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Which Careers Play a Part In Being Successful with ADHD?

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Career success is sometimes perceived as a far-off, unachievable ideal, particularly for those with ADHD, whose illnesses can make it difficult to manage job obligations. However, a new ADDitude study exceeded our predictions, with almost all of our users reporting high work satisfaction not because of their ADHD, but because of it.

https://www.healthline.com/health/adhd/best-jobs

Because you have adult ADHD, your weaknesses and strengths may vary somewhat from others. It may be more difficult for you to remain focused and disciplined, as well as accomplish activities on time. You may have challenges at work as a result of this.

However, many occupations may be best adapted to your ADHD. The goal is to choose a career that allows you to put your abilities to the greatest possible use while also still ensuring that your problems are manageable. As you consider your future career options, keep the following points in mind:

Choose something that you enjoy

Everyone performs better in a work that piques their attention and motivates them. This is particularly true if you have attention deficit disorder. It will be more difficult for you to stay consistent at work if you are quickly bored and annoyed.

Make three lists before deciding on a career: what you’re excellent at, what you enjoy doing, and what somebody will pay you to perform. All three of these criteria should be met in your dream work.

Concentrate on your strengths

Symptoms of ADHD vary from person to person. You may get agitated and sidetracked as a result of the problem. It can also make you so concentrated on a subject that you find it hard to shift your attention to anything else.

Maybe hire an adhd coach in the meantime to get you there?

https://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/best-jobs-adults

Career that are best for people with ADHD

Many individuals with ADHD do well as entrepreneurs, computer programmers, and creative sectors, according to Roberts, because of their unique capacity to solve issues and establish systems when they are engaged in their job.

People with ADHD would also be great in the following jobs:

Representative of the company

Owner of a small business

Worker in the hospitality industry

Cook Aid courses

Technician for computers

Writer or painter

Engineer/Athlete

You can work in any career you desire, although people with ADHD generally gain from flexible or non-traditional schedules. They also have a cool demeanor under stress and thrive in quickly areas like schools, clinics, and restaurants.

https://www.verywellmind.com/the-best-jobs-for-people-with-adhd-5201906

How to Keep Yourself Motivated?

According to recent research on ADHD in the workplace, between 55 percent and 69 percent of people with ADHD have trouble getting work done efficiently and to their fullest capacity. According to the same study, between 20% and 23% of people with ADHD had trouble getting fired from their respective jobs and had issues with attendance. 

No matter what career you get, you’ll have to manage certain cognitive issues:

Even though you tried your best to listen intently, you may forget important details from a conversation.

Reading emails might be exhausting at times.

It may seem that completing essential chores is unattainable.

Even if you set an early set, you may be constantly late.

Even if you work more hours than your coworkers, you may feel unproductive.

You are not a lousy employee because of any of these factors. These are only difficulties.

Why Do There Seem to Be So Many Successful ADHD People?

As a result of their brain functioning abnormalities, persons with ADHD are known to have distinct abilities. They are more spontaneous, innovative, and original. They are also more creative, vibrant, intuitive, and straightforward. They also have a significantly stronger ability than their non-ADHD counterparts to hyperfocus on issues that fascinate them.

They come up with new ideas and frequently come up with the most original and creative ideas, and their high energy allows them to accomplish more and work even harder and better than others. Distractibility and spontaneity are strongly linked, and many individuals with ADHD are successful at redirecting hyperactivity and transforming it into unpredictability, which may be used to serve them in all aspects of life.

People with ADHD should engage in occupations that allow them to channel their demand for physical activity, creativity, inspiration, or inventiveness into something productive.

THE PERFECT JOB FOR ADULTS WITH ADHD

When it comes to selecting the perfect career and environment, you’ll need to spend a little time thinking about your preferences and needs. This will entail taking into consideration both your ADHD strengths and challenges. o obviously, there will be a need to explore further than this.

Isn’t it true that you’re more than your ADHD?

And there isn’t a study that can tell you precisely what you want and need in a career.

One thing to watch within your work environment is RSD or rejection sensitive dysphoria!

Natural Remedies For ADHD

In recent decades, the manufacturing of medications to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder has soared. According to the Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC), ADHD symptoms in youngsters increased by 41% between 2003 and 2011Trusted Reference.

