ADHD Explained
What is ADHD? ADHD is a normal childhood condition that can be effectively treated. It’s a neurological health condition in which biologically active neurotransmitters in the central nervous system are abnormally affected.
Studies reveal that ADHD can affect some parts of the brain which enable them to plan ahead, solve problems, understand others, control impulses, and even hold back impulses. These parts of the brain control various aspects of behavior such as:
This article will help you understand what is ADHD and how it affects your child’s mental health.
ADHD predominantly affects children between the ages of 4 and 7 years. It was once thought that ADHD only affected boys but recent studies have shown that girls may also have a chance at having ADHD.
Most cases of ADHD are believed to be genetic although environmental factors seem to play a key role.
One of the possible causes of ADHD is the imbalance of brain chemicals called dopamine and nor epinephrine.
What is ADHD does not have to do with what you as an adult need to know about diagnosing the condition since it is so easy to tell if a person has ADHD.
For instance, symptoms of ADHD may include: hyperactivity, difficulty with concentrating, fidgeting, distractibility, impulsiveness, or irritability.
ADHD in adults can also be easily misdiagnosed because of their inattention and hyperactivity.
ADHD Symptoms in Adults
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a term that many people talk about these days, tend to depict a condition that individuals commonly describe as being more than a little sporadic, sometimes with symptoms that can be a bit disconcerting, particularly to the ones closest to those individuals in question.
ADHD represents the core difficulty that is being faced by people with inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, all of which are typically seen in individuals under the age of thirty.
ADHD predominantly affects people who are the ages of eight to fifteen, and the symptoms can be initially manifested by the child who seems to be perpetually on the go, moving from one activity to another with seemingly little regard for planning ahead, and often losing things that they have not even noticed before.
ADHD symptoms often vary from individual to individual, though they are typically marked by the child’s inability to concentrate, focus, follow directions, and pay attention.
Most notably, ADHD sufferers frequently are unable to stay seated for any length of time and are known to become fidgety and easily distracted.
In order to effectively deal with the symptoms of ADHD, the proper diet must be embraced and actively practiced.
The specific dietary recommendations that are made for ADHD sufferers are primarily targeted towards addressing certain foods and beverages that can exacerbate the symptoms of ADHD.
These specific foods and beverages include caffeine, sugar, wheat products, and certain types of dairy products, as well as a lack of certain minerals, zinc, and chromium in the individual’s diet.
Additionally, certain types of food can have an effect on how an ADHD sufferer will deal with his or her symptoms of ADHD.
For instance, certain foods such as artificial sweeteners and high fructose corn syrup, as well as refined carbohydrates, are known to have a negative effect on the focus of an ADHD sufferer and may increase symptoms.
As previously mentioned, the goal of treatment is to help an ADHD sufferer to better manage his or her symptoms of ADHD in addition to helping them overcome the disorders altogether.
Many people who suffer from ADHD are known to be highly creative individuals, which is one of the reasons why medications, therapies, and behavioral programs are often effective.
Research has shown that there is a close link between creativity and ADHD disorders. Therefore, it is believed that a combination of these treatments along with a healthy diet in conjunction with adequate sleep may very well lead to improved overall health and increased achievement levels in individuals with ADHD/SAD.
Add Vs ADHD – How They Compete And How To Treat Them
When the ADD Vs ADHD debate first surfaced in our nation many years ago the reaction from parents was one of strong support for the use of psychostimulants as the most effective treatment for their children.
The research had been showing for some time that children with ADD or ADHD had a chemical imbalance within their brains and that this imbalance, not only caused the problems they exhibited but also were responsible for many of their behavioral issues.
Because of the strong feelings many parents had about these medications and the possibility of their being the best way to treat their children’s disorders, drug companies stepped forward to make a profit by proving that indeed their drugs worked.
At first it seemed like a win-win situation for all the pharmaceutical companies, doctors, and parents alike.
Children with ADD or ADHD would now receive the help they so desperately needed and the side effects of their medications would be reduced or eliminated altogether.
Of course, just as quickly as the profits began flowing, the FDA warned that there was just no solid proof that the drugs really work and that their use might have dire side effects on both the children and their parents.
As you can imagine the Add/ADHD industry has become a million dollar industry and there are a host of new drugs being introduced each year with similar claims.
Since Congress approved President Obama’s plan to make prescription drug prices more reasonable, the companies are going to have to fight harder to prove their products are safe and effective without resorting to unethical marketing and advertising strategies.
Naturally, any company who wants to prove their drug is effective will have to come up with strong marketing and advertising strategies that don’t put children at risk.
One thing is for sure, if your child has ADD or ADHD, you owe it to them to learn as much as you can about this serious health problem and find out the truth about ADD and ADHD drugs.
Can You Grow Out of ADHD?
If I could tell you one thing about ADHD, it would be this: no matter what level of the condition you might be at, if you want to grow up and function normally in society, you have to learn to let go and move on.
People with ADHD are usually the last to realize that they need to do something, but often, they are the first to feel the effects of social awkwardness or even pain due to their condition.
There is a common misconception that people with ADHD are lazy or do not want to do any work; however, the truth is far from that.
