Michael was diagnosed with ADHD at age six. His pediatrician prescribed Ritalin, but his mother was not comfortable with medicating her child. She brought in a copy of Michael's scores on the Conners' Rating Scales. Michael was shown to have very significant difficulties with squirminess, pouting, and sulking, worrying about others, making inappropriate noises, disturbing other children, restlessness in the classroom, and immature behavior. Next on his list of unacceptable behaviors were excitability and impulsivity, sucking or chewing, frequent crying, distractibility, frustrated easily, boasting and bragging, demanding nature, hypersensitivity to criticism, daydreaming, excessive demands for teacher's attention, submissiveness, and failure to complete tasks.

Test scores made it appear that Michael had significant learning and behavior problems, but the child we saw in our office was sweet and sensitive. His mother described him as "pretty darn average. He's like any other six-year-old kid, but more active." He definitely had difficulty sitting still in school. His work was inconsistent. "Some of his papers were done perfectly, others looked like an alien did them." He preferred to socialize rather than do his homework. The feedback from teachers was that his behavior was fantastic one day and really bad the next. Michael became wound up very easily, especially when he felt bored. He would crumple up little scraps of paper and throw them away one at a time. He needed to be in constant movement. He sometimes ran out of the classroom eight to ten times a day to go to the bathroom. Michael often crawled around on the floor in class. To make matters worse, he would not stop after the teacher reprimanded him the first time.

His mother found it difficult to get Michael to focus at home. If the television were on or the curtains open, she had to make him repeat back what she told him or he would not respond. Michael was never violent or aggressive and tended to be a follower. Kids loved him because they thought he was funny, but his self-confidence was really low.

Michael's parents divorced when he was two years old. He was never sure when his dad would come pick him up. He was a pleaser. He worried about his father's violence toward his stepmother, about being late for school, about his shoelaces breaking, and about having enough money for lunch. He was preoccupied with who would pick him up from school and how many days he would stay with his dad.A very sensitive child, Michael cried if reprimanded even gently. "It scares me when somebody yells at me. I'm afraid I'll have to be on restriction again. I get really upset at myself." Michael really wanted to be good and felt very bad about himself when he messed up and got into trouble.

We found many seeming contradictions in Michael. He was disruptive and inappropriate, yet highly sensitive. He could be very sulky or very loving. He was very scared about making mistakes, yet went ahead and acted out anyway.Many of his symptoms were classic ADHD symptoms which did not differentiate him from the many other children diagnosed with ADHD, such as impulsivity, excitability, distractibility, and difficulty maintaining his focus. Yet, unlike many children with ADD, he felt very guilty about his unacceptable behaviors and constantly worried about "messing up." Most children who are naughty are not overly sensitive pleasers as Michael was. It was this combination of typical ADHD symptoms and oversensitive and excessive worrying that stood out about Michael in our eyes.

Michael responded extremely well to one dose of Natrum muriaticum. This medicine is given to very sensitive people, often after an experience of grief or loss. People needing this medicine are unusually sensitive to reprimands, and tend to feel very bad about themselves when they have done something wrong. Michael has needed this medicine only two times over the past year. Within several weeks of beginning treatment, Michael's teachers were amazed at the tremendous improvement in his attitude and behavior. His continual movement had diminished. Before homeopathic treatment, Michael received four to five checks (corresponding to reprimands) a day. By his follow-up visit six weeks after starting homeopathy, he had not received even one check. Michael was no longer so sensitive to reprimands. When we asked Michael how he felt, he replied, "It's easier to concentrate. Sometimes I'm getting stars and superstars and Mommy's really proud of me." What was most touching about seeing the changes in Michael was how much better he felt about himself.

Michael's improvement has continued. He no longer acts out in class or at lunch. He stays in his seat more and does not worry as much. His leadership skills have improved tremendously. He was recently chosen "student of the week." The biggest improvement the teacher has noticed is his effort. Everyone is just thrilled with Michael's behavior.