hyperactive children and homeopathy

Hyperactive kids with behavioural problems often exhibit traits of being in “Fight or Flight” modus, as if their sympathetic nervous system is activated:

They are visually hyperactive, and can be very easily visually distracted,

Their hearing is highly acute, and they are easily distracted by sounds.

They have a big need for movement; often they are extremely restless.

They are unable to relax, they are constantly “on the go”.

Many hyperactive kids have no sense of hunger, nor would they feel satisfied having a full stomach; many don’t  feel pain, or feel it very acutely. In some cases hyperactive children even try to cause themselves pain.

Most of them have difficulties to calm down and need a lot of time till they are able to fall asleep. Then, all of a sudden, they are “fast asleep”. Very often the children suffer from heavy nightmares –which their parents are often unaware of.

In school they have difficulties with activities of the frontal brain – reading, writing, calculating, analytical thinking – which adds to their difficulties.

 

Fight or Flight mechanism

Comparing the “behavioural problems” of these kids with “acting out of the fight- flight-mechanism in a threat for survival”,  one can but observe striking similarities:

The survival mechanism with an activated sympathetic nervous system overpowers rational thought processes and the activities of the frontal brain – this hierarchy ensures (????) the survival of the human being till today.

It also means: being still and calm equates with death. 

In acute survival situations the senses,  seeing and hearing are extremely sharp, the extremities are restless – ready for “fight of flight”. The sensitivity to pain is greatly reduced.

In this state it is impossible to “ gently drift into sleep.”

The parasympathetic nervous system, which stimulates appetite and digestion, is pushed aside. There seems to be a lack in flexibility for switching from sympathetic to parasympathetic nervous system and getting into the mode of homeostasis.

 

Homeopathy – Sankaran Method ?

In case receiving we distinguish “the human song” from the “nonhuman song” or  “the song from nature”. The homoeopathic remedy is identified by discovering the “nonhuman song” within the child.

“The human song” is characterised through the common themes of mammals:

–          Survival in family and group

–          A safe place

–          Being connected with ones family

–          Communication and learning

–          Mastery (or suppression) of instincts (aggression and sexuality)  to remain in the group

Specific for human beings is:

-finding a balance between egoism and altruism, being there for oneself and others,   social responsibility.

– desire for personal growth and self realisation

 

“The other song” from nature:

These are the survival mechanisms, in nature, reflecting in our homoeopathic remedies:

In animals survival is obvious in victim-aggressor- themes, in plants we find survival mechanisms in sensitivity to specific environmental influences, and survival in minerals is about function, form and completeness of its structure.

The professional homeopathic approach with specific casetaking techniques combined with the systematic analysis with the Sankaran Method gives highly reliable results in the treatment with the homoepathic simillimum from nature.

 

Casetaking

In children, the focus in casetaking is to directly approach  “the other song”, through the child`s spontaneous and intense characteristics. This works particularly well with children age 4 to 10y, as they express their vital energy in their activities without any compensation. Topics in casetaking are natural affinities, movement patterns, games, sports and hobbies of the child. Furthermore fears, dreams, favourite films and videogames, as well as “when I am big”- fantasies give more insight into the so-called “magical world” of a child. This information determines a highly individualised remedy systematically.

Problems in family, school and social environment mainly reflect the difficulties with the “human life”. The child is not able to adapt his behaviour to match the expectations of the community and society. Details in regard to these difficulties are unspecific and mostly secondary. At times the child doesn’t even see his inability to adapt as problem – and is therefore not interested in change. More often though adaption and flexibility are out of reach for the child.

 

The homoeopathic Simillimum

Integrates the “human song” with the “nonhuman song”, gives an impulse for a harmonious interaction of sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system:

–          Phases of activity and quietness and concentration interlude

–          Feelings of hunger appear and eating becomes a satisfying experience

–          The child feels how tired he is and falling asleep is easy.

–          The body is sensed more acutely, pain is noticed –  sometimes  the first time in their life.

–          Some children get physically sick after a very long time. Finally their lifeforce lets the body- mind – system work again actively together. F.ex. “having a cold with fever” is an update of the immune system

and…

the frontal brain, whose function had been over-run by the “fight-or-fight-mechanism”, is coming to the forefront again.

Reading, writing and calculating come easily, homework is done in 20min and a positive experience – compared to a 2 days frustration and fight with their parents.

The child is now able to sit still in class, and is less distracted by sounds and visuals.

 

Generally these changes develop over several weeks. Nightmares disappear within a few days at times. It is usually very noticeable that the child gains gradually more control over his instinctive reactions.

 

 Why does the sympathetic nervous system, the fight-or flight mechanism get activated?

–          Trauma

–          Being left alone, neglect in early childhood

–          Violence in the family

–          Lack of  appropriate care (according to age)

–          Birth trauma (lack of oxygen, cesarian, forceps etc.)

–          Prenatal trauma (medication, nicotine, alcohol consumption of the mother, violence)

–          Effects of vaccination, f.ex. silent encephalitis and other side effects

                 Major accidents, operations

and…                                                                                                                                       

       overload of sensory input – as created by TV, mobile, videogames etc.

       An overstimulation is uncontrollable for the rational mind – and the non-rational survival mechanisms  gets activated.