According to estimates from 2011, 11percent of total of children between the ages of Four and 17 have been evaluated and results.. That’s a total of 6.4 million kids. There are alternative, more natural choices if you don’t want to treat this illness with medicines.

Side effects from medications are possible

By boosting and stabilizing neurotransmitters, ADHD medications can assist to alleviate symptoms. Neurotransmitters are hormones that send signals from your brain to your body’s cells.ADHD can be addressed with a number of medications, including amphetamine and stimulants . 

Non stimulants, such as fluoxetine (Strattera) or Wellbutrin, can be utilized if stimulant side effects are more to bear or if other medical issues make amphetamine use impossible.

While these medications can help with focus, they also have the potential to induce major negative effects. 

Sleep disturbances 

fluctuations in mood

a decrease in appetite

issues with the heart

suicidal ideation or behavior

There wasn’t too much investigation on these medications’ long-term effects.However, some research has been conducted, and the results raise red flags. In a 2010 Australian investigation, no significant differences were discovered.

https://www.healthline.com/health/adhd/natural-remedieshttps://www.healthline.com/health/adhd/natural-remedies

Natural Remedies?

A brain ailment called attention deficit hyperactivity disorder affects over 15 million American adults. Some natural therapies may help to alleviate some problems. Others have a little impact.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy 

You can consult with a therapist or a trainer to figure out which tactics are most effective for you. They may would like you to:

Make a schedule

Learn how to stay organized

Distractions must be managed

Limit your options

Make a list of your objectives

Create favorable conditions

Diet Planning

When it comes to ADHD, a well-balanced diet is crucial. Using fresh, healthful foods low in fat, cholesterol, and salts can help you control your problems. You know precisely what’s on your plate when you prepare at home.

Exercise

Not only is exercising excellent for your wellness, but it’s also healthy for your intellect.One research found that doing 45 minutes of high – intensity exercise three to four times a week for ten weeks lowered ADHD symptoms considerably. Check with your doctor before you begin. 

Caffeine should be avoided

Caffeine might be a helpful ADHD therapy. According to studies, it increases cognition and focus. You’re undoubtedly aware that it can be found in coffee, drink, and tea. It’s also included in career maturity pain relievers and cold treatments. Remember that a little caffeine may go a far toward. Caffeine in excess might have the opposite result.

Vitamins and supplements

Supplementing with omega-3 fats is beneficial to your heart. However, the advantages for your Symptom severity are minor. Copper, ferrous, serotonin, and magnesium are all in this category. Unless you’re already deficient in those nutrients.

https://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/ss/slideshow-adhd-natural-remedies

Essential Oils:

Essential oils, according to some, can help relieve or minimize the symptoms of ADHD.

Lavender: Lavender can help individuals sleep. Although individuals claim that it helps, there appear to be few further facts to support this up.

Vetiver: The findings have been made public.

 Rats were able to focus better after inhaling vetiver essential oil. To determine if the same remains true in people, more research is required.

Rosemary: Those who were exposed to the scent of rosemary extract got improved results for speed and precision in cognitive tasks.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/315239

Iron,Minerals, Vitamin C, and B6 

Several ADHD minerals and vitamins are essential for the production and maintenance of neurotransmitter synapses in the brain, particularly when a kid or adult is low under one of them. Iron and vitamin B6 enhance levels of dopamine, whereas vitamin C is a key component of neurotransmitters. Zinc modulates dopamine and, when combined with other medications and therapies, may benefit certain children with ADHD symptoms.

Only 18 % of the therapeutic community had ADHD, compared to 84 percent of the ADHD group. Low iron levels – as well as low metal concentrations — are linked to serious ADHD, but patients should not start taking supplements without first consulting with their doctor.

Green Time 

Green time is particularly useful in assisting children in recovering from concentration fatigue, which can occur after a full school day. Green time can be incorporated into the day through gardening, riding to school, or walking the dog in the park.

Constructive guide to deconstruct ADHD self-limiting beliefs & imposter syndrome.

You have no bigger enemy of you than you, yourself. Yes, that can be true if you let your self-sabotaging thoughts take control over you. But, don’t worry. I am here to help. As a professional coach, I have helped people uncover their true potential by breaking unhealthy patterns caused by self-limiting beliefs.

