Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD – Details, episodes & analysis

Have you ever wondered what could be lurking in your home, affecting your family's health without you even knowing? In this episode of the Soaring Child podcast, special guest Wendy Berndt shares her incredible journey with finding mold in her home: the initial signs that made her suspect mold, the health issues her kids faced, and the tough journey of getting medical professionals to see the link between mold and health problems.

With over 17 years of experience reviewing high-cost medical claims and collaborating with employers on wellness strategies, Wendy has profound insight into the impact of poor lifestyle choices, medication, and toxic exposures. Her personal journey is interwoven with the difficulties her children faced – navigating ADHD, anxiety, impulse control, and emotional dysregulation.  

After discovering the effects of toxic mold through the ADHD Thrive program, she became very passionate about helping others discover their own path to healing.  As an FDN-P, wife, and mother of three, Wendy personally understands the challenges parents face. Her commitment extends beyond professional expertise; it's a heartfelt dedication to make a difference in the lives of others.

Tune in to learn more about the effects of mold on ADHD kids. 

ADHD Supplements - http://adhdthriveinstitute.com/supplements

At Home Mold Test - https://thedusttest.com?_ef_transaction_id=&oid=2&affid=127

[4:44] Wendy's personal story with mold in her home

[11:15] The symptoms Wendy's family was experiencing from mold exposure

[13:32] How the doctors responded to Wendy's concerns about mold

[15:37] How Wendy's approach to parenting and advocating for her children changed as a result of her experience

[19:43] How Wendy's personal experience has changed her life

[25:21] If parents expect mold exposure, what should they do?

[29:46] What parents should watch for when getting mold remediation

"It [mold] can affect everyone, even if you don't realize that it's affecting the whole household."

"It's neuro-toxic. It definitely has so much impact on the body and when you start digging in, you don't know that at first. I mean, I've learned so many things along the way just by making mistakes."

"I saw all my kids' symptoms - and my own - just increase like crazy. It was ten fold. It was this giant dose of mold, and I could just clearly see what was impacting them…it made me a huge believer."

"It was a very different range of symptoms for each one of us and so it was hard to pinpoint exactly, 'Oh, I think our house is making us sick."

"The professionals that we're going to, they don't always know everything."

"Trust your instincts. You know yourself best. You know your children best."

"If somebody says to investigate mold, you have to do it. Don't wait like I did because I would have found out sooner!"

"If you're suspecting that mold might be an issue, get a test done…Not all tests are made equal."

"Your body will heal. That's what our bodies are made to do. Just keep going. There is light at the end of the tunnel."

Book a free call with Wendy and the team at ADHD Thrive Institute: https://bit.ly/3X5ZVvT 

🔗WEBSITES:

• https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/

• https://dana-kay.com/

👋SOCIALS:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ADHDThriveInstitute/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adhdthriveinstitute/

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ADHDThriveInstitute

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adhd-thrive-institute/mycompany/

• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ph/adhdthriveinstitute/

• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adhd_thriveinstitute

📕INTERNATIONAL  BEST SELLING BOOK:

• Thriving with ADHD – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/book/

💻FREE MASTERCLASS

• Free Reduce ADHD Symptoms Naturally Masterclass - https://bit.ly/3GAbFQl

⭐COURSES & PROGRAMS

• ADHD Parenting Course – https://info.adhdthriveinstitute.com/parentingadhd

• ADHD Thrive Method 4 Kids Program – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/packages/

• Dye-Free for ADHD Course - https://bit.ly/4aFj6TY

What is dopamine? 

How does it affect ADHD symptoms? 

What types of things can affect dopamine levels in the body? 

In this episode of  the Soaring Child podcast, Dr. Miles Nichols joins the show and dives deep into how dopamine functions in the body and the impact that infections and toxins can have on both dopamine levels and ADHD symptoms. 

Dr. Miles Nichols is not just a functional medicine doctor; he's also someone who has walked the path of health challenges and emerged with a determination to help others find their way through similar struggles. He has a focus on Lyme disease, mold illness, gut health, thyroid dysfunction, and autoimmunity. Dr. Nichols has turned his personal battles into a professional crusade to uncover the underlying causes of these conditions. From founding the Medicine with Heart Clinic in Colorado to establishing an institute for educating doctors in functional medicine, and authoring two pivotal books, Dr. Nichols has dedicated his life to this mission.

