Please Don't Label My Child: Break the Doctor-Diagnosis-Drug Cycle and Discover Safe, Effective Choices for Your Child's Emotional Health [Hardcover]

Scott M. Shannon (Author), Emily Heckman (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Pediatric psychiatrist Shannon, former president of the American Holistic Medical Association, and coauthor Heckman make the sobering observation that if the rate of increase in the use of childhood psychiatric medications continues at its current pace, within a generation half of all American children will be on some kind of psychiatric drug. Shannon argues that physicians are overdiagnosing and misdiagnosing a number of disorders, most notably ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), creating an undesirable doctor-diagnosis-drug cycle. Shannon lists six external forces or brain stressors that can affect a child's emotional and behavioral health (relational, nutritional, familial, environmental, educational and traumatic). He explores how emotional and cognitive brain growth are interrelated, outlining the elements needed for optimal brain development such as a safe and secure home life, love and touch, and proper nutrition. He also casts a critical eye on the educational system and what he believes is a one-size-fits-all, didactic approach. Claiming that labels can cripple rather than liberate, Shannon presents a convincing case for digging deeply into a child's nutritional needs, sleep habits, home and school environment and other underlying issues before turning to meds. (Aug.)
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Review

"A profound relief - and a breath of fresh air. Thank you, Dr. Shannon, for such a sound, practical, and effective solution to the overlabeling and overdrugging of today's children." - Christine Northrup, MD, author of Mother-Daughter Wisdom and Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom

 

"An excellent resource for parents and health care professionals." - Bernie Siegel, MD, author of Love, Magic, and Mudpies and Prescriptions for Living

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Rodale Inc.; 1 edition (August 21, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 157954682X
• ISBN-13: 978-1579546823
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #321,147 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #14 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Personal Health > Children's Health > Learning Disorders

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book from pediatric psychiatrist. Balanced. Accurate., February 28, 2010

By 

John Scott "John Scott" (Newark, NJ, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Please Don't Label My Child: Break the Doctor-Diagnosis-Drug Cycle and Discover Safe, Effective Choices for Your Child's Emotional Health (Hardcover)

This is a book from a pediatric psychiatrist who does prescribe medication in his practice. At the same time, he recommends resisting labeling children and states that he finds that he can often help children more by not labeling them. The current practice of labeling and medicating, falls very short, and there is an alarming rate of increase in a few years, in the use of psychiatric medications for young children, children and teens. In part, it is the labeling system that lends itself so well to prescribing pills to children. Also, the use of strong psychotropic drugs is handled very casually by many in the medical profession. This along with Sharna Olfman's books, No Child Left Different, No Child Left Different (Childhood in America) and Bipolar Children, Bipolar Children: Cutting-Edge Controversy, Insights, and Research provides adequate proof of the phenomena of the increasing label and medicate "syndrome" in the United States, and other parts of the world today.

At the same time, Dr. Shannon, also helps one to see that disrupted family life, personal and emotional attachments, do have a strong effect on a child's mental health, and that a child, as well as an adult, can be weaned off of psychiatric medications, and do well, with support. Labels linger, even after a disorder is over, and while there is some benefit to labeling, it would seem as if the harm outweighs the good. I feel that every parent who has a child in psychiatric care, should read Please Don't Label My Child. It is a kind, balanced, reasonable book, from a psychiatrist who does prescribe medications, but who gives a realistic, balanced picture of the situation.

Unlike Sharna Olfman, he does not touch on the violence and sex in the media issues, and how that might be effecting children, but as far as a book that explains well the issue of labeling, it is excellent, the best, most simple, effective explanation out there. It can really help parents on this issue, as well as educators, teachers, and mental health professionals. Well written and put together.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fresh Look at Children, September 28, 2007

By 

J. Everham (Fort Collins, Colorado) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Please Don't Label My Child: Break the Doctor-Diagnosis-Drug Cycle and Discover Safe, Effective Choices for Your Child's Emotional Health (Hardcover)

Scott Shannon's book, Please Don't Label My Child is an excellent resource for parents trying to raise healthy children in today's complex times. Whether, as a parent, you have concerns about your child's development or just want to do right for your child you will find this book immensely helpful. Dr. Shannon is a child psychiatrist who can take a topic full of jargon and medical terminology and turn it into a read that is both easily understood and enjoyable. I work in the public schools as a school psychologist and I am recommending Please Don't Label My Child to parents, teachers, colleagues and anyone else who cares about our children.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wish we had this book before all the pills and therapy!!, May 4, 2008

By 

AL Lombaard "Ideator" (Pretoria, South Africa) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Please Don't Label My Child: Break the Doctor-Diagnosis-Drug Cycle and Discover Safe, Effective Choices for Your Child's Emotional Health (Hardcover)

We are parents of three daughters. The two older ones, now age 11 and 6, were diagnozed with ADHD, and the 11 year old with bipolary depression. We fully belive in knowledge and getting help, so both of us has been reading all the books we could get on the topics. We also had individual and family therapy and support. Some helped a lot. Others not at all.
Dr Shannon's book made the most difference of them all. Not only did it guide us to get them off harmfull medication in the right way, by we changed schools and our approach to parenting in a way that made immediate impact.
We keenly reccommend this book to parents who have real life struggles with high spirited kids that just need the correct guidance and help in their own special and unique way. Buy more than one copy, as you might want to give some of your friends the book - but not your own copy!