Self-limiting beliefs are unproductive thoughts that impede your progress towards important life goals. It is when someone inspires you to participate in a competition and you want to but your mind tells you not to do so. Thus you let your ‘I am not capable enough’ thought rule. Or, it is when you find an opportunity to apply for a higher position in another organization which you simply pass, saying ‘what if it didn’t turn out well for me’ or ‘what if I lost my comfortable position in my company.’ It is those â€˜what ifs’ that numb your creativity. So, you unintentionally let them win over your constructive thoughts which, ultimately, change your entire reality.

When you create false assumptions about yourself, you not only break your confidence but also miss great chances for growth which you would have availed otherwise. You create an illusion in your mind that great things are not meant for you so you excuse your inaction by saying ‘I am not ready yet’, etc. Your low self-esteem causes you to undermine your potential and makes you think small about yourself. Thus, you become your enemy because you hinder our progress due to your self-destructing thoughts.

If you are worried about the inner voice that asks you to stop taking risks, getting in trouble, and trying new things then you are at the right place. Be ready to squish and shatter those beliefs that are hindering your progress.

Paradigm shift – Change your thoughts to change results

The first and foremost step in a paradigm shift is to find, accept, and track the unproductive and self-limiting thoughts because they effortlessly habituate your mind. An honest and unbiased self-analysis is required to recognize the thoughts that serve a purpose and those that limit your progress. Secondly, you need to actively work on deconstructing self-sabotaging thoughts and preventing them from growing. You have to be selective in letting only the useful ideas propagate. Lastly, you have to alter your patterns of thinking that can allow no space for limiting thoughts to settle in. You can also seek help from a coach in this matter.

Leverage the power of positive affirmations

Someone rightly said“Negative thoughts and tensions are like birds, we cannot stop them from flying near us, but we can stop them from making a nest in our mind.” To neutralize the negative and unnecessary thoughts, you need to create a habit of doing positive self-talk, also termed as positive daily affirmations.Repeating daily positive affirmations serve as a great source of motivation for you to get things done. It sparks enthusiasm in you to pursue great things. You can create positive affirmations to be repeated daily. Some examples are:

  • I am on a journey, ever-growing, evolving and improving.
  • I am strong enough to handle anything that comes my way.
  • Time is right for me. I am grateful for living in this moment.
  • I am capable enough to pursue my dreams.
  • I have all the strength and confidence that I need to succeed.

Track your progress – create momentum

By tracking your progress after making the paradigm shift, you create momentum in your reformed actions. When you observe real-time results, you activate the reward system of your brain which motivates you to achieve more. Not only do you actively indulge in trying new things but also do not hesitate in jumping onto big opportunities in life.

Thus, it is highly recommended that you journal your progress, ideally on a regular basis. You can name your journal as my progress diary or the route map for success.

Final Takeaway

Let’s take a decision today to change our self-limiting and inefficacious thoughts. Let’s make it a habit to replace them at the very first sign of their appearance with a positive and “I can do this” attitude. It might take a lot of you to say yes to the opportunities in front of you, it is, however, essential for your growth. It is time you break the shell of hindering and constraining thoughts to outgrow your older self. Once you clear your mind of unwanted and unproductive information, you will make room for better ideas to stay and create their execution plans. Only then you can explore your innate potential and use it to your advantage.

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Managing Relationships in ADHD

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Impact

            In children, the symptoms and impact of ADHD is related to mental development and the management of relationships is not a very serious concern at that time because the responsibility in relationships between children and grown ups lies principally on adults. However, when we grow up, the responsibilities of relationships lie on both the partners.

Relationship problems of the people with ADHD

            Every relationship demands a lot of time, attention, love and tactics to remain sustained and get stronger and better. It is not an easy job even for normal people. ADHD is associated with an additional set of new challenges in relationships. The people with ADHD appear to be inattentive, not listening, careless and stubborn to follow the suggestions and not to forget the occasional outbursts of anger. These serious issues can ruin even the strongest relationships in the world.

            In a relationship, each of the partners come with his/her own bag of good and bad things. The persons with ADHD have some extra problems such as negative self-image, lack of confidence, experience of failures in the past and insecurities of oneself. These problems hold back the persons with ADHD or they may appear to be hyper focused and over-caring for sometime in order to compensate for their shortcomings. Whatever the case may be, it may negatively affect the relationships.