Thriving with ADHD Book - adhdthriveinstitute.com/book

[4:52] Often overlooked factors that contribute to attention challenges in children

[9:46] Factors that create antibodies against dopamine receptors

[16:10] How can environmental or infectious agents contribute to altering the function and even sometimes structures in the brain?

[23:58] What is dopamine and how does it play into attention issues?

[29:38] How sugar affects dopamine

[32:20] What lab testing is available to assess brain function, dopamine, and structure changes that could contribute to attention issues?

[37:03] What are some initial steps parents can take at home based on this information?

[41:26] Where to find Dr. Miles Nichols online

"There are some triggers for neuro-inflammation that may play a bigger role, I think, in attention issues than a lot of people appreciate."

"It is not uncommon at all that I find - especially in children and adults with attention issues - that there are antibodies…against dopamine receptors…There are some known triggers that can cause…the immune system to start to attack dopamine receptors."

"Without even changing dopamine at all, we can change the way in which dopamine impacts mood, focus, and drive."

"It appears as though glycine has a calming effect on the brain. It also seems that it has an effect for temperature regulation, it can improve sleep…"

"For many children and for many people struggling with attention issues is that higher doses of glycine - paired together with looking at causes of toxins and infections and other things like that - can be quite useful and I don't see it being talked about very often."

"Dopamine is what we call a neurotransmitter or sometimes it's referred to as a hormone…Neurological effects and attention effects are part of it. Pleasure is associated with dopamine."

"In some ways, we can think of dopamine as part of the reward system of the brain."

"Attention is money when it comes to consumerism and business."

"It takes more and more stimulus to drive the motivation and pleasure."

"Because the levels of dopamine are so variant, going up and down, it's less valuable to get a snapshot in time level of dopamine. There are precursors to dopamine and there are nutrients and we can look at nutrient testing. I find nutrient testing to be quite helpful."

"If diet isn't dialed…if sleep is not there…if there's overuse of. electronics..some of these basics. I don't recommend going into the nuances of detailed labs when those basics haven't been addressed first."

"A next layer after diet and stress and sleep and electronic use and stimulation… a next layer that's really helpful for people is to go into gut function…And a sinus swap I like too."

• Website: https://MedicineWithHeart.com 

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/medicinewithheart/ 

Facebook: https://facebook.com/medicinewithheart

Dana Kay Resources:
🔗WEBSITES:

• https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/
• https://dana-kay.com/

👋SOCIALS:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ADHDThriveInstitute/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adhdthriveinstitute
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ADHDThriveInstitute
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adhd-thrive-institute/mycompany/
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ph/adhdthriveinstitute/
• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adhd_thriveinstitute

📕INTERNATIONAL  BEST SELLING BOOK:

• Thriving with ADHD – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/book/

💻FREE MASTERCLASS

• Free Reduce ADHD Symptoms Naturally Masterclass - https://bit.ly/3GAbFQl

⭐COURSES & PROGRAMS

• ADHD Parenting Course – https://info.adhdthriveinstitute.com/parentingadhd
• ADHD Thrive Method 4 Kids Program – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/packages/
• Dye-Free for ADHD Course - https://bit.ly/4aFj6TY

Description:
If you haven't already listened to Part 1 of this interview with Perry from The Success Blueprint Podcast, we recommend you give it a listen first, as Dana and Perry laid some important groundwork about ADHD and discussed pivotal strategies that set the stage for today's discussion. 

Then tune into this episode, which is part 2 of this 2-part series! in this episode, discover:
 
✅ How parents - and specifically dad - can really benefit from making some of these natural changes.
 
✅ Your three choices when it comes to managing ADHD.

✅ A sneak peek into our exclusive program designed to support families dealing with ADHD.

✅ The famous gumball test - a sure fire way to know if dietary changes are necessary for your child with ADHD.

✅ And more! 

