The Adopted Child

"His focus has increased immensely.  He can do school work so much better now...  This has also improved his self-esteem; he seems much happier."

-Mother of an 11-year-old International Adoptee with a history of severe trauma

"Since starting the program she is attaching more and more, her meltdowns are less frequent and she cries less."

-Mother of a 7-year-old domestic adoptee with a history of abuse

Adopted Children Have Special Needs

Several years ago Neurogistics Chief Science Officer, Pam Machemehl Helmly, CN was included in a landmark study conducted at TCU with 150 Russian orphans who were adopted into Central Texas. These children had many problems in common, like attachment issues, defiance, aggression, and rage. Their adoptive parents had tried everything before entering them into the study. The methods used in the study to treat these children were unknown up to this point in time. They were given a new type of behavior modification, a positive method, along with amino acid therapy. Because it was a clinical study, they all received the same amino acid program. Many started to thrive, long-standing problems, like anger and rage, focus, impulsivity, night terrors and lack of eye contact started to improve. But Pam's involvement and real satisfaction came after the study ended when she was finally able to customize a program for each child. The results were nothing short of phenomenal. Many of these children were finally able to enter school and in a normal classroom, they started to function in the family, became happier, and balanced.  Balancing their brain chemistry also allowed them to more successfully complete other therapies that they needed.

Before long, the word got out, families told other families, adoption agencies and supportive organizations started referring Neurogistics and we began to specialize in balancing brain chemistry in children. The parents and other siblings came along, as the toll on family life was high. Stress was a common thread that wore everyone down.  Along the way we learned so much about tweaking the therapies depending on the test results, background information, and client responses.

Neurotransmitters:  Relationship to Trauma and Attachment

Attachment is one of the most important aspects of a child’s development; it is the essential factor in shaping their minds through interactions. Early deprivation, abuse, trauma, and dysfunctional attachment can disrupt a child’s brain development; thus their production and management of neurotransmitters.  Research on abused and neglected children has indicated the devastating effects of maltreatment on the child’s growing brain; smaller brain size, decreased growth of the corpus callosum (connects the right and left sides of the brain) and impaired growth of inhibitory neurotransmitters, including GABA, that serve to calm the excitable emotional limbic structures.  This is seen in brain imaging studies and through neurotransmitter testing. Even after children are introduced into safe and loving homes, the disrupted neurochemistry is still present. 

Neurotransmitter levels are a blueprint for a child’s mood, behavior, and overall functioning.  Continual research has shown that our early years create our brain's destiny; as relationships with parent’s changes so do the children’s attachment. This means it is never too late to create a positive change in a child’s life.  Through regulating neurotransmitter levels the ability to create a healthy bond with parents becomes much more feasible.

Inhibitory Neurotransmitters and Trauma

TRUAMA Inhibitory neurotransmitters are developed in infancy and over time especially through touch and having ones needs met; a baby cries to be fed, he is held and receives the milk he needs.  However with neglect, wrongful touch, malnourishment, or traumatic events, can send mixed messages to the brain and it is unable develop an optimal amount of these inhibitory neurotransmitters.  This often leads to heighten excitatory neurotransmitter levels which is evident in the inability for one to control their responses and contributes to children living in a state of fear and/or hyper-vigilance.

Excitatory Neurotransmitters and Trauma

TRAUMA Children who have endured neglect or trauma utilize excitatory neurotransmitters in order to get their needs met.  It is a survival method; to be the loudest child in the orphanage, use aggression to fight off those that were hurting them, or stay awake in fear of the unknown, keeps these children safe.  During this phase of life, the child's  inhibitory neurotransmitters were not fully developed and they are now running on excitatory neurotransmitters; this can be seen in the inability to calm down, and is indicative of the inability to develop proper inhibitory support.