Relationship problems of partners of the people with ADHD

            Due to these problems, the partners of the people with ADHD can have concerns about their relationship and they may think that they are not important because their partner is not paying attention to them or has a careless attitude and gets angry easily. They may feel angry, offended, stressed, anxious and even depressed due to the apparent attitude of their partner. This is true especially for the people having a spouse with ADHD.

            On the other hand, spouses and partners who understand the condition of their partner quite well can be over-helping to compensate for the “flaws” of the relationships. It can ruin the mental health of the healthy partners and can revert the journey of personality development of the partners with ADHD because they can become dependent.

How To Manage a Relationship in ADHD?

            There are several ways to make your relationship better and quite better if you have ADHD. Follow them and you will become least likely to mess up.

1.   Feed your partner with information

            Talk to your newly formed partner about your condition and tell them the most important things about yourself and behaviour. Talking about the problems at your end beforehand makes them acceptable and helps to build a healthy and reliable relationship. Tell your partner that you are in constant struggle in working yourself and getting better and better continuously.

2.   Constantly seek help

            You need to be in a constant struggle of betterment. Keep in touch with your healthcare provider and follow his/her instructions strictly. Take medications regularly as prescribed and practice the lifehacks regularly. Your partner needs to know that you are not doing all this hard work only for him/her but to function for yourself.

3.   Acknowledge the problems with yourself

            Being a person with ADHD, it may seem that your partner is not being reasonable at times. Take a moment to relax yourself and acknowledge that it is not necessary that your partner is to blame for the mess, rather you also have a condition which can be a problem in all the possible ways.

4.   Communication problems and skills

            One should watch what he/she is saying before you say it. And one should not make assumptions and try to be a mind reader. It is not wise to be over-expressive and it is also not wise to keep emotions bottled up. There should be a balance. Let your emotions out in a nice way, with nice and acceptable words. You need to develop some good communication skills to get better at this.

            One should communicate to his/her partner face to face when possible, and listen carefully and attentively and should not interrupt the conversation of the other. If you have missed some part of the conversation you should ask to repeat that in a nice way. Humor is a very effective tool, try to find that while conversing.

5.   Work together as a team

            Both the partners should plan their daily routine and divide the tasks to be done among them. They need to plan and evaluate the routine as a team. Dedicate some time for this exercise. Plan weekly or daily sit-downs to have a better chit chat. The partner with ADHD may need help at times to complete the task. One should help but try not to be over-helping.

References:

  1. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/add-adhd/adult-adhd-attention-deficit-disorder-and-relationships.htm
  2. https://www.healthline.com/health/adhd/adhd-spouse-lonely#non-adhd-partner

Why ADHD Is Missed/Overlooked In Women

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What is ADHD?

            Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder which is characterized by a variety of symptoms such as impulsivity, inattention and forgetfulness etc. It is of three types: inattentive, hyperactive and a combination of both. It is diagnosed in childhood and continues into adulthood. It’s symptoms and complications vary according to age. For instance, in early age, the patient tends to have more benign symptoms comparatively such as inattention (daydreaming) and impulsiveness while in the later age, the complications include depression, anxiety, self mutilative behaviour and suicidal attempts.

Prevalence of ADHD in boys and girls:

            ADHD is a very common disorder whose prevalence differs among communities from 2 to 7 percent with an average being 5 percent. It is thought to be the disorder of boys only and it was understood for a long time that it is very much more common in boys than girls. This was because a lot more boys were diagnosed with ADHD than girls each year with a ratio among boys and girls being 2:1 to 10:1, differing from research to research in different communities.

            However, that’s not completely true because now it is evident from a lot of research and diagnostic tests that girls are as much likely to get ADHD as boys. Girls are even more likely to have serious complications of ADHD such as depression and self mutilating and suicidal behaviour than boys, in later age.

Why is ADHD missed/overlooked in women?

            As is described above, it apparently has been more common among boys than girls. It was definitely a misconception due to which a lot of girls with ADHD remained undiagnosed, developed complications and some of them attempted suicide. Life of such patients is very difficult because they are constantly being called lazy and weird and what’s even is the saddest part, that they cannot explain their situation even knowing that they are special, they are different.

