How do they help children and adults with ADHD to build confidence, better relationships and emotional balance?
Being told your child has ADHD can be devastating to parents. Not knowing how to deal with it or what treatment and support options are available magnifies the issue. ADHD affects not only the child but the whole family. The demands of a child with ADHD can be exhausting, mentally and physically. Emotions such as guilt, anger, shame,anxiousness and vulnerability break through the most resistant armor, as parents try to understand their child’s behavior. The child with ADHD will also need emotional and social support.
Because they can be “challenging” to both adults and other children, their self-esteem may be affected and children with ADHD may lack positive experiences with accomplishment and friendships. Research shows that 50-80% of teens with ADHD have significant interpersonal difficulties, impacting relationships with parents, teachers and friends.
Fortunately, today, there are many alternative and unconventional methods available for managing ADHD symptoms. Equine guided activities are among such methods.
The exercises are designed as building blocks to open new neural pathways in our mind and our body by stretching our ability to feel the presence and intention of others through using our entire bodies as a sensory device.
Children with ADHD generally have issues with executive function, the ability to think and plan ahead, to organize, focus and complete tasks.
Horses are excellent communicators and teachers and respond to a person’s intentions, emotions and thoughts that are conveyed subconsciously through body language.
Working with horses can help the ADHD child with planning, increased focus and staying on a task, improved self-confidence (working with a 1200 pound animal can be intimidating), controlling anger and other emotional reactions and improved relationship building.