Link Mentioned in the Show: 
Book a free call here - http://adhdthriveinstitute.com/meet 

Key Takeaways:
[2:20] How dietary changes affect adults - specifically men - in the home
[8:32] Dana's rock bottom that led her to finally make some changes
[19:48] Your 3 choices
[21:55] A sneak peek into Dana's program
[25:15] The cost of NOT reducing your child's ADHD symptoms
[34:05] What people like the most about the program
[37:15] Dana's guarantee
[39:08] The most common objections/obstacles families face (and how to overcome them)
[41:08] The famous gumball test

Memorable Moments:
"When families do this together as a family, the changes that the whole family see are just amazing."

"A lot of people are skeptical…It goes against everything that we knew was right…But for partners, when they can start to feel it in their own body, and when they can start to see the changes around them, that's when they get on board."

"Tiny hinges swing really big doors."

"Whether or not someone finds themself at rock bottom or not, you can start making changes today. You can start seeing changes so quickly in your child if you just take that first step."

"Everything I do in my program is everything that I was missing when I was going through that same journey with my own son."

"We're not just trying to slap on that one-size-fits-all approach, like medication. Every child is different. Every child is unique."

"It actually costs 5X more to raise a child with ADHD than to raise a child without the condition currently."

"We have a really, really high success rate. When families follow through and when they do the work, they have success."

"There hasn't been a picky eater I have not been able to help."

"If there's an obstacle you can bring up to me, we've probably dealt with it before in our program. We've probably got a resource inside our program that can help that family overcome it."

"There are shortcuts you can do so you don't have to spend all that time in the kitchen."

"It may seem like it's a lot of work but because we're doing it in slow, small steps to get you to where you need to go, it becomes a lot easier. And really, we are just changing your normal."

"If you've got a child with ADHD, you do not need to suffer. They do not need to suffer. There are things out there that can help you."

Dana Kay Resources:

🔗WEBSITES:

• https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/

• https://dana-kay.com/

👋SOCIALS:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ADHDThriveInstitute/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adhdthriveinstitute/

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ADHDThriveInstitute

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adhd-thrive-institute/mycompany/

• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ph/adhdthriveinstitute/

• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adhd_thriveinstitute

📕INTERNATIONAL  BEST SELLING BOOK:

• Thriving with ADHD – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/book/

💻FREE MASTERCLASS

• Free Reduce ADHD Symptoms Naturally Masterclass - https://bit.ly/3GAbFQl

⭐COURSES & PROGRAMS

• ADHD Parenting Course – https://info.adhdthriveinstitute.com/parentingadhd

• ADHD Thrive Method 4 Kids Program – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/packages/

• Dye-Free for ADHD Course - https://bit.ly/4aFj6TY

On this week's episode of Soaring Child, we take a look at the challenges to keeping your kids eating the right foods. Andrea Daigle is a regular on the show and is a board-certified holistic health practitioner and a member of the team at the ADHD Thrive Institute. She specializes in coaching families through making diet changes through food choices, meal planning, and getting buy-in from not just the kids, but also the extended family.

The most important step is clear communication on a daily basis. Have family discussions about what specific steps need to be taken and what the long-term goals are.

Have the kids get involved with meal planning, and take them grocery shopping. Get your whole family in the habit of reading labels to see which foods are healthy and which foods aren't.

Be sure to comment on the positive changes as they occur. When grandparents try to give your children sweets and sabotage all your efforts, offer them a healthy bag of treats for their house instead of the ice cream and candy. Encourage them to offer other "bonuses" like trips to the park or a shopping spree at the dollar store.

Eating healthy from a young age is a great way to raise awareness about nutrition. Your kids will develop a lifelong understanding of ingredients and nutritional value even as they become adults.

Key Takeaways:

[5:04] Common obstacles to changing diet in kids

[6:13] When your partner isn't on board with dietary changes

[9:40] Getting the rest of the family to buy in to the changes

[12:29] Stressing the positive changes through communication  

[13:56] How to get the grandparents on board with dietary changes

[18:19] How to handle birthday parties

[21:26] How to handle trips to the neighbor's house

[23:18] How to handle eating during the holidays

How To Connect With Andrea Daigle:

For a free call with Andrea and the team at ADHD Thrive Institute: https://adhdthrivemethod.com/meet 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ADHDThriveInstitute 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adhdthriveinstitute/

Memorable Quotes:

"It is so important to set aside a time where you and your partner can just be together and start a discussion, really talk through what's going on and what needs to change. Really be mindful and talk through it together."