            There are a number of causes to be blamed for missed diagnosis of ADHD in women.

1- Severity of symptoms:

            It is said that “ a baby needs to cry to get fed ”. It means that there should be an obvious presentation of a disease to get attention of the peers and teachers. Boys tend to have more obvious symptoms than girls. The most common type of ADHD in girls is that of inattentiveness. Girls don’t go hopping around like boys. They rather behave like a child who keeps daydreaming in class. While the boys with ADHD tend to be more impulsive and have more obvious symptoms. This is one of the major causes for ADHD in girls to be overlooked.

2- Suppression of symptoms:

            Girls are thought to be more sober and sociable than boys. This is constantly fed to them by our society. They try to suppress their symptoms harder than the boys because of the sense that they would not be acceptable in the community if they showed impulsiveness and interrupted the conversation of others. They channelize the energy of their constantly running mind to be more talkative, but it is pretty common for girls to be over talkative. They also tend to have other ways of calming their mind such as overeating. Later in life, they can develop alcoholism and substance use disorders which initially seem to be helping but does nothing except exacerbating the symptoms. It leads to the development of depression and other behavioural manifestations.

3- Performance pressure:

            Girls take their studies more seriously than boys and they constantly try to have help from teachers and parents. They are higher performing generally than the boys with ADHD and that leads to the overlooked ADHD. I mean a child with good grades at school seems less likely to have ADHD though she has a little bit of odd behaviour which she is already trying to suppress.

These are some of the major reasons for ADHD in girls to be missed and because of these, the girls with ADHD are diagnosed at a later age when they develop overt symptoms. By later age, healthcare professionals mean the age of 40s or 50s. Uphill that age, one can just imagine the difficult life of a woman with ADHD.

Bottom line:

            Girls have equal or more incidence of ADHD. There are multiple reasons for the diagnosis of ADHD to be missed or overlooked in girls. They need to be addressed and if a girl shows inattentiveness or is over talkative or has other behavioural symptoms, she definitely needs a visit to a doctor. Though it is not curable, its symptoms can be controlled and complications can be prevented and the life of a girl with ADHD can be made a little easier.

References:

  1. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190530-why-is-adhd-missed-in-girls
  2. https://www.additudemag.com/add-in-women/
  3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29033005/#:~:text=Attention%2Ddeficit%20hyperactivity%20disorder%20

ADHD Comorbidities And Related Conditions

ADHD Comorbidities and related Conditions

In the age group, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is usually accompanied by concomitant mental disorders, making detection, diagnosis, and treatment more difficult.ADHD affects 2.5 percent of the adult community and is linked to substantial personal and private distress.

Depression symptoms disorders, drug use disorders, and personality disorders are the most common psychopathologies that occur combined. Between ADHD and the numerous comorbidities, there are strong family connections and neurological correlations. The symptoms of ADHD and concomitant types of mental overlap, making diagnosis and treatment more difficult. 

When ADHD interacts with other psychological issues in adulthood, guidelines indicate that the most debilitating disease be treated first. Early recognition and diagnosis of ADHD and its comorbidities have the potential to alter the course of later-life mental disorders. Adults with ADHD who might benefit from scientific proof management options can be identified utilizing approved diagnostics and high-yield clinical questions.

Is It ADHD? Or a Related Condition with Similar Symptoms?

Symptoms of Comorbid Conditions When It’s Not Just ADHD

Approximately half of all patients with ADHD also have a secondary disorder that requires treatment, such as learning impairments, depression, or anxiousness. Learn about the most major disorders associated with the condition, as well as how to identify symptoms.

Even after their most severe ADHD symptoms have been managed, some people continue to have major symptoms such as intense depression, anxiety, anger, learning, and behavioral difficulties.

For instance, if a kid is diagnosed with ADHD, his doctor may recommend a stimulant. His parents see that the signs that lead to the Diagnosis of ADHD have improved, but that other difficulty remain. His instructor compliments him on his better focus, but he still struggles with classwork. Alternatively, his hyperactivity may lessen, but he remains rebellious. When issues persist after ADHD has been recognized and treated, it’s typically a sign that the ADHD is being accompanied by another undiagnosed disorder.

https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/what-are-common-comorbidities-adhd

It’s necessary to address all comorbidities. Mental health providers are advised to screen for early identification and intervention since people with comorbid psychiatric conditions have more cognitive, social, and behavioral deficits.

