ADD, ADHD? Or is your child simply escaping reality?

Recently I treated a 13 yr old boy, who has the inner wisdom of Gandhi. 

His mother was concerned about his apparent lack of focus at school, and how his self-esteem was so significantly affected by his low marks.  

He was bullied and, having a genuine sense of caring for those kids who would be blamed, he believed that he needed to accept the responsibility of fault in the schoolyard as well as at home. 

In sessions, we discussed how he saw his inner warrior. He realised that when he felt weak or powerless that his inner warrior had retreated to the’ head in the clouds’ place, and as a result, he was left with a feeling of defeat and surrender.  

When I asked him to describe his warrior, his response left me speechless.  

This is indeed a moment in my practice when I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, how very much I love what I do!  

This young sage went on to describe a Sumari warrior. He held a golden sword with a dragon etched into the blade. 

He said that when he swung the sword that it moved in an empowering way, not a destructive way, and it was in the name of justice, courage and strength.  

Ultimately he said…it was in the name of Love.  

When I suggested that this young man might call his warrior home, to be present, he lit up with the knowing that that is what he needed to do.  

As it is with so many kids I treat, I can see the pattern of the "head in the clouds" and lack of focus as being a result of not wanting to be 'present' here in reality. 

A place to escape 

Some kids have anxiety around performance, where others want for escape from the classroom due to lack of interest or boredom. 

Through my work with these children, I can see that they often literally make a choice to leave their bodies and connect with their ‘head in the clouds’ place of retreat.  

As a result, they may appear to be daydreaming or in a fog. This can cause a sense of not belonging for these kids and can lead to low self-esteem, a sense of guilt, shame and self-blame for their lack of achievement. By making these kids aware of the importance of breathing and with other tools I share with these kids that they can make a conscious choice to be fully present as opposed to ‘checking out’ to the cloud zone.  

They soon realise that in doing so their marks improve and they find a greater sense of wellbeing. Ultimately they gain a sense of feeling grounded and can see that being present is a very cool place to be! 

One young man was very aware of his head in the clouds place and described a sense of flying out of his body. His parents had recently separated, causing a lot of stress at home,  so it was a happier place for him to be.  

When he realised he could bring this fun cloud place here in the present moment, he was more in control of his emotions and his anger depleted, his focus and performance at school improved dramatically. 

Where children, young people, and even adults are showing signs of ADD or ADHD, I always recommend looking at reasons why they might be making that choice, conscious or subconscious to simply not be here in the present.

About the author

Deborra Cameron has a nursing background, and for over 20 years, has been using Clinical Reflexology and Emotional Blueprint Counselling to help her clients experience relief from chronic pain, such as fibromyalgia, digestive issues, migraines, and many more symptoms as well as achieving relief from paralysing emotions.