"When we started this journey with my son, my goal was to be able to wake up in the morning without dreading what mood my son would be in for that day."

"For my son, what I found really helpful was getting him to understand why we are doing what we're doing."

"I started very, very slow. I would swap the old bread with the new bread and take these baby steps. And when my son's behavior started improving, that was when I could really have a conversation with him."

"The best part about it is my kids actually prefer the cupcakes that we bring over to the ones that are at the party now."

"Talk to your neighbors and let them know your child has dietary restrictions. Most of them are very supportive of this. Give them a whole bag of safe treats they can keep in their pantry."

Dana Kay Resources: 

Website - https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/adhdthriveinstitute 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/adhdthriveinstitute/ 

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/ADHDThriveInstitute 

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/74302454/ 

Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/adhdthriveinstitute/

Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@adhd_thriveinstitute  

International Best Selling Book, Thriving with ADHD - https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/book/ 

Free Reduce ADHD Symptoms Naturally Masterclass – https://bit.ly/3GAbFQl  

ADHD Parenting Course – https://info.adhdthriveinstitute.com/parentingadhd

ADHD Thrive Method 4 Kids Program - https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/packages/

On this week's episode of Soaring Child, we take a look at the challenges parents face when it comes to getting their kids to eat right. How do you make nutritious foods appealing to those picky eaters? Katie Kimble is a picky-eating expert and the national voice of Healthy Kids Cooking. She is also a blogger, former teacher, and mother of four kids. 

Katie points out that the biggest obstacle is that parents are not teaching kids to cook. It's important to spend time in the kitchen with your kids and even take them to the farmer's market to show them the variety of foods out there.

One of the first steps is to wean them away from traditionally favorite foods, like macaroni and cheese, pizza, and pancakes. Put a wide variety of foods on the table, especially those that are low in gluten, dairy, and sugar. Don't provide snacks too close to dinner time, which will lower your kid's willingness to try new things. 

Put out a vegetable tray when kids get home from school and are hungry, or start dinners with a healthy, veggie-filled soup first.

Some children may have never learned how to chew meat properly or eat crunchy vegetables, and there could be issues going on with their gut health. An occupational therapy evaluation might be helpful.

And remember, sometimes it's not about the food but rather the relationship to the parent and their reactions. Parents should keep a "poker face" when serving healthy foods to their picky eaters and not engage in a power struggle to eat. Using positive language is also important when exposing your child to new foods, while putting lots of healthy options on the table. 

Key Takeaways:

[7:13] Common complaints from parents with picky eaters

[7:54] Getting away from too much gluten and dairy

[10:23] How to serve healthy snacks 

[12:09] Incorporating vegetables into your kid's diet   

[12:57] The dangers of pre-chewed food and difficulty to chew meat and crunchy vegetables 

[16:38] How to avoid power struggles at the dinner table

[18:45] How to keep a poker face when introducing healthy foods 

[23:25] Getting kids in the kitchen to prepare foods

[26:05] Why it's important not to hide the vegetables

[28:46] Keeping your child sitting at the table

How To Connect With Katie Kimball:

https://kidscookrealfood.com

https://kitchenstewardship.com 

https://www.instagram.com/kidscookrealfood

http://facebook.com/kidscookrealfood/

http://facebook.com/kitchenstewardship

https://youtube.com/kitchenstew

https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-kimball/

Memorable Quotes:

"Our generation is generally uncomfortable in the kitchen. No one is teaching their kids to cook." 

"If kids have not had a lot of experience and practice chewing crunchy things and real meat, they literally might not know how to chew and swallow correctly, which is mind-blowing." 

"We've got to make sure we're not entering into those power struggles because when we dig in our heels, they do the same thing."

"One of the most powerful ways to help kids build the relationship with food is to completely take away any expectation to eat."