50 % of people with ADHD also have a co-occurring disorder.ADHD was originally thought to be a separate disorder by physicians. They were mistaken. We know that 50 percent of participants with ADHD have one maybe more co-occurring disorders, which are referred to as comorbidities.

The following are the most prevalent comorbidities associated with ADHD:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a kind of obsessive-compel (OCD)
  • Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is a kind of oppositional defiant (ODD)
  • Disabilities in learning
  • Disabilities in communication
  • Problems with executive function
  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Or it could be a psychological or neurological issue.

A child’s chronic lack of attention, for example, may cause anxiety at school. A lady with undiagnosed ADHD may become melancholy as a result of years of rejection and bad feedback from family members. Secondary difficulties usually fade away after the ADHD symptoms are still under control.

When secondary issues persist after good ADHD therapy, they are most often signs of a “comorbid” disorder.

What are Comorbid conditions?

Comorbid conditions are diagnoses that occur at the same time as ADHD. They shouldn’t go away once the fundamental ailment is addressed — in this example, ADHD. Comorbid disorders can occur with ADHD and demand their treatment regimen.

In addition to his ADHD treatment, a kid with comorbid disorders may require educational adjustments, counseling, and/or a second medication.

Three categories of ADHD comorbid conditions

The three types of comorbid disorders most typically associated with ADHD all fall on a severity scale ranging from moderate to severe. Their symptoms are as diverse as their causes, which include anything from genes to environmental chemicals to prenatal trauma and beyond.

Cortical wiring issues are the first comorbidity of ADHD.

Structure anomalies in the cerebral cortex, the brain area responsible for high-level brain activities, create cortical writing issues. The following are examples of cortical wiring issues:

  • Disabilities in learning
  • Disabilities in communication
  • Problems with fine and gross motor skills

Is there any correlation between the incidence of mental comorbidities and the subtypes of ADHD?

Several research has looked at how various ADHD subtypes affect the occurrence of mental comorbidity.In research employing the Swedish Twin Collection, the hyperactive-impulsive subtype of ADHD was found to have lower chances of generalized anxiety disorder and severe depression than the combined and inattentive subtypes.

Research conducted in the United States looked at the patterns of comorbidity linked with the various subtypes of ADHD. Individuals with mixed subtype ADHD reported more severe comorbid symptoms than those with hyperactive subtype ADHD, according to the majority of subgroup differences.

Health and Nutrition in ADHD

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Everything good for the brain is likely to be excellent for ADHD, according to experts. You might need to try:

A high-protein diet is recommended. Protein may be found in beans, cheese, milk, poultry, and walnuts. These meals are great for breakfast and after-school snacks. It has the potential to boost focus and extend the usefulness of Prescription medications.

Complex carbs are preferred. Take plenty of fruits and vegetables, such as grapefruit, citrus fruits, apricots, grapes, plums, and kiwi fruit. If you eat this type of meal in the evening, you could find it easier to sleep.

More polyunsaturated fats are needed. Fish, trout, and other chilly white fish contain them. Pecans, Hazelnuts, canola oil, and corn oil are all good high in omega-3 fatty acids.

What is an ADHD diet?

It might include the meals you eat as well as any multivitamins you use. In an ideal world, your eating behaviors would improve brain function and reduce symptoms like restlessness and lack of attention. You may have heard of the various choices that you might focus on:

Nutrients in general: It is assumed that certain foodstuffs will improve or worsen your symptoms.

Dietary supplements: You may supplement your diet with vitamins, magnesium, and other nutrients if you follow this strategy. Fans of these diets believe that if you don’t receive enough, you won’t become sick.

Elimination diets: Entail to avoiding foods or components that you believe may be causing or exacerbating specific behaviors or symptoms.

Take Nutritious Food

There hasn’t been a lot of studies done on ADHD diets. Data are scarce, and the outcomes are varied. However, many healthcare providers believe that what you eat and drink might help alleviate symptoms.

https://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/adhd-diets

A healthy, well-balanced diet is essential for a happy and nutritious lifestyle. A balanced diet can help relieve the symptoms of ADHD when used in conjunction with other treatments.

