A Comprehensive Guide To ADHD

You’ve probably heard of ADHD before and associate it with getting distracted or being disruptive. While the disorder is commonly trademarked for those traits, there’s a lot more to it!

ADHD makes it difficult for the person with this disorder to focus on a single task or even sit still for long periods. While it’s commonly diagnosed in children and teens, it can follow you well into adulthood!

The disorder is highly stereotyped and can lead to anxiety and depression in children. Here’s some info to help you break the stereotype and learn more about the disease.

What are the symptoms of ADHD?

The symptoms are categorized into two common groups, the first being inattentive symptoms and the second hyperactive or impulsive symptoms. If your ADHD goes undiagnosed in childhood, you could have a different range of symptoms as an adult.

A child with ADHD is usually described as distracted or having the inability to focus. Inattentive symptoms like not following directions, finishing tasks, daydreaming, or forgetting things are huge signs of ADHD.

Symptoms of hyperactivity include not being able to sit still, excessive talking, or interrupting others often. And as an adult, these symptoms develop into forgetfulness, impulsiveness, procrastination, and even mood swings!

Treating ADHD

ADHD needs to be treated so that it doesn’t follow you into adulthood. When it does, untreated ADHD can take a toll on your productivity and even your relationships.

If you’re concerned that you or your child has ADHD, you should bring it up with your doctor. Talk to them about your concerns, and they can direct you to treatment which could be behavioral or medicinal or a combination of both.

Behavioral therapy focuses on teaching you or your child how to detect the symptoms and manage them in order to lead a more productive life. As an example, many are guided to break up work of tasks that intimidate them.

Breaking up larger tasks into sections can help you focus on smaller parts, making it easier to complete an entire task, rather than focusing on an extensive and intimidating task, which is challenging to achieve.

Medications you might be familiar with are Ritalin and Adderall, which increase your adrenaline and dopamine hormones allowing you to focus better. But these medications do have their side effects, so speak to your doctor if you notice any side effects.

Managing ADHD

With ADHD, you need to be strict about how you live your lifestyle. You should have a balanced diet, at least an hour of exercise a day, plenty of sleep, and limited screen time!

While it can be harder to learn with ADHD, but you shouldn’t be discouraged; you can get extra time on tests and assignments so use the time to your advantage. You might also benefit from staying organized using calendars, setting reminders, and planning.

ADHD is completely manageable, and many go on to even using it to their advantage. Speaking to your healthcare provider can help get you diagnosed and treated, so don’t be afraid to ask for help!