"We've got to get them involved in the kitchen, at the farmer's market, choosing those foods, washing the vegetables, learning how to tear lettuce. All of those exposure points are getting them closer to potentially interacting with the food in their mouth."

Dana Kay Resources: 

Website - https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/adhdthriveinstitute 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/adhdthriveinstitute/ 

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/ADHDThriveInstitute 

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/74302454/ 

Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/adhdthriveinstitute/

Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@adhd_thriveinstitute  

International Best Selling Book, Thriving with ADHD - https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/book/ 

Free Reduce ADHD Symptoms Naturally Masterclass – https://bit.ly/3GAbFQl  

ADHD Parenting Course – https://info.adhdthriveinstitute.com/parentingadhd

ADHD Thrive Method 4 Kids Program - https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/packages/

Please note: This podcast includes words or language that might be considered coarse or offensive to some listeners. 

On this week's episode of Soaring Child, we take a look at ADHD from the perspective of someone who's had it. Chris Haddad is considered one of the best direct response copywriters in the world, as well as a best-selling author of the book, The Language of Desire. He's also overcome several mental health challenges, including ADHD and bipolar disorder.

Chris shares his story of feeling tortured in his head all the time and not being able to emotionally regulate. He teaches students they've got everything they need inside of them to understand everyone around them, because we are all just human beings in pain and share so many of the same emotions.

He teaches those with ADHD that it's not their fault and that there's nothing wrong with them. It's just how their brain operates chemically. He helps them understand they can be very successful financially and professionally by overcoming guilt and focusing on the positives. Many children with ADHD are quick thinkers, witty conversationalists, and have lots of energy. 

Many kids think they're being ostracized by others when in reality, they're ostracizing themselves. It's not that their brains are inferior; they're just different. Chris points out that a lot of the most brilliant people in the world have had ADHD. Acceptance and a feeling of respect for those with ADHD is also important.

Chris's advice to parents with children struggling with ADHD is this: Love them for what they are and not what you want them to be. There's nothing wrong with them, and make sure they know that. They just have a different kind of brain. His advice to kids with ADHD is to be kind to yourself. 

Key Takeaways:

[10:20] How Chris's teachers discovered he was really smart

[10:44] Challenges of high school, college, and youth

[13:19] Chris's experience at Burning Man Festival

[18:20] Chris's full mental breakdown

[19:50] How society judges people with ADHD

[21:39] Chris's relationship with his brother

[26:58] How Chris handles his ADHD and mental challenges today

[30:43] How Chris stumbled upon his superpower of copywriting

[41:57] Advice for children with ADHD 

How To Connect With Chris Haddad:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chris.haddad

Podcast: https://thechrishaddadshow.com/ 

Website: https://go.thepigmethod.com/

Memorable Quotes:

"People ask me why I'm good at what I do and why I'm good at the empathy side of things particularly. And I think it's just because with ADHD and bipolar, it heightens everything." 

"It was always a joke that I was ADHD for most of my life, but I would never go to a psychiatrist or get diagnosed or get meds or anything like that. And I spent most of my youth thinking I was lazy, thinking there was something wrong with me." 

"The biggest thing I learned was mental health issues are not a moral failing. A lot of kids who have ADHD go through life thinking it's their fault, that there is something wrong with them or they're not trying hard enough. All of that stuff is just crap."

"Just because you're dealing with ADHD, bipolar schizophrenia, or whatever it is, yeah it's hard. It is really, really hard, but you can still reach a level of what people consider success, financial or otherwise. You can have an impact on people."

Dana Kay Resources: 

Website - https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/adhdthriveinstitute 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/adhdthriveinstitute/ 

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/ADHDThriveInstitute 

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/74302454/ 

Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/adhdthriveinstitute/

Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@adhd_thriveinstitute  

International Best Selling Book, Thriving with ADHD - https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/book/ 

Free Reduce ADHD Symptoms Naturally Masterclass – https://bit.ly/3GAbFQl  

ADHD Parenting Course – https://info.adhdthriveinstitute.com/parentingadhd

ADHD Thrive Method 4 Kids Program - https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/packages/

Dr. Ana-Maria Temple is a holistic pediatrician, best-selling author, mother of 3, and award-winning speaker. In this episode, she shares what eczema is and how to prevent and cure it. She also speaks about the dangers of mold toxicity and how to start the process of food elimination. Just when we think we know about the boundaries of ADHD, we get reminded that it can expand to other different types of illnesses in the body.

