Is your child out-of-control? With mood swings, anxiety, or ADD? Has Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)?
Today Jax of The Roller Coaster Life of a Forever Family is sharing how a gluten-free diet changed the out-of-control behaviors of her son.
How a Gluten-Free Diet Changed My Child’s Behavior
My now-adopted son was in seven foster homes and five daycare settings between the ages of two and three. No one could handle his behavioral problems. He hit. He screamed. He lashed out. He injured himself and had non-stop, almost manic energy. He both scared and frustrated his caregivers and eventually everyone always gave up on him…that is, until I came along. I was home number eight and determined to be his final stop.
I tried to manage my child’s behaviors with love, consistency and patience and that worked, to a degree. He was often well-mannered in preschool but would then act out on the playground. There have been so many occasions where a parent was angry with me when Christopher hit, scratched, pushed or bit their child. The preschool wouldn’t let him play outside with the other kids because he kept hitting the other kids or slamming into them while running. I knew we had a problem but I didn’t know what to do. I kept hoping it would all go away but it never did.
The final straw for me was when his summer nanny called me at work a few weeks ago to tell me that she and Christopher had been escorted out of the Children’s Museum…by security…because Christopher was attacking the other children. When your 38-lb. child is escorted out of a building by a gun-toting security guard, you know you have a serious behavioral problem.
I was now officially at my wit’s end and desperate for help. Neither Christopher’s pediatrician nor his therapist had any real answers for me. What could I do?
My sister suggested I change Christopher’s diet. She told me that gluten (a protein found in wheat) and artificial dyes can cause aggression in some children and why don’t I try a gluten-free diet and see if it helps. I figured hey, it couldn’t hurt and so I removed both gluten and artificial dyes from his diet that very day. And wow, what a difference that decision made in my child!
I noticed a change in Christopher almost immediately. He became much calmer and was easier to manage. He played nicely with other kids and no longer hits or scratches them. It used to break my heart to see kids not wanting to play with my son but now they all want to be around him. I love that for him!
Gluten Intolerance Symptoms
- Digestive issues, such as bloating, gas, diarrhea, or constipation
- Fatigue, crankiness, feeling tired, or in a “brain fog”
- Dizziness or feeling off balance
- Migraines or headaches
- Mood swings, depression, anxiety, or ADD
- Swelling or pain in the joints
- Eczema
If your child exhibits some of these gluten intolerance symptoms, you might try a Gluten-Free diet to see if it helps your child.
Come back on Thursday for an Easy Gluten Free Recipes Meal Plan! Read more on gluten-free diet and Sensory Processing Disorder.
