ADHD Guide

Hans Hasselfors asked:


Adult attention deficit disorder, or adult ADD, can be a very frustrating condition to have. Almost all of the initial research and focus for the attention deficit disorders was focused on children and adolescents, but adults are just as likely to have the condition as youths. The disorder normally makes itself apparent during childhood, with difficulties at school being one of the most common hallmarks of the condition, which helps to explain why so much focus has been on children with the disease. But children with attention deficit disorder grow up to be adults with attention deficit disorder.

ADD is essentially the same condition as the one children have. If you are an adult and you are having trouble focusing at work, difficulty listening to people in everyday conversations, find yourself interrupting people a lot, losing things frequently, are easily distracted from tasks, are easily frustrated or find yourself feeling over stimulated often, you may have adult attention deficit disorder.

Treatment for the disorder mirrors the treatments used for children with the condition. The first step you need to take if you suspect you may have an adult attention deficit condition is to of course see a doctor. There are a bunch of other disorders that can mimic an adult attention deficit condition, such as anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, or bipolar disorder, and its important that these be ruled out before trying treatments.

Typically, most doctors today will begin your adult attention deficit disorder treatment by prescribing a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, or SSRI, such as Prozac, Zoloft, or Lexapro. SSRIs have been helpful for many in treating their adult attention deficit disorders. If you aren’t getting any relief in your symptoms with an SSRI, you may be prescribed a stimulant, such as Ritalin, Adderall or Concerta. These should be taken with caution as they are addictive drugs, and should be avoided entirely if you have a history of substance abuse.

Most health professionals will agree that there are also a number of non-medication based steps you can take to alleviate some of your symptoms. Getting regular vigorous exercise has been shown to help a lot of people with ADD. Also a diet high in lean protein is recommended. Keeping lists, writing notes, breaking large tasks down into smaller parts and taking other similar steps to counter your disorder will certainly help as well.

This information is not presented by a medical practitioner and is for educational and informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read.

Since natural and/or dietary supplements are not FDA approved they must be accompanied by a two-part disclaimer on the product label: that the statement has not been evaluated by FDA and that the product is not intended to “diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease”.



Lester

Mitamins Team asked:


ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder, also known as ADHD- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is difficult to treat because it encompasses so many symptoms, some of which are contrary to each other. Those with ADD can demonstrate symptoms both passively and aggressively, though the one symptom that seems to be common in all those with ADD is difficulty in sitting still and concentrating. However, diagnosis and treatment of ADD cannot be based on that one characteristic alone. So then, how do professionals go about the diagnosis and treatment of ADD? According to the American Psychiatric Association, there are 14 symptoms of ADD, eight of which should be present for a diagnosis to be made.

What are some recognizable features of someone with ADD? Well, patience for waiting in lines, or waiting for responses in conversation will often be lacking. The inability to finish through with projects before beginning new ones is also a symptom. In addition, sufferers display impulsive behavior, sometimes putting themselves in danger. It is important to take all this information under consideration in the treatment of ADD(http://www.mitamins.com/disease/Attention-Deficit-Disorder.html).

Long-term treatment of ADD can be a challenge, as sufferers get bored easily and may have a difficult time sticking to a treatment plan. The fact that the treatment is greatly needed may still not make it less difficult for patients to follow through. Stimulation from external sources can be distracting for ADD sufferers due to less than ideal neural coordination. These distractions can come in the sound, visual, or emotional form. Blocking out distractions and focusing can result in frustration. All of these factors should be taken into account when planning ADD treatment(http://www.mitamins.com/disease/Attention-Deficit-Disorder.html).

What causes ADD/ADHD? One theory is that brain coordination is impaired by eating too much sugar, as sugar inhibits the brain’s response to norepinephrine. Allergies can also be a cause, particularly allergies to food coloring, cow’s milk, certain nuts, citrus fruits, and tomatoes. Other causes of ADD are said to be metal toxicity in the body, nutritional deficiency, and consumption of artificial flavors and preservatives. Another possible complicating factor to keep in mind in the diagnosis and treatment of ADD is soft drink consumption, as sodas contain phosphates which can upset calcium-phosphorous levels, exaggerating muscle activity. Seasonal Affective Disorder, or “SAD”, can be mistaken for ADD. SAD is a depression, or prolonged feeling of sadness, due to lack of sunlight. In the treatment of ADD, it is important that other conditions which might have similar symptoms, such as SAD, are eliminated.

