I am a Psychology major who has become quite discontent with the field in general. More specifically, I am unhappy and appalled at the willingness of many professionals in the field to feed pills to children, adolescents, and adults after barely spending the proper amount of time in a therapy session with them. My main concern lies with Adderall (Amphetamine Salts) to treat ADHD. I was diagnosed with ADHD at a young age, and only recently was able to break free of its firm hold on me.

What is ADHD? Attention-deficit/hyperactive disorder is more or less when others around you feel like you are struggling with three areas: inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. The clinical diagnosis is nothing short of vague, riddled with symptoms such as “blurting out answers,” or “seems to not listen to when spoken to directly.” When a person is diagnosed with this disorder, and prescribed stimulant medication, …

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurobehavioral disorder affecting 3-5% of children and adolescents between the ages of 4 and 17 in the United States. It is a disorder that impacts not only the child, but other family members as well. Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder have a difficult time, both socially and academically. This article will explore the etiology and impact of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder on children. It will also outline treatment options available for children with ADHD.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurobiological disorder that is characterized by hyperactivity/impulsivity and/or persistent inattention. ADHD is categorized into 3 types: predominantly hyperactive-impulsive, predominantly inattentive, and combined. It is estimated that 3-5% of children in the United States between the ages of 4 and 17 have been diagnosed with this disorder. ADHD is more prevalent in boys. The ratio of boys to girls who are diagnosed …

A recent report released by the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) shows that nearly one in ten of all U.S. children are diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This number, which represents a 22 per cent increase in the past five years, is attributed to increased awareness and better screening. However, not all experts agree, especially when most European countries cite a 5 per cent incidence of ADHD in children. The CDC study was also based on reports given by parents without clear documentation of how the diagnosis was made. In addition, wide variations exist in reported rates of ADHD in different parts of the country, suggesting that different diagnostic criteria are being used. The highest incidence of ADHD is reported in Alabama and the lowest incidence in Colorado.

ADHD is characterized by symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention or impulsivity, symptoms everyone has from time to time. However, …

I have a friend whose child has an autoimmune condition. I won’t go into the details of it, but essentially the immune system is doing something inappropriate in the body. It turns out this is actually a skin condition called acne inversa. This condition is affecting their esteem which is, in turn, affecting the way they want to interact with the world.

What is interesting is that their behaviour doesn’t seem to be purely emotional, but also connected to their immune system. What became apparent is that once their acne inversa was treated and their immune system calmed down – their behaviour seemed to calm down too.

I wonder if this might be more broadly applicable and if there’s a link between what might be going on with our health and what’s going on with the brain. It makes sense that what’s going on with our behaviour is not …

For children and adults diagnosed with ADHD, the symptoms of distractibility, impulsivity, and hyperactivity can wreak havoc with their intentions for a harmonious life. The brain cells called neurotransmitters that are responsible for these disruptive behaviors cannot be altered by sheer will alone. Although prescribed medications are the first line of treatment by most medical doctors, there is hard evidence that effective management of symptom severity can be achieved naturally.

Brain Critical Nutrients

Below is a listing of a number of key nutrients that have been identified to positively support brain function. They are important for everyone, but particularly for those struggling with cognitive performance.

• Protein is important for the regulation of blood sugar which affects mood, behavior and cognitive function. It is also composed of long chains of amino acids which are responsible for the development of neurotransmitters.
• Amino Acids tyrosine and phenylalanine are important for boosting the levels

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IBMT or Integrative Body-Mind Training has been a major research project at both the Dalian University of Technology in China and the Department of Psychology at the University of Oregon in the USA.

For over six years, Dr. Yi-Yuan Tang and Dr. Michael Posner have studied the effects of a body-mind meditation practice derived from Chinese medicine on the body, emotions and the brain.

Their research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences or PNAS, shows specifically that IBMT produces greater changes in brain and behavior than relaxation training alone.

Their research involved two groups; the experimental group was given integrative body-mind training, while the control group received relaxation training in which individuals were taught to relax the muscles of their bodies in a progressive manner using deliberate thought control.

With just 11 hours of training, practitioners of integrative body-mind training achieved far greater emotional and …

Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, ADHD, face many complications over the course of their lives and, for some, the complications may be exacerbated by a pre-existing connection to a neurological complication. If your child has been diagnosed with ADHD, it is important to ask your doctor about the potential risks for developing a seizure disorder and seeking out medical testing to rule out, or confirm, this complication.

Epilepsy is a complication that is believed to be more prevalent in children with ADHD than in children without ADHD. While not all children with epilepsy will have ADHD, there does seem to be a close connection. When your child exhibits complications associated with hyperactivity, impulsivity, lack of focus, and lack of attention, seeking out testing for a seizure disorder may be prudent as well.

While medications to treat ADHD are effective, if your child also has a co-morbid complication with epilepsy, …

Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder or ADHD is a disorder that is neurodevelopmental and affects the mental abilities of a person. It is usually diagnosed in children and remains till about adulthood.

What are the Symptoms of ADHD?

Some of the symptoms that can be observed in someone facing ADHD are:

1. Trouble Focusing
2. Daydreaming
3. Forgetfulness
4. Talking too much
5. Making silly mistakes
6. Fidgeting
7. Hard time resisting temptations
8. Difficulty socializing
9. Aggression, anger and excitability
10. Hyperactivity
11. Depression
12. Learning disability
13. Boredom and mood swings
14. Absent-mindedness
15. Short attention span

What are the Causes of ADHD?

The exact causes of ADHD aren’t fully known and scientists are still working on it but some things can be considered as the trigger of causing ADHD. Some of the potential causes of ADHD are:

1. Premature birth
2. Consumption of drugs or alcohol or smoking cigarettes during pregnancy
3. Low weight at birth
4. Exposure to some harmful substances during pregnancy
5. Brain injury
6. Inherited

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Dear Dr. Quinn,

I am writing to you as a father whose 15-year-old daughter has the inattentive subtype of ADD. She has always been a “low energy” person, and currently, despite a regimen of Zoloft 150 mg. and Concerta 36 mg. she still often complains of fatigue. Medical work-up (anemia, thyroid, etc.) has all been normal.

Is this a phenomenon you have, in your medical experience, commonly observed, and if so, how have you approached it — biologically, psychosocially? The symptom itself interferes with her motivation to participate in the flow of life.

The work of you and your colleagues is providing a very valuable public service.

Thank You

Dear Dad:

The situation you write about is common in girls with AD/HD, particularly the inattentive subtype. Dr. Russell Barkley has spoken about this and describes this type of ADD as having a “Sluggish Cognitive Tempo.” In a discussion on addconsults, …

 

By Kathy Swantee – It has been almost 3 years since I was diagnosed with ADD. I had picked up the book Driven to Distraction (Ratey & Hallowell) when my son was tested and found myself within the pages as well. The way I saw things, the way I did things; this was actually a cohesive explanation! The closest I had ever come to putting a finger on my difficulties had been in college. I was studying autism for a college psyche class and was struck by some of the resemblances to my own struggles. I wondered if I might have some mild form of autism…25 years later came my diagnosis of ADD, a disorder in the same spectrum as autism, if only I’d known how close I had been.

When we returned to the doctor’s to discuss treatment options for my son, we were discussing options …