Taking a serious look at your eating habits and determining what works best for you or your child, and on the other hand, maybe a difficult task. Dietary treatments for ADHD include removing one or so more products from a person’s diet (for example, sugar).

Polyphenols

Polyphenolic compounds are high in antioxidants which may be seen in a wide range of crops. Protecting cells normal tissues avoid free radical damage, which is caused by chemicals that attach to healthy cells and destroy their DNA molecules.

 According to this study, polyphenol supplements like Pycnogenol might help relieve stress in the brain, potentially alleviating ADHD symptoms.

Sugar: After taking sweets or other sugary foods, some kids become hyperactive. Sugary products should only be a minor percentage of anyone’s diet for optimum overall nutrition. However, you can cut them to see if your symptoms improve.

Caffeine: Studies have indicated that little quantities of caffeine can assist with some ADHD symptoms in kids. Caffeine’s adverse effects, on the other hand, may exceed any possible benefit. Most specialists advise consumers to consume less caffeine or avoid it altogether. Caffeine might exacerbate some negative effects if you’re on ADHD medication

ADHD Diet Truths: Why Sugar is Kryptonite

Is it possible to lose weight when on an ADHD diet? Yes, eating a protein- and vitamin-rich ADHD diet can help manage symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. However, you must also avoid sugar, artificial flavors, and common allergies.

https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/do-diet-and-nutrition-affect-adhd-facts-and-clinical-considerations

Foods to Avoid If You Have ADHD

Carbohydrates are simple. Reduce the amount of these you consume:

  • Syrup of Candy Corn
  • White rice Potatoes without the skins
  • Honey Sugar Products derived from white flour

What to Eat and What to Avoid for Better ADHD Symptoms

ADHD Nutritional Supplements

Some specialists advise that patients with ADHD take a daily vitamin and mineral supplement that is 100 percent pure. Others, however, believe that people who eat a balanced, good diet do not require vitamin or micronutrient supplements. There is no scientific proof that vitamin or mineral supplements assist all kids with the disorder, they claim.

When toddlers, teenagers, and adults don’t get enough vitamins, a multivitamin may be sufficient. Mega-doses of vitamins can be harmful to a balanced diet.

Gluten-free or casein-free diets

Although anecdotal evidence of a higher frequency of dietary restrictions across ADHD patients, comprehensive studies of the relationship between ADHD and dairy or casein sensitivity have come up empty. Similarly, data does not indicate a clear relationship between ADHD and celiac illness, suggesting a correlation between gluten sensitivity and hyperactive symptoms in patients with celiac disease.

 Exclusion of dairy and sorghum from oligoantigenic diets has been demonstrated to improve behavioural outcomes. However, it is unclear whether these effects are related to the removal of these or other antigenic meals themselves, or to secondary variables such as an increase in the number of antigenic foods consumed.

Working Memory In ADHD

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Working memory in ADHD

ADHD:

            ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder in which there is inattention or impulsiveness or a combination of both. It is diagnosed in children and continues into adulthood. In this condition, a child may have a variety of symptoms which include inattentiveness in class, being very talkative, not being able to sit for very long, interrupting the speech of others, inability to wait for long, easy distractibility etc.

This disorder makes it very difficult to cope with the daily challenges and learn to be organized which is very important for a child to live a healthy life.

Working memory:

Let’s talk about working memory. It is not the stored memory, as one may think of it, but a derivative of the memory which is already stored in different parts of our cerebral cortex, the memory bank of our brain. Our brain has different types of memory including visual and auditory as well as the memory about texture and shape of different things. The working memory can be divided into three types.

  1. Central executive:

This type of working memory coordinates between the other two types and is related to focus and attention. It also channelizes the information from the other two compartments.

  • Phonological loop:

            This part or type of working memory stores the auditory input from ears.

  • Visuospatial sketchbook:

            The visual information coming from the eyes is stored here.

These three types work separately but they can be engaged to sharpen your memory. If you remember something by reading, speaking out loud and writing down, it will be transferred to long term memory easily.

 When we have a job to do, or multiple jobs in a series, all the information about our job from different parts of the brain is channelized to the prefrontal cortex of our brain. This information is analyzed and the best decision is made according to the scenario.