Are there any natural treatments of ADD(http://www.mitamins.com/disease/Attention-Deficit-Disorder.html)? Such substances as fish oil, primrose oil, and flaxseed oil can be very beneficial. Supplements that contain a full, balanced, compliment of nutrients, antioxidants and vitamins are also recommended. Foods cooked in trans-fats, as well as foods containing additives, colors, or artificial ingredients such as aspartame should be avoided. These substances could exacerbate or set off ADD behaviors. Treating ADD naturally is a balancing act of eliminating harmful substances, while supplementing with beneficial nutrients and minerals.

Most sufferers of ADD are children, thought the disorder definitely occurs among adults as well. Adults with ADD may display such characteristics as poor management of time and money, which of course can lead to disastrous effects at home and at work. These adults are likely to have a poor self-image and can be easily frustrated or bored. In the treatment of ADD, age of the sufferer should b paid attention to, and it will likely be helpful to try and boost the patient’s self-esteem.



James

Robert William Locke asked:


Ask your child if he or she has climbed any good trees lately ! Recent studies show that more and more children have very little contact with ‘nature exposure’ or simply getting out in the air and doing any form of physical activity. This is crucial when we look at attention deficit disorder (ADD) in children because it has been shown that ‘green time’ or exercise in the open air has had a beneficial effect on children with this disorder, especially those with the hyperactive type ADHD.

Alarming Increase In ADHD

ADHD is now reaching alarming proportions and it has been estimated that the number of children who have been prescribed Ritalin (ADHD drug) in a five year period has increased by 600%. This upward spiral seems to continue unabated and attention deficit disorder in the US is now a major health issue. Why ? First, because the ADHD drugs used now in ADHD treatment are a constant headache for the FDA who have to issue regular health warnings to doctors and pediatricians prescribing these medicines.

A Medical Emergency ?

It is a medical emergency in my opinion, as we now know that school kids on these drugs sell them and there is a risk that it may lead to drug dependence. There are other side effects which range from heart attacks, weight loss caused by suppression of appetite and children often have problems in sleeping. There have been attempts by drug companies to smudge the issue about the side effects of these drugs and while they may ease symptoms, there are no research results available on the long term effects on ADHD children. Maybe there is but have we seen them published anywhere ?

Sport Issues And ADHD

If left untreated, attention deficit disorder in children can lead to poor academic results, aggressive social behaviour and emotional development may be affected. But the ADHD pychostimulant mentality has spread its tentacles into every area of our life. We now have the spectacle of baseball players faking ADHD symptoms so that they can get prescribed these drugs so that they can stay focused and win the match ! There are 106 players involved so that means that there is a much higher rate of ADHD among baseball players than the normal population. Is this what they call sport ?

Universities On Alert

Even more alarming in my view is that recent news that college students at some US Universities

now use these psychostimulants (without a prescription) as ’study drugs’which is not only illegal but downright dishonest. The practice is on the increase and gives the drugged student an unfair advantage over other students. It is quite simply the same as cheating.

Why should we risk turning attention deficit disorder children into drugged zombies? ADHD medication using these drugs is full of unknowns. Many parents now are getting wise to the fact that all is not well in the pharmaceutical world and are seeking out ADHD alternative therapies which will help the attention deficit disorder children turn into normal healthy citizens. The site below will provide all the answers on ADHD homeopathic treatment which is above all safe and much cheaper too !



Shane

Michelle Bery asked:


Attention Deficit Disorder - a condition that is manifested in inattentiveness, hyperactivity, or a combination of both - is most often identified in young children. Treatment begins and tools are put in place to help the child learn coping strategies to deal with everyday situations. But with Attention Deficit Disorder in teens there are a whole new set of challenges to hurdle.

At an age where fitting in with the crowd is of paramount concern, any differences in behavior can be exacerbated in this heightened social microcosm. The symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder can make the learning environment difficult. The increased schoolwork associated with this age group often catapults the Attention Deficit Disorder in teens to a new level. And often when grades suffer, so does the self-esteem of the teen in question.

