise), some include discovering triggers (like food and additives) and some include chemical intervention (via supplements or medication).

ADHD is a condition with a wide array of symptom demonstration.  For some, the condition gravely affects their lives whereas for others it’s not as evident.  Either way, there is a quality of life available that these people have never experienced.

Proper diagnosis is paramount as many conditions mimic the symptoms of ADHD (such as anxiety, OCD, depression).  Once you know what you’re dealing with, then you can choose the appropriate treatment approach for you.

Remember that whether you decide that medication is right for you or not, Naturopathic Medicine approaches can help too.  Sleep, food, digestion, and supplements can all have an impact on your quality of life.  These approaches can help you get the most of your medication too.

Here a a few links that I have come across in my own exploration of ADHD.  Some I really enjoy, others are not my taste but may be yours.

  • www.caddra.ca
  • http://bilkeyadhd.com/
  • http://adultaddstrengths.com
  • http://www.adhdcanada.com/
  • http://www.adhdcoaches.org/

If you suspect that you have ADHD or know that you do and would like to explore natural treatments, I would be thrilled to connect with you.

Yours in Health,

Kerri

ADHD resourcesRead More

Filed Under: Mood

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drwhitneyyoung

Mom, Widow, Naturopath, Mommy Mentor helping Moms raise healthy & happy kids without Mommy Guilt. Get the Free SuperMom Survival Guide 👇🏻

This is one of the most heart-wrenching experience This is one of the most heart-wrenching experiences. 

Leaving your child, and they are clinging to you with panic, fear, and tears.

I've worked with people of all ages when it comes to anxiety. Children, teens, women, and men.

Your child might have been born on the more anxious side. It could be part of their nature. Or it might be part of your family - a culture of anxiety. Or it might have seemingly come out of nowhere. 

Know that there are things we can do for all ages. 

Start by loving them and acknowledging how they feel. 

Then fill your toolbox with tools for them. I'm here to help you fill that box. 

DM me and let’s chat about your child.
Here are 3 questions I get asked most about acupun Here are 3 questions I get asked most about acupuncture. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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DOES IT HURT?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- The insertion of the very fine needles you sometimes feel. Once it's in you either feel nothing at all or you feel interesting sensations like "warming," "spreading," "zinging," OR "heaviness." It usually settles down and then you may feel nothing for the rest of the treatment.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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IS ACUPUNCTURE COVERED UNDER MY BENEFITS?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- At our clinic it is billed as a "naturopathic visit." So if you have naturopathic coverage, then you're covered. If you're not sure, check your paperwork or give your company a quick call.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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WHAT HOURS DO YOU OFFER ACUPUNCTURE?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- Myself, along with Drs. Sarah and Morgan, all offer acupuncture in our schedules. It's ok if you see one of us then another. We all work together well. Book online for the time that works best for you! We have daytime, evening and every other Saturday hours available.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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HOW DO I GET STARTED?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- You can book online for a 45 minute acupuncture intake. We'll go through your health history, pros and cons and get started with a treatment.
Why do I work with fertility? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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One of the biggest reasons is to help give hope. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Couples are struggling, devastated, and feeling helpless. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I want to help give them back control. To help them heal their bodies, become stronger and healthier, and to help them conceive naturally. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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The other reason is to help build super babies from the very beginning. There are amazing things we can do when we take care of parents health even before conception. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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If you're struggling, you're not alone. I'm here to help.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Book a free meet the doctor phone call and we can chat further. Link in bio.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Whitney
One of the best stories I've heard about our eczem One of the best stories I've heard about our eczema cream is when a grandma was looking after one of my little patients. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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She was applying the cream to the little one on a regular basis and then noticed the cut on her own hand healed so quickly! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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"What is this magical cream?!" she asked.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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My patient's mom replied "this cream has literally changed my life."⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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If you're struggling with eczema, we can help. We can help it heal while we get the root cause.
Pregnancy Tip⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀ Pregnancy Tip⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Heartburn is the worst!! The beautiful thing is it will magically disappear when your baby comes out. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Try these tips to help manage your heartburn:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- eat small meals⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- try not to lay down after eating⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- if you find a trigger food, avoid it⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- use slippery elm lozenges⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- try chewable calcium magnesium tablets⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
- acupuncture might be helpful too⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Save for later and share with a pregnant friend! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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photo credit @kevinhairephotography
With you things are a whole lot better.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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I'm missing my husband right now. Trapped on either side of a closed border isn't what we imagined for our marriage. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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But here we are.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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We know that a lot of you are dealing with situations that are making you unhappy. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Give yourself extra care right now. Sleep more. Eat warm foods that nourish your body. Rest. Give yourself a break. This is hard. But we're doing it.
Strength People used to tell me I was so strong. Strength 

People used to tell me I was so strong. 

But to me it was just getting up and putting one foot in front of another. 

I did it for my kids. And I also did it for that tiny flicker of hope that was inside. That hope that things would one day be different and I would feel better. 

Lately I’ve been needing that strength again. 

These uncertain times. The unpredictable nature of our everyday lives has been taking a toll on my mental health again. 

Again I need to turn to that tiny flicker of hope. That one day things will be different. 

You are stronger than you think. You are.
Picky Eater Tip Choose a fun way or container to Picky Eater Tip

Choose a fun way or container to serve the food. 

Here we did a tea party for lunch on my grandmothers china. 

When they were younger I would use ice cube trays and put little nibbles of food in each hole. 

What about a picnic on the floor? 

How about eating breakfast for dinner? 

What about a bowl sandwich? All the good stuff without the bread?

Sometimes switching up the environment or what they are eating on can help. 

Save this for later to remind yourself to switch things up. 😊
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