This working memory is very important to carry out the tasks of daily routine. This is also very important to handle complicated situations which require a lot of planning and thinking. Your sharpness is defined by this memory. The example of such tasks is given by a mathematics problem in which a child has to go through a series of steps to reach the final answer.

Working memory and ADHD:

            Recent studies have shown that the working memory deficit is found in 80-85% of individuals with ADHD and is correlated to inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. Several studies have shown that there are deficits in all the areas of working memory but executive functioning is the most important part to be lost. This is the reason that they have marked response inhibition, inattention, reduced vigilance, planning inability, slow processing and reduced fluid intelligence.

They cannot hold the complicated commands for long and follow a part of it, ignoring the remaining part completely. For instance, if a child is given the command to turn off the TV, wash hands and set table for supper, he may wash the hands but will get back to watching TV,  completely forgetting the other two instructions. In this way a child seems to be defiant though he is not being defiant but simply cannot cope with complicated things.

Parents of such children need to feed the commands in chunks. It is irritating and parents need to be very patient about it.

Can working memory of ADHD patients be improved?

            Fortunately, nature has made our mental abilities very vast and stretchable. Everyone can enhance the capacity of their working memory, irrespective of the attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. There are certain useful exercises recommended by professionals to improve working memory. There are certain games for children in which working memory is challenged and improved in result. These games include Uno and Go Fish.

            Computerized cognitive training (CCT) is the modality of choice these days. It is a training program in which cognitive functions of the patient are challenged stepwise, mostly in the form of games. The computer program is adaptive and makes the task in the game more difficult as the patient improves. Evidence has shown the efficacy of this training program.

            Some applications are also available online in this regard, such as Lumosity. Reading, especially active reading in which a person takes notes of the reading material, is also said to improve working memory.

References:

  1. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnbeh.2021.686873/full
  2. https://www.thinkkids.com/blog/how-adhd-contributes-to-memory-problems
  3. https://vistapineshealth.com/treatment/adhd/impact-memory/

Executive Functioning Coaching

What is executive functioning coaching?

Executive function is the set of self-management skills that help people achieve goals and finish deadlines. People must be able to manage their emotions and attention, organize their work and home time, and reflect and reverse their tactics according to circumstances, in order to effectively meet the ever-rising challenges at school, work, or home. The goal of an executive functioning coach is to help an individual become more effective, by using real life scenarios to teach skills that apply way beyond the current challenge faced. The executive functioning coaches use current challenges and real life situations, such as a night’s work, completing a project, or preparing a test, as a base to teach and make you learn how to cope with next challenges in future.

Gradual release approach is applied, where the start is with considerable support and then it is all about the client’s acquisition of tools and strategies, so they become on their own in dealing such situations in future. Additionally, executive functioning coaching also allows a person to build broader skills, such as time management, rejection sensitive dysphoria, sustained attention, self awareness, and organisation of different tasks, which then lead to a successful life.

ADHD and Executive Functioning Coaching:

Many students and adults who struggle to manage their work, due to ADHD, or are diagnosed by executive function deficits, or any other memory/attention disorder, do progress much better with the help of an executive functioning coach. These adults are generally frustrated or discouraged, especially when their difficulty to focus is perceived as laziness and worklessness. In fact, many of these people are actually very bright, but are not taught the tools or strategies to cope with any tough situations in the way of their success. Executive functioning coaches provide them with encouragement, tools and strategies by real life scenarios that will help them cope with such challenges in future on their own.

This coaching process generally takes time as it is transformative and may require some people to entirely change their way of life. It is beyond skill building and also helps individuals in approaching a task with more enthusiasm and enables them to take responsibility for their work. This kind of coaching can takes months or even years depending on one’s readiness and progress in the real situation, which is also dependent on many other variables, such as individual motivation, self-awareness, direction and goals, and how long the challenges have been present.

ADHD/Executive functioning  coaching can be applied across the lifespan in a student or an adult as per their needs to enable them to lead a better life. A highly motivated adult takes less time, but the one who is disorganised or is with ADhD, many need an year or more for coaching to bear fruit.

If you would like to discuss your needs with us please send us an email to hello@adhdcoachingaustralia.com.au to enquire about our services.