Additionally, at this time when social concerns are of enormous importance, Attention Deficit Disorder in teens can make typical teenaged relationships difficult to navigate. Teens who suffer from this condition can often feel isolated as the burden of their symptoms puts a wedge between them and their peers.

Attention Deficit Disorder in teens that has been diagnosed prior to these years can benefit greatly from treatment already in existence. Teens that have battled with Attention Deficit Disorder since early childhood will have a better handle on how to challenge the effects of the disorder in their teens.

But for some Attention Deficit Disorder in teens the diagnosis comes at this late date. The increased pressure of high school workload and social concerns sometimes sheds a light on a condition that was previously unnoticed or non-symptomatic. Because of its strong connection to learning disorders, Attention Deficit Disorder in teens should be closely monitored for co-existing conditions.

Attention Deficit Disorder in teens can be successfully managed if you are proactive. For those who have been diagnosed in childhood, the arrival into the teens may exacerbate symptoms and require changes in medication.

If you’re just now suspecting a problem, have your child evaluated by a medical professional who specializes in Attention Deficit Disorder in teens. Staying armed with knowledge and having a willingness to go on the offense will put you in control of Attention Deficit Disorder instead of the other way around.



Kelly

Stacy asked:


I am thirteen years old, soon to be fourteen. Even when I was a small child, my mother knew I had ADD. I had good manners. I wasn’t defiant or unwilling, but I struggled greatly with focusing, remembering and following directions, finishing work on time and etc, etc. The same problems still exist, but because I am on Adderall, they are less blatant. I know my problems aren’t caused by a poor diet. I am a slight health freak and a strict vegetarian; in other words, I have learned to be very conscious about what I eat.

Now, about the medicine:

1) Medicine affects children in both positive and negative ways, but does one side outweigh the other?

My opinion: I can concentrate better when I am on Adderall, but on the contrary, I have suffered from headaches, weight loss, panic attacks, periods of moodiness, lack of sleep and self-doubt.

Is it ethical to use drugs to try to change a child?

My opinion: I’m not so sure myself. I may be a little slow in doing certain things, but I excel in spelling, abstract math and vocabulary. I believe that attention deficit disorder is just an alternative (but equal) way of thinking, with its own attributes.

Do parents consider the possibility that their child can become addicted to methamphetamine?

My opinion: I don’t believe mine do. On the days that I don’t take it, I feel horrible. Although it is used to treat attention deficit disorder, it is still methamphetamine, and cravings are quite possible, even without nicotine as an ingredient.

And, finally, shouldn’t children with the “disorder” be taught to consider their creativity and abstract thinking a gift?

My opinion: I’m not sure about considering it a gift, but Hell will freeze over before I ever conform to calling it an impairment, as does most of society.

I would love to hear from parents and teachers who have children with ADD, as well as other children who have it.

Phyllis

endlessnameless111 asked:


I have what I think is major depressive disorder, but having recently switched psychiatrists my new one now wants me to go for a CT scan to rule out any possibility of another disorder - which I’ll soon be attending. The only other disorder that this could possibly be, at least from my perspective, is Attention Deficit Disorder. Would a CT Scan show the brain abnormalities associated with the disorder?

Floyd

Jennifer Koretsky asked:


Copyright (c) 2008 Jennifer Koretsky

The ‘doom and gloom’ is upon us. It’s in the papers, on the web, and all over the TV. Your friends, family, and neighbors can’t stop talking about it.

The ‘economic crisis’ is on everyone’s mind, and fear and anxiety are everywhere. Is it affecting you and your Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)?

If you’re weathering the storm without feeling overly fearful and anxious, then bravo! I applaud you and encourage you to keep doing whatever is working for you.

However, if you’re experiencing an abundance of negative thoughts and anxiety about the current financial climate, then keep reading.

What I don’t want to talk about today is finance and economics. I’m not qualified to advise anyone in this regard.

What I am qualified to talk about is how a climate of fear and anxiety can wreak havoc on an ADDer, and what you can do about it. So let’s begin by briefly looking at the reasons why ADDers in particular are having a difficult time right now.

First, adults with ADD are ’spongy.’ We have a tendency to absorb our environments. So if we’re surrounded by good news and happy, positive people, then we feel great. But if we’re surrounded by bad news and worried and anxious people, then we can quickly find ourselves feeling worried and anxious, too.