Skin health is just as important as brain and gut health because our skin is an external reflection of our inner body. Healing the skin starts with healing the gut and the brain. Tune in to find out more about eczema and find ways to fight and prevent it!

Key Takeaways:

[3:38] What eczema is and how it is correlated with ADHD

[6:33] Prescribed medicine for eczema

[12:35] Quebec Ice Storm study

[14:40] The condition of the skin is a reflection of the condition of the gut

[22:24] Detrimental effects of mold on the skin and lungs

[28:28] There is no simple solution to curing eczema

How To Connect With Dr. Temple:

• Website: https://www.dranamaria.com/
  
• All socials: Dr. Ana Maria Temple

Memorable Quotes:

• "Eczema is usually red, patchy… it looks like flame, it looks like red hot lava (I'm a pediatrician, so I talk in kid terminology). A lot of times in babies, we'll see their cheeks be red hot lava… eczema is when those red cheeks don't go away and they get worse and worse."
• "Now we're eating strawberries and now the red cheeks are flaring even more, now we're eating bananas and avocado (and I'm not beating up on food, I'm just giving examples). And then all of a sudden, the redness from the cheeks is now red hot lava neck."
•  "We have kids that have dry skin but it's not just dry skin. It's dry skin and then they sit and they scratch and they dig and they have trouble sleeping at night and they're crying throughout the day. It seems whatever they eat, they flare up. They go outside, they flare up."
• "I get very weary because a lot of the prescribed medications are topical steroids, oral antibiotics, and of course, the latest and greatest, Dupixent - and I say that with a lot of sarcasm."
• "Modern medicine does work for some people but we're talking 'some people,' and turning it into all people… we do not have this much data on this medication; we do not know the long-term effects of Dupixent."
• "What a lot of people don't know is that the medications that are linked to the increased appearance of eczema is actually Tylenol. We give babies Tylenol and it's no big deal… Teething is overly diagnosed by the parents because they want to put a name to the fussiness. And then they're like, 'Let me give them Tylenol.' Tylenol is sugar and food dyes."
• "They took the pregnant ladies that were displaced in the ice storm and these mamas had to live with cousins and uncles… and they compared these moms to other pregnant moms in Canada. They followed them around for 15 years and they looked to see what was the endpoint? Did anything happen to their children? And they saw an increase in ADHD, neurological developmental issues, delay in neurocognitive function, speech delays, verbal delays, autism, eczema, asthma, diabetes, and cancer."
• "Without healing the gut, paying attention to what's in your child's diet, in your own diet if you're nursing, it is very difficult to cure the skin with just a cream."
• "I'm not saying no to processed foods. It's how much are you really having and then we're going to turn those around and read the ingredients. If you can't read it, don't eat it."

Dana Kay Resources: 

Website - https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/adhdthriveinstitute 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/adhdthriveinstitute/ 

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/ADHDThriveInstitute 

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/74302454/ 

Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/adhdthriveinstitute/

Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@adhd_thriveinstitute  

International Best Selling Book, Thriving with ADHD - https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/book/ 

Free Reduce ADHD Symptoms Naturally Masterclass – https://bit.ly/3GAbFQl  

ADHD Parenting Course – https://info.adhdthriveinstitute.com/parentingadhd

ADHD Thrive Method 4 Kids Program - https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/packages/

Dr. Scott Antoine is a board-certified physician, author, speaker, and legislative advocate. In this episode, he discusses PANS and PANDAS and how one can support their child with this neuropsychiatric disorder as well as prevent it.

Dr. Scott explains what PANS and PANDAS is, as well as how he got introduced to the disorder through his daughter's diagnosis, the methods used to diagnose this disorder, and more. We also discuss the Cunningham Panel and its effectiveness toward PANDAS. Tune in to learn how to support your child using functional medicine and approaches.