People with ADHD have incredibly high energy levels and would often act like children, even when in a professional setting. Some of the symptoms of ADHD can include hyperactivity, distractibility, impulsivity, and difficulty focusing, so it is true that some people with the disorder do not want to be at school or in any social situation, but they are unable to control these symptoms because their brain chemistry does not allow them to.
If you have been diagnosed with ADHD, the best place to start is by taking medication. This will help to control the symptoms and slow down the overall effects, but it cannot make anyone grow as a person.
If your symptoms were caused by ADHD, you will not grow out of it, nor will your symptoms disappear if you stop taking the medication. You will just be stuck with the same problems, without any progress to show for all your effort.
ADHD is just like any other disease, in that there are treatments available and sometimes they work, sometimes they do not. It all depends on your own personal situation.
If you find that controlling your symptoms is the only way for you to move forward with your life, then it might be okay for you to try prescribed medication.
However, if you do want to live the life you deserve and want to grow as a person, then you should follow the links below to find other forms of therapy that will teach you how to control your symptoms so that you can live life to its fullest potential.
Stimulants As an ADHD Treatment: Making the Right Choice For Your Child
If you or a loved one has just been diagnosed with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), you will likely be struggling with a multitude of symptoms and feelings.
First and foremost, you are going to need to decide what type of treatment is right for your particular situation.
In addition, because ADHD treatment can range from relatively simple and non-intrusive to a complex and highly intrusive therapeutic program, you’ll also need to decide which treatment approach is most appropriate for you as an individual. ADHD Treatment Systems.
The primary approach to ADHD treatment is generally to use stimulant-based medications such as Ritalin, Adderall, Concerta, and other prescriptions which can affect the levels of Serotonin and norepinephrine in an individual child’s system.
ADHD treatment systems often include counseling sessions and skills training so that the parent and teacher can learn to support their ADHD child in controlling their behaviors and attention span.
Other ADHD treatments include non-stimulant drugs, psychostimulants, and dietary supplements such as ADHD Friendly Meds (ADHD Friendly Tea and ADHD Friendly Chocolate).
ADHD treatment systems may also be used together as part of a comprehensive strategy to help control behavior, boost focus and memory, improve executive functioning, and reduce impulsivity and hyperactivity.
There are three different types of stimulant based medications that have been approved by the FDA for use in the treatment of ADHD.
They are listed below. Ritalin is a methylphenidate that has been approved by the FDA in both the generic form of Adderall and the Concerta variety. It has been found to effectively relieve symptoms in most children with ADHD while still causing some mild side effects.
The second type of stimulant medication is Adderall XR. This is a medication used in the treatment of ADHD in combination with other ADHD medications and/or therapy.
It is known to increase attention span and improve focus, but also has been found to be effective at decreasing restlessness and hyperactivity. Because it can cause some uncomfortable side effects like dizziness and headaches, it is not recommended to pregnant women or anyone else who is likely to be affected by stimulant medications. This type of medication should only be prescribed by an ADHD doctor.
The third type of ADHD treatment is a non-stimulant called Strattera. It has been found to be effective in the treatment of ADHD in adults, but it is not recommended for use in children younger than eight years of age or anyone who cannot take prescription stimulants.
A stimulant in this drug acts on the areas of the brain that control attention, reaction time, and impulse control. It is taken in tablet form and must be taken daily. To be more effective, it should be taken around the same time every day. This ADHD medication must be used with other medications for ADHD that are designed to improve concentration, focus, and/or impulse control.
Each patient should be assessed thoroughly before receiving any kind of medication. There is not just one child that may respond well to one type of ADHD treatment; there are usually multiple medications available for ADHD in order for caregivers and parents to find the right combination of treatment for their child.
Caregivers and parents should be aware of all the potential side effects that these medications may have.
In addition, healthcare providers will often screen patients and prescribe various medications based on the results of these screenings.
It is important that anyone who is considering receiving stimulant based medications for ADHD talk with their healthcare providers to learn more about how each medication may interact with other medications that a person may already be taking or may be taking for another condition.
Finding A Good ADHD Psychiatrist
Finding a good ADHD psychiatrist can be difficult. You want to make sure that they are trained and experienced in ADHD, but also that you will be able to work well together.
Your psychiatrist may need to check your for mental health issues first. Sometimes patients with mental health issues can be violent or have suicidal thoughts.
This is something to watch for as a potential ADHD psychiatrist. A psychiatrist that has experience in working with children with ADHD will likely know how to spot these issues before it happens.
When looking for a psychiatrist, you should do some research on them and see if they have had success with ADHD.
A good psychiatrist will work well with your child and should take the time to get to know him or her. If you feel like you are getting pushed off into another room, you may want to consider working with a different psychiatrist.
The best way to find a psychiatrist that you will get along well with is to meet with several and see who you like the best. There are websites that list several psychiatrists by name and should help you narrow down your options. Once you have met with several, you can learn more about them and learn what they have to offer.
Once you know who you want to work with, you can call them and set up an appointment.
It is important to go in prepared and tell the psychiatrist everything you are thinking and feeling so that they may understand your situation better. Once you meet with the psychiatrist, they will be able to help you with getting your child on the right medication as well as work with your child to manage his or her behavior.
You may be given homework to do and may even be asked to stay overnight. Working with a good ADHD psychiatrist can be an essential part of treating this condition.