A.D.H.D. Explained

Published on Dec 23, 2015

What the heck is ADHD anyway?

This disorder seems to be more about public relations than mental health. Despite what you may have heard, ADHD is NOT a disorder characterized by behaviors that annoy my wife. Okay that part is true but you have no doubt heard many of the other myths surrounding this mysterious disorder. Is it over-diagnosed? Are we raising a generation of irresponsible addicts? What CAN you do about this...or will it go away on its own?

PRESENTATION OUTLINE

Answered Inside

  • Is ADHD real?
  • Child vs. Adult ADHD
  • Is medication overprescribed?
  • What can you do about your family's ADHD?
  • Treatment options & resources for more info

ADHD is WIDELY Misunderstood

Some people even wonder if it really exists
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YES!

Is ADHD a *real* disorder? 
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How do we know?

  • "Just about every mainstream medical, psychological, and educational organization in the U.S. long ago concluded that ADD is real, and that children and adults with attention deficit disorder benefit from appropriate ADHD treatment." -From http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/1017.html
  • There is no debate or controversy.
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Why would a reasonable person doubt the existence of such a well-documented disorder?

Because of the nature of adhd

  • It is a DISABILITY
  • It is INVISIBLE
  • It is characterized by CONSISTENT INCONSISTENCY
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People are uncomfortable talking about disabilities

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You can't SEE the ADHD so it is easy to forget and easy to deny it's existence

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ADHD is Consistently inconsistent

  • Every sufferer has different strengths and weaknesses
  • Severity of symptoms changes from day to day and even hour to hour
  • ADHD Sufferers ARE CAPABLE of great deeds and this fools the observer
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ADHD Symptoms are ANNOYING

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So it is easy to be angry at the victim

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Do children outgrow ADHD?

What about adults? 
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BUT -

ADHD is a lifelong disorder... 
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Hyperactivity

Does sometimes diminish with age. 
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Medication

What's the deal? 

FEAR

Drives all forms of mass media 

What they say you should fear

  • Medication is addictive and ruins lives
  • Medications are dangerous to use on children
  • No one knows the long term effects of these drugs
  • The medications have not been studied enough to know
  • Drugs don't fix or cure ADHD
  • Other treatments are just as effective but THEY don't want you to know about them
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UNTREATED ADHD

I say you should fear 

Myth: ADHD Medication is addictive

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FACT
At the doses prescribed for ADHD these medications are not addictive.

Myth: ADHD medications are not known to be safe on children.

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Fact: Doctors have access to over 40 years of research and can prescribe safely

Myth: Long-term effects of these drugs are unknown

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Fact: Long-term studies have shown no evidence of negative long-term effects.

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Myth: ADHD Medications have not been studied enough to justify their use.

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Fact: Due to all the 'attention' ADHD medications have been studied EXTENSIVELY.

Myth: Meds don't cure ADHD so we shouldn't use them.

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FACT: Eyeglasses

Don't CURE vision problems but we still use them! 
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Myth: Other treatments work just as well but THEY don't want you to know.

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Fact: All research indicates that medication is the ONLY dramatic, life-changing, highly-effective treatment.

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More FACTS

  • Diet can make symptoms worse, but make almost no positive impact.
  • No nutritional supplements have been shown to have a significant positive impact on symptoms.
  • Sleep and excercise have a small impact for ADHD sufferers on AND off medication.

80% of Adults

benefit from their ADHD medication 

All Medications

have side effects - not just ADHD meds 

Untreated ADHD

has side effects - and they SUCK 

I am not PRO-MEDICATION
I am PRO-TREATMENT

A good Treatment Plan Includes

  • Healthy sleep, diet and exercise
  • Talk therapy & education on ADHD
  • Medical treatment via an experienced doctor with training in ADHD
  • Coaching and other assistance to manage symptoms

If you had a patient with a vision problem, you would prescribe eyeglasses.
You would not tell them to SQUINT HARDER, TAKE VITAMINS, EAT BETTER.

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