When a child is acting out, caregivers may think it is typical child-like behavior. However, that's not always the case. There may be an infection that changes the child's neurological pathways and they start behaving differently. It's very important to identify the signs of peculiar behavior. It may be that the child may have PANS or PANDAS or another neuropsychiatric disorder.

Key Takeaways:

[4:26] What is PANS or PANDAS and how Scott became involved 

[8:24] Difference in symptoms between PANS and PANDAS

[13:27] The tests used to diagnose PANS or PANDAS

[17:53] The Cunningham Panel

[25:55] How to treat these kids with PANS or PANDAS

How To Connect With Dr. Scott:

Website: https://fullyfunctional.com/

IG: @thepandasdocs

Facebook: Healing PANS and PANDAS

Memorable Quotes:

• "PANDAS is Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Strep infection. These kids will get an infection with strep and then, afterward, sometimes months afterward, will have severe sudden onset OCD."
• "PANS can be from other infections. It can be from toxins in the environment, so man made toxins or mycotoxins from mold exposure; there's a big tie-in. Or it can be from infections. So PANDAS is from stress, and it is actually a subtype from PANS."
•  "Very interestingly, the original papers written in 2014 have a little tiny sentence in there that said, 'Stress may be an initiator of a flare of PANS in some children.'"
  
• "The simple answer is 0, none… it's a clinical diagnosis meaning there are signs and symptoms… There's just a list. It's a list of things and in the case of PANS or PANDAS, it's the sudden onset of severe OCD or restrictive eating or both, plus seven other categories."
• "The Cunningham Panel, we've known for years that you can actually measure the antibodies to the brain tissue, they're called anti-neuralgic antibodies. The Cunningham Panel actually tests for about 4 of those anti-neuralgic antibodies."
• "The first thing we do is identify exactly what's going on clinically and talk to the parents… it really is an amazing feeling for them to feel like someone is actually listening to them and not just telling them your child has diagnosis X and here is the medication for it."
• "The 2nd step is reducing things that negatively impact their health, so that's where we start with diet, we start with stress reduction, reducing sympathetic overdrive, things like that."

Dana Kay Resources: 

Website - https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/adhdthriveinstitute 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/adhdthriveinstitute/ 

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/ADHDThriveInstitute 

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/74302454/ 

Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/adhdthriveinstitute/

Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@adhd_thriveinstitute  

International Best Selling Book, Thriving with ADHD - https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/book/ 

Free Reduce ADHD Symptoms Naturally Masterclass – https://bit.ly/3GAbFQl  

ADHD Parenting Course – https://info.adhdthriveinstitute.com/parentingadhd

ADHD Thrive Method 4 Kids Program - https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/packages/

Kayla Helenske is a registered Art Therapist and a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. Join us as she shares what exactly art therapy is and how it can help your child with ADHD or other mental disabilities.

We discuss what art therapy consists of and how it can be more beneficial than traditional talk therapy, how art therapy differs from play therapy, ways it can calm the nervous system, and much more. We also dive into what ages are appropriate to start art therapy as well as how you can find an art therapist near you.

Art therapy allows kids the medium to express pent up emotion without having to say anything. Like the old saying goes, "A picture is worth a thousand words", and Kayla reassures us that this definitely applies to our children who sometimes have trouble truly expressing what they feel. For those parents who have been curious to find another approach, this is one episode you won't want to miss! 

Key Takeaways:

[3:50] What art therapy is and how it's more beneficial than traditional talk therapy

[5:43] Differences between play therapy and art therapy

[10:13] What is the appropriate age to start art therapy and how it benefits kids with ADHD or other mental disabilities

[15:56] Ways art therapy can calm the nervous system

[23:56] How to find an art therapist near you

[26:32] Why Kayla decided to pursue art therapy

How To Connect With Kayla:

IG: @Kaylahelenske

Facebook: Kayla Helenske

website: https://kaylahelenske.com/

Memorable Quotes:

• "What I love about art therapy is that it actually breaks down any verbal barriers and becomes its own sort of language. So we use lines, shapes, and colors to really describe how we're feeling. And I find it to be one of the most effective ways to help kids express their emotions."
• "Art therapy is actually an integrative mental health profession; it combines the knowledge and understanding of human development, psychological theories and techniques, and we combine that all in metaphors and the creative process."
• "One thing about art, you can actually move it out of you and visually look at it. I can draw or paint a picture of all the things I'm holding inside."
• "Instead of just talking about it and asking a kid, 'Why did you do that?', we have the ability to break it down into pieces visually and actually start to see patterns that are coming up for them."
• "In the way that I work I do intertwine meditation, mindfulness, breathing techniques, all those calming skill sets that intertwine so beautifully together to give it a whole holistic approach."
• "An art therapist is specifically trained to use art materials as part of the therapeutic process. And so they know the risks, the benefits of using each material, and have spent thousands of hours working under supervision to learn this process."
• "You can go to the American Art Therapy Association, it's a website, and you can look up different registered therapists near you."

Dana Kay Resources: 

Website - https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/adhdthriveinstitute 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/adhdthriveinstitute/ 

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/ADHDThriveInstitute 

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/74302454/ 

Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/adhdthriveinstitute/

Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@adhd_thriveinstitute  

International Best Selling Book, Thriving with ADHD - https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/book/ 

Free Reduce ADHD Symptoms Naturally Masterclass – https://bit.ly/3GAbFQl  

ADHD Parenting Course – https://info.adhdthriveinstitute.com/parentingadhd

ADHD Thrive Method 4 Kids Program - https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/packages/

On this week's episode of Soaring Child, we spoke with returning guest, Andrea Daigle. Andrea is part of my amazing team at ADHD Thrive Institute, a board-certified holistic health practitioner, and also a FDN-P. She is truly an expert when it comes to working with kids with ADHD and other similar disorders.

On this episode, we dive into the topic of meal prepping and how one can save an abundant amount of time in the kitchen by preparing bags of stew and freezing them, making a large amount of dinner to have leftovers for the next day, preparing a list of meals along with the list of ingredients at hand, and much more. We also talk about sneaking healthy fats and nutrient-dense foods into fruit smoothie bags to have a hearty and quick breakfast, lunch, or afternoon snack. 

Key Takeaways:

[4:29] Ways to save time in the kitchen

[5:42] How to effectively meal plan

[10:49] Fast, easy, and delicious meal prep options

[19:09] How to prepare for school lunches

[22:34] How to deal with days when you don't feel like cooking

Connect with Andrea:

https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/our-approach/

Memorable Quotes:

• "My number one tip for saving time in the kitchen is definitely meal planning… you're getting a really good all-around healthy variety… you're going to be saving money on the grocery bill and you're just going to have more free time."
•  "There are lots of different ways you can meal plan, but I really think fine-tuning it based on what works best for your family is going to be helpful."
• "The next step that I always suggest is to check your calendar. Look ahead. What does your calendar look like for the next week? If you know you have a busy day coming, you really want to plan for that day to be something quick, easy, or even leftover."
• "After you have all that ready, you have your plan, get a grocery list going. You create that list with everything you need. And block out some time to head to the store so that you can get all of those ingredients that you need for the week."
•  "I find the best and fastest things to meal plan would be things for breakfast, overnight oats. Overnight oats are so nutritious. You can make a big batch on the weekends, and they don't have to be the same everyday."
• "We have this wonderful plan and we think it's great and then we get home and say, 'I don't feel like it'. I don't feel like it, my husband doesn't feel like it, so what do we do? I think it's very important to have some go-to options in your freezer."
• "Every Friday, my family goes to our local pizza parlor and they have gluten/dairy-free pizza which is phenomenal. And I'm sure in your area, you can find a place that offers those options, and if they don't, you can omit the cheese… or bring your own cheese."

Dana Kay Resources: 

Website - https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/adhdthriveinstitute 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/adhdthriveinstitute/ 

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/ADHDThriveInstitute 

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/74302454/ 

Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/adhdthriveinstitute/

Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@adhd_thriveinstitute  

International Best Selling Book, Thriving with ADHD - https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/book/ 

Free Reduce ADHD Symptoms Naturally Masterclass – https://bit.ly/3GAbFQl  

ADHD Parenting Course – https://info.adhdthriveinstitute.com/parentingadhd

ADHD Thrive Method 4 Kids Program - https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/packages/