ADD: Emotional Issues Rear Up Early
If you’re reading this, you may be wondering what ADD or ADHD is, or if it has anything to do with you. It is a disorder that makes it hard to control impulses and focus on certain tasks. A lot of people think it’s just an excuse for bad behavior which doesn't exist in the real world.
In reality, there are many children and adults who suffer from the syndrome. They are often labeled as lazy because they have trouble focusing and sitting still in school, but many times there is more going on than just laziness. This blog post will explore types of ADD/ADHD and symptoms thereof such as lack of focus and impulse control issues.
The most common type of ADHD is what's called Predominantly Inattentive (PI for short) It is 10 times more common in females than males, and is characterized by difficulty paying attention, mind wandering, difficulty organizing tasks and activities and forgetfulness. This type of ADD affects the central nervous system.
On the opposite end of the spectrum is Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive ADHD (PH-ADHD), which can be hard to diagnose because it has so many similarities with Attention Deficit Disorder. This type of ADD is faster paced, more disorganized and more hyperactive than PI. It seems like it should be called hAADD(Hyperactivity Attention Deficit Disorder).
Hyperactive and Impulsive ADD is 10 times more common in males, and it also affects the central nervous system.
The Hyperactive-Impulsive types have a hard time sitting still for long periods of time, have trouble staying organized and are easily distracted. The Inattentive ADD types are often mistaken for being lazy, but they are just unable to focus their attention on certain tasks. There can be many reasons for this, such as lack of blood flow to certain sections of their brains, or low levels of dopamine which are stimulatory neurotransmitters that our bodies use to send 'go' signals.
Anxiety is a very common symptom with ADHD. Kids and adults who suffer from anxiety disorders are more likely to develop ADD or ADHD. If an adult has ADD, they are more likely to be diagnosed with depression because of the many symptoms that go along with both disorders, such as lack of motivation, low self-esteem and lack of ability to control their emotions.
Some people have trouble paying attention so much that they are diagnosed with mild or moderate learning disabilities (LD), but in most cases it isn’t enough to send them through all the rigamarole that goes on at a regular school. A learning disability makes up about 2% of all students in the US.
Some people with LD have only a few issues to deal with, while others may have so many that they make it nearly impossible to finish tasks or schoolwork. The majority of those with LD have issues focusing their attention, and are more weak in reading and math than most other kids.
If you think you might be struggling with any type of ADD or ADHD, there are many things that you can do to help yourself out. One of the first things is to talk to your parents if you’re a kid or your parents if you’re an adult. They’ll be able to help you get a diagnosis and give you many suggestions on ways to make your life a little easier. If you don’t have any of the symptoms just yet, it is still important to talk to your parents about it so they can help you make healthy choices as they come up in the future.
There are psychologists who specialize in learning disabilities called Learning Disability Psychologists (LDPs) who will be able to work with you in school or outside of school to help you out when things get hard. Another specialist is called an Occupational Therapist (OT) who specializes in helping people with ADHD and LDs by teaching them how to manage their symptoms to live healthier lives. They will probably work with you in addition to your other doctor/therapist, depending on what kind of help is needed.
ADHD and LD are very common and everyone can benefit from some help. There are a lot of resources out there for people who suffer from the disorder, and many checklists that you can use on your own.
Conclusion
ADHD is a very common disorder, and has become more recognized in recent years. It affects about 1 in every 7 people and is more likely to affect males. If you think you might have it, ask an adult or look it up on the internet! There are so many ways to help yourself with ADHD and LDs. Educate yourself as much as possible so that you can understand as much information as possible. You will find that there are many people who go through what you do, and it might just make some things easier for you having someone else on your side!