If you’ve seen Finding Nemo, Dory is a sweet example of a good-hearted little fish with a big case of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. She’s easily distracted, forgetful, and kind of a fun mess. Dory isn’t alone. Attention-Deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common psychological disorder experienced by millions of people of all ages across the United States. It’s characterized by a chronic pattern of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that interferes in normal life activities and development. ADHD affects about 9 percent of people under 18 and younger and 4 percent of people 18 and older[1].

ADHD has three components. “Inattention” refers to difficulty focusing, disorganization, and wandering off-task. “Hyperactivity” refers to a state of near-constant motion, regardless of the situation and an inability to stay still. “Impulsivity” means a tendency to act without thinking, especially when seeking gratification.

The three subtypes of ADHD are:

  • Predominantly inattentive
  • Predominantly hyperactive-impulsive
  • Combined

Combined ADHD is the most common subtype of the attention disorders.

Signs and Symptoms

The key to understanding the problems presented by ADHD is not so much that these symptoms are present but that they are also intrusive, hard to control and interfere with a young person’s development. A diagnosis of ADHD means that the individual is having significant problems in life due to their inability to focus and control their behaviors.

Symptoms related to inattention include:

  • Inability to sustain attention at work or in school
  • Wandering thoughts, the appearance of daydreaming
  • avoidance of activities that require mental focus
  • inability to complete tasks
  • easily distracted
  • short or poor attention span

Symptoms related to hyperactivity include

  • fidgeting
  • restlessness
  • interrupting
  • frequent talking
  • difficulty

Symptoms common to children and adults with ADHD:

  • disorganization
  • forgetfulness
  • easily frustrated
  • low tolerance for frustration
  • low self-esteem

Risk Factors

ADHD’s cause or causes have not been identified. There are however risk factors that seem to correlate with a diagnosis of ADHD, including:

  • A family history of ADHD.
  • Being exposed to toxins, like alcohol, cigarette smoke, or drug abuse during pregnancy
  • Being exposed to environmental toxins during pregnancy
  • Exposure to toxins like lead paint
  • Premature birth or low birth weight
  • Birth trauma
  • Brain injury
  • Treatment and Therapies
  • While there is no cure for ADHD, currently available treatments can help reduce symptoms and improve functioning. Treatments include medication, psychotherapy, education or training, or a combination of treatments.

Treatment of ADHD

Like most conditions, ADHD responds well to a combination of medication, psychotherapy and lifestyle changes.

  • ADHD medications reduce impulsivity and hyperactivity. It takes a doctor to prescribe them and monitor a person’s progress while taking them. Most medicines for ADHD are stimulants, which boost the production of the chemicals norepinephrine and dopamine in the brain[2].
  • Behavioral Therapy is a first-line therapeutic approach that helps children reduce unwanted behaviors while increased good behavior. The process works with children and their parents. A therapist may teach children improved social skills and social interaction skills. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is an outstanding therapeutic approach for adults with ADHD.

Home Care

Using the skills taught in therapy at home is the largest determiner of how well a person manages ADHD. Medication and therapy alone can’t resolve all the problems that accompany ADHD. Therapy teaches skills and techniques for managing ADHD, but it takes practicing those skills every day to make them into habits. In some ways, managing ADHD involves re-training the brain by changing behaviors first. Below are some ways to manage day to day life that will help bring ADHD under control.

  • Start using a day planner or calendar app. It can take a little time but learning to put down everything you know you need to do on paper—real paper or digital—gives you a concrete, easy to follow plan for your day. Learn to rely on your planner and calendar.
  • Make task plans. A group of completed steps that contribute to finishing a project is a task-plan. People with ADHD have trouble conceptualizing an entire project, so breaking a project down into smaller, manageable pieces helps get things done. Smaller tasks that contribute to the whole project are easier to hold in one’s mind—after all, attention span is problematic in ADHD. Also, being able to look at each completed step helps boost some positive thinking.
  • Make and use lists. Don’t get caught up in making highly detailed, massive and all-encompassing plans—just make simple lists.

If these issues with ADHD are affecting your or a loved one, please seek help from your local Spokane healthcare professional. Reach out to Damaris through her contact page or calling 509-342-6592.

 

 

[1] https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd-the-basics/index.shtml

[2] https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/mental-health-medications/index.shtml