Second, adults with ADD also have a tendency towards negative thoughts, rumination, and general anxiety. Anxiety is a very common co-existing condition for adults with ADD. Anxiety can increase ADD challenges, and ADD challenges can increase anxiety.

So you can see how the everyday challenges of ADD and/or anxiety combined with financial woes and a media circus can easily send an adult with ADD into a tailspin!

Specifically, I’ve been hearing from adults with ADD about how difficult it’s been to:

* Stay focused at work without getting distracted by the financial news stories and updates.

* Reassure their family members (especially aging parents) that things will be okay.

* Fall asleep at night when they are so worried about their jobs and mortgages.

In response to these concerns, I’ve compiled an ‘ADD Management Action Plan’ to help you move forward in the present moment. Remember, this is NOT financial advice. It IS about managing your ADD when things are particularly stressful.

ADD Management Action Plan

1. Cut down on media time. This means television news, newspapers, and online news. It might also mean cutting off conversations with ‘chicken little’ types who want to dump their own anxiety on you.

In order to manage your own anxiety, you have to remove yourself from everyone else’s. You can get all the news and information you need by watching one news broadcast, reading one newspaper, or visiting one website. Limit your news time to no more than 30 minutes a day.

2. Manage the everyday stress in your life. The overriding theme of my book Odd One Out: The Maverick’s Guide to Adult ADD and my coaching is that Stress Management = ADD Management.

The more you control your stress, the easier it becomes to control your ADD challenges. You’ll need to be calm, centered, and relatively stress-free in order to make good decisions about your finances and your future.

3. Stop brooding and take action. Express your fears, worries, and anxiety to the appropriate people. You might have some legitimate concerns about your job, your mortgage, and your retirement savings. Talk to your spouse, your financial adviser, your accountant, or anyone else you need to. Seek solid explanations for the things you don’t understand. Get the facts before you make assumptions.

Additionally, talk out your anxiety when you feel it setting in. Journal about it if you have to. Don’t let those thoughts swim around in your head and become rumination!

And if you can’t seem to get a hold on your anxiety no matter what you do, then don’t hesitate to talk to your doctor or a therapist.

Remember, you’re not alone. Many ADDers are having a hard time coping right now. But you CAN do something about it!



Tamara

Hengster asked:


Parents with ADHD children know all about the difficulty of trying to raise their child properly and having to cope with the extreme behavioral problems that come with the disorder. In response to this new modern epidemic mainstream medical companies have of course made products that can help solve the child’s problem (and their parent’s frustration!) by the use of drugs such as Ritalin and Adderall. To compliment this many also send their children to behavioral therapy which is expensive and time consuming; a perfect combination for an industry trying to make money out of a serious problem. Recently however studies have shown that ADHD drugs do not cure the problem but simply put off the problem without curing it. Add to this that the studies show the drugs may stunt growth and may also cause long term problems that have not been totally confirmed and we can see drugs may not be the answer. So what alternative attention deficit disorder treatments are there and can there be a totally natural adhd treatment so that parents can be assured of a healthy and happy child, and do they work? Let’s look at a few examples:

Diet

One approach to changing a child’s behavior that has become popular is to control, their diet to cut out certain foods and additives that promote hyperactive behavior and increase or decrease nutrients that help with focusing and calmness. This approach is often very healthy as the diets are usually quite good if not exciting. The biggest problem usually lies in sugar and caffeine but there are also many other surprising foods that may make more of an impact than you think. The downsides are that it is hard to get an ADHD kid to eat all the things you prepare as they are used to a different more exiting diet. If you can get them to stick to the changes there are many children who may benefit from this but not everyone has had immediate success with just this approach depending on the severity of their disorder.

Behavior modification programs

This is a system of changing the way a child acts by rewarding them for good behavior and not giving in and giving them what they want for bad behavior. While most parents do this to a degree anyway many have taken this to a new level by making it into a game by scoring the child and promoting active tasks. While this may not eliminate ADHD it can modify some more antisocial and aggressive behaviors if you can channel that energy into useful things. Not all children take to this however and it can end up being a battle to get them to participate but still a large number of people have managed to turn the whirlwind energy of the child into a force for good!

