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Conquering Attention Deficit Disorder
ADD & ADHD Treatments
For all ages, there is no cure for ADD. However, a variety of treatment options can help children
and adults lead better lives managing their symptoms. Education combined with medication and
counseling yields the greatest results to date. However, there is no one-size-fits-all approach, as
people have their own unique lifestyles, their own symptoms to deal with, their own copying skill
sets and their own treatment options that work best for them in their environments.
To begin, here are some of the popular components used in ADD treatment strategies. They are
listed in no particular order of importance:
- Information and education about ADD
- Testing and consultations with healthcare professionals
- Medication
- Dedication, persistence and elbow grease
In all, a combination long-term program of many of the above is highly recommended for optimal
treatment strategy. Here is a look in detail at each of the treatments above.
Information and Education about ADD
First and foremost, gather all the information you can about ADD and file it in one place; one
drawer or cabinet. Ask your local librarian for books, videos, cassettes, magazine articles, local
meetings and anything else that can help you learn more about ADD. Conduct online searches for
helpful websites with ADD ebooks, ezines, organizations, forums, message boards, workshops and
more. Bookmark them, sign up for their ezine or online newsletters and check back for updates,
news, informative articles, and other treatment tips. Network with your friends, healthcare
providers, and others to share information and learn from each other, too.
Testing and Consultations with Healthcare Professionals
Often upon learning and finding out more about the ADD diagnosis, many are better able to tackle
treatment plans. It's getting over that "scary" not-knowing part first. So check with your own
local healthcare network and educational advisers for help finding professionals to test for ADD.
For other places to turn, check out the Yellow Pages under listings for: neurologists,
psychiatrists, psychologists. You can also check with local clinics, recommendations from family
and ADD friends' physicians, children's pediatricians, your local branch of the Children and
Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder (C.H.A.D.D.) group, physician and psychologist referral
services, local colleges or universities with medical departments and your favorite online search
engine - key in "ADHD (large city in your area)" and "ADHD (your state)" for starters. For
additional help, the National ADHD Directory lists over 600 professionals and is available online
via this group:
Attention Deficit Disorder Resources
223 Tacoma Ave S #100
Tacoma WA 98402
Monday-Friday 11:30 a.m-2:30 p.m.
Phone 253.759.5085
E-Mail: office@addresources.org
At this time, basic listings are free for all. Expanded listings carry annual fee rates.
Here are some basic questions to ask when you are trying to learn more about ADD. Keep a journal
and take notes about each place you call for information so that you'll have good records to refer
back to when making choices.
Questions:
- Can you test for ADHD? If "yes", what portion is covered with my health insurance and/or do you
have sliding scale fees (these are generally based upon income)? If "no", ask for recommendations /
referrals that may be covered or call your insurance company for referrals.
- Is ADD is large part of your practice? And how experienced is the person I would be working
with in successful ADD treatment? (Key is to look for someone with successful experience).
- Briefly describe your testing procedures.
- Briefly share some of your recent history of your current treatments that are working
successfully with ADHD - in adults (or "in children" depending upon your need).
- What type of treatments do you have available? (Key is to make sure there are options to
personalize what works for your lifestyle, and not a one-size-fits-all approach.) And can you mail
out some information about them?
- Check timing and costs (especially medications) to make sure their options fit into your
schedule and budget.
- If medications are involved, make sure someone has authority to prescribe, as psychologists
don't and may send you to a psychiatrist whom they work under or elsewhere - meaning more expense,
another consultation, etc. - so check your insurance again for coverage, timing and costs for
scheduling and budgeting.
Medications
Medications are often prescribed by physicians to help stabilize brain activity or make it more
"normal" functioning. They are the same for adults and children. Common stimulant medications that
have shown the most effective ADD results are Adderall, Ritalin and Dexedrine. Cylert and Desoxyn
are two other popular prescriptions.
Ritalin, the most popular medicine prescribed for ADHD, has been prescribed for over 40 years and
is reported by some healthcare professionals as being "safer than aspirin." Research with ADHD
children shows that Ritalin, when taken in the correct dosage, helps most, or some 70 percent,
largely decrease their ADHD behaviors.
The exact role that all of these stimulants play is still being uncovered; however, research
definitely shows that they help most ADHD recipients lead better lives with major improvements.
There is a downside, though. The medical community and the FDA say that these stimulants are safe
in their respective prescribed doses. However, the downside is that: there is extra paper work for
the healthcare professionals; short-term (one-month supply) prescription regulations; and FDA and
licensing issues with regards to people seeking these just to get controlled substances for other
(unethical) reasons.
Notable is that in general, people with ADHD report feeling "calm" when taking these medications
instead of feeling "high" (like an addict trying to gain a prescription would desire). And adults
with ADD who have history of substance abuse often report an end in their desire for abusive
substances when they are medicated for ADHD.
Research shows that some antidepressants may be helpful for the management of several ADD symptoms
(also for persons suffering co-existing mood disorder and anxiety symptoms) if the stimulant
medications are not effective. Popular antidepressants are Desipramine, Effexor, Imipramine,
Nortriptyline and Wellbutrin. If none of these are effective, others may be tried or
combinations of the above treatments at different dosages, depending upon the individual case.
Negative side effects to watch out for include: getting the "jitters," headaches or stomachaches
(Pepto-Bismal or Zantac is often recommended for stomachaches).
Dedication, Persistence and Elbow Grease
Hang in there! Just like anything else in life, there are ups and downs when dealing with ADD. What
will drive you to successful living is dedication, persistence and a little elbow grease, during
those down or tough times. Here are a few ADD tips.
First and foremost, is to focus daily on your overall health, both in mind and body. Eat right,
exercise a minimum of 30 minutes a day, get enough rest, avoid unhealthy places, substances,
people... In short take good care of yourself. Be your best friend and your body (and mind) will
thank you during those difficult days.
Next, always continue your education, either formally or informally. No need to enroll in a
university. Continue to read nonfiction about your work, health and personal interests,
participate in organizational events in your industry, attend a class or workshop series once a
year. Keep up! Use your brain and put it to work for you and believe it or not, some ideas just
might surface on tough days to get you through the challenging times; you might remember others
who survived and overcame their own challenges and put some of their tips to work, for instance.
Don't fail to plan. Plan to succeed. Learn about goal setting and achieving by studying from books
like, "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" by Stephen R. Covey. And put his steps to work
in your own life.
Surround yourself with a positive environment as much as possible. For example, don't worry so
much if some people don't seem to want to accept or deal with your ADD. Those people are probably
self-absorbed in their own issues for one reason or other, and don't accept other people's
disorders or issues, either. Actually, you never know - they could be working on accepting and
dealing with some very serious issues themselves, and are afraid to share discuss them with
anyone. Either way, tough. It's their loss, not yours. Hope for the best for them, but move on and
focus on being around positive people who pretty much follow that "Do unto others..." theme. You
can't avoid all negativity, but you can choose to focus on more positive aspects of life. Reach
out with your five senses for ideas to make your day better: shed the black business wardrobe and
liven up your color scheme; turn on some lively, happy music and sing along; get out and learn
to dance again; try some different foods from different countries to spice up your life; and plug
in a seasonal air freshener for a change of scent. Be creative and jot down ideas for
experimenting with new, positive environmental ideas each month. Dig in and enjoy life.
And remember: when the going gets tough, the tough don't run!
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