Biofeedback

This is a newer treatment that revolves around the brainwave patterns that an ADHD sufferer experiences. By measuring brainwaves through a machine it is possible to adjust these patterns by rewarding the right brainwaves via a computer game or some other learning tool, when the person does the right thing mentally they are rewarded and the brain responds by adjusting the way it behaves. This is less invasive than it sounds as sensors are placed on the scalp to measure the brainwaves but no other equipment is actually touching the child. This requires some significant resources however and is not readily available.

Auditory Integration Training

There is evidence to support then notion that some learning disabilities ADHD included are a result of a problem with a child’s hearing. Problems like this can cause a child to “tune out” or cover their ears or become aggressive when particular sounds or frequencies are heard. The treatment that goes with this focuses on using sounds that stimulate the possible problem areas of the inner ear and the way it interacts with the brain. By modulating and adjusting these frequencies it is possible to gain long term benefit to their hearing and also short term increases to attention span and social behaviors.

As we can see there are many alternative attention deficit disorder treatments that do not require mind altering drugs but work holistically and naturally. Some even focus on simply redirecting the ADHD sufferers energy into beneficial things implying that it can be a blessing not a curse if refocused. In any event there are options for natural ADHD remedies that have had proven success!



Lillie

theguyfromhouston asked:


I have a kid that presents simptomslike ADD, we have no medical insurance, so I think is better to take him to the right doctor the first time. Any suggestion would be helpful.

Chris

Abhishek Agarwal asked:


As parents, I am sure that many of you will have spent sleepless nights concerned that the strange behavior our child exhibited today may be the first signs of Attention Deficit Disorder. Our concerns are justified in many ways as most of us believe we know the fundamental signs of the disease are, and we obviously panic at the thought we might have to deal with it.

The fear of the disease, its effects and the way it will impact on the family is only one part of it. There is often an underlying guilt that in some way our actions may be responsible for this having happened. Most of us will in some way or another blame ourselves, believing that we have not been strict enough or applied enough discipline, or conversely that we have been too strict. While these apprehensions may be quite normal the ideas aren’t always rational or well-founded.

There are usually assed to be three broad stages in any normal childhood development;

The first is observable in babies / infants. During this stage infants become focused on and preoccupied with certain objects to the exclusion of what else is around them. If a kid’s development stalls around this point it may later show as signs of autism.

In the second recognisable stage, which is observed in older children, the child becomes interested in a range of things at the same time and they then become incapable of concentrating or focussing on any one thing or action for any length of time. This is the key to ADD, as If the child stalls in their development at this stage they may later in their childhood go on to suffer Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).

The third stage assists a child to mature to a point from which they can comfortably focus and voluntarily apply their attention in one certain direction for longer periods of time. They can then alter their focus or actions as and when they have a need to. This stage is therefore a crucial transitional stage which moulds a child for success in the classroom and in the real world.

But ADD does not only make a child or young adult incapable of focusing. It also reduces their ability to take decisions. They can then become indecisive even in normal everyday life. An example may be that they become disoriented when crossing a road and turn back into on-coming traffic, or lose the reason why they were crossing in the first place.

At the opposite end of the scale, ADD sufferers can also become totally focussed on a specific object or task. They can become consumed by it and are as a result are absolutely cut-off and oblivious to everything else. an example of this manifesting is that they may watch the same movie again and again without realising, or read a certain part of a book repeatedly with no reaction or loss of concentration. Later in life this behavior might turn into over-eating or substance-abuse or other compulsive behavior.

Another increasingly reported variation of ADD is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder known as ADHD. This leads to sufferers always needing to stay busy, moving from place to place or being unable to slow down. It is increasingly being diagnosed in young teenagers. This can drive parents mad and keep them up nights in an attempt to calm their child and entice them to sleep. These children and young adults will find it difficult to switch off but they can experience many of the events above. While experience of this type of patient has led Psychologists to conclude that ADD is not a problem that a child will grow out of naturally they have also quite strongly rejected any link with the parent causing this disorder. There is no direct causal relationship between what a parent does an how likely a child is to develop ADD or ADHD. So if your child is suffering from ADD stop blaming yourself, instead recognize the problem for what it is and contact a specialist as soon as possible.



Lisa