About ADD / ADHD

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-24T13:26:11Z

It is this time of year when we are reminded to be thankful for all we have in our lives. We are more aware of the importance of expressing our warm gratitude to friends and loved ones. Now and especially throughout the year whenever life seems to feel more stressed take some time to think about all the things that make you feel happy and appreciative. Jot down a quick list and include both the small things like chocolate kisses and the big things like the people who love you.

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." --Melody Beattie

What are some of things for which you are grateful? Please share by CLICKING HERE

With warmest wishes,
Keath

Happy Thanksgiving! originally appeared on About.com ADD / ADHD on Tuesday, November 24th, 2009 at 13:26:11.

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Can Modifying My Child�s Diet Help Reduce His ADHD Symptoms?

2009-11-24T13:13:00Z

Basic good nutrition is essential for optimal development and learning in any child. Certainly, the foods that a child eats (or doesn't eat) can affect level of attention, energy, and overall behavior and mood. A child can also experience hunger pangs, not just from a low volume of food but also from poor nutrition. This "hunger" can lead to increased problems with concentration, irritability, and a lower tolerance for frustration.

Read Improving Your Child's Diet

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Can Modifying My Child�s Diet Help Reduce His ADHD Symptoms? originally appeared on About.com ADD / ADHD on Tuesday, November 24th, 2009 at 13:13:00.

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Please Share: Improving Nutrition

2009-11-24T13:12:37Z

Good nutrition can play a complementary role in a child's treatment. When a child's diet is balanced and healthy, his (or her) ADHD symptoms may be a little better controlled.

What tips do you find most helpful related to nutrition for your child? Have you noticed improvements in behavior and focus with a better diet? If your child is a picky eater or tends to have a small appetite are there favorite recipes you'd like to share? What about a favorite healthy snack?

CLICK HERE to share your experiences, tips, and recipes.

Please Share: Improving Nutrition originally appeared on About.com ADD / ADHD on Tuesday, November 24th, 2009 at 13:12:37.

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Exposure to Lead and Prenatal Tobacco Smoke Raises Risk of ADHD

2009-11-24T13:10:58Z

A recent study - "Association of Tobacco and Lead Exposures with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder" - published in the December issue of Pediatrics finds that children in the United States who are exposed prenatally to tobacco smoke and during childhood to environmental lead face a particularly high risk for ADHD. While previous studies have shown a link between these exposures and ADHD, this was the first study to examine the combined effects of tobacco and lead exposures and it was the first study to reveal such a significant impact.

Prenatal tobacco exposure was measured by report of maternal cigarette use during pregnancy, and lead exposure was assessed by current blood lead levels. Children exposed to tobacco smoke prenatally were 2.4 times more likely to have ADHD, and those with blood lead levels in the top third of the population had a 2.3 increased likelihood of developing ADHD. The combined effect of these toxins, however, was found to be even greater as children with both exposures had an 8.1 times higher risk for ADHD, compared to children who had no exposure to the substances.

The study estimates that up to 35 percent of ADHD cases in children between the ages of 8 and 15 could be reduced by eliminating exposure to both tobacco and lead.

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Exposure to Lead and Prenatal Tobacco Smoke Raises Risk of ADHD originally appeared on About.com ADD / ADHD on Tuesday, November 24th, 2009 at 13:10:58.

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Unfairly Labeled as Lazy?

2009-11-24T11:39:28Z

Unfortunately, adults and children with ADHD are often labeled as unmotivated, lazy, or even apathetic. These negative labels are unfair and hurtful. Instead of simple laziness or a lack of motivation, this "immobility" or "sluggishness" often reflects the impairments in executive function that can be associated with ADHD. Understanding these impairments is important in order to correct misperceptions about ADHD that tend to run rampant.

Click on ADHD and Motivational Difficulties to read more.

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Unfairly Labeled as Lazy? originally appeared on About.com ADD / ADHD on Tuesday, November 24th, 2009 at 11:39:28.

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Ever Feel a Sense of Paralysis in Trying to Get Things Done�or Even Started?

2009-11-16T12:12:58Z

Do you ever experience a sense of paralysis associated with a task or project - wanting to get started yet unable to make progress forward in any manner? And if you do get started, do you have difficulty maintaining your drive and persisting in your effort? It may begin to feel nearly impossible to get anything done! This can quickly lead to overwhelm, procrastination and avoidance and ultimately results in problems with productivity.

What strategies have you found helpful in getting started and sustaining focus on a task that is overwhelming or just plain boring?

Please share your own experiences and ideas by CLICKING HERE

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Ever Feel a Sense of Paralysis in Trying to Get Things Done�or Even Started? originally appeared on About.com ADD / ADHD on Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 12:12:58.

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Healthy Living With ADHD

2009-11-16T12:03:41Z

Do you ever receive emails of fun photos, comics, stories, lists, etc. forwarded from friends or family? Sometimes these emails are funny and help lighten the day. Other times they are insightful and inspirational. I received an email from an About.com reader with a list of wonderful advice that is not only practical, but one that can be easily incorporated into daily life to improve health and happiness.

Click on Tips for Healthy Living to read more.

Healthy Living With ADHD originally appeared on About.com ADD / ADHD on Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 12:03:41.

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The Power of Positive Attention

2009-11-16T11:50:54Z

Positive attention - we hear these words together a lot, but what does positive attention really mean and why is it so important for children with ADHD? Kids with ADHD often hear a lot of negatives. Certainly, their behaviors can be quite frustrating and disruptive at times. It's not unusual for some of these kids to experience more negative interactions day-to-day than positive ones, particularly when they are having difficulty managing their symptoms. This can quickly take a toll on a child's self-image and feelings of self-worth. Learning to pay positive attention to your child is very powerful.

Click on Improving Your Child's Behavior With Positive Attention to read more.

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The Power of Positive Attention originally appeared on About.com ADD / ADHD on Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 11:50:54.

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Share Your Positive Parenting Tips

2009-11-10T13:22:45Z

Learning to pay positive attention to your child is very powerful, particularly for a child with ADHD who may often experience negative feedback. It can sometimes be difficult, however, to find the positives especially if disruptive and oppositional behaviors are taking over at home.

Parents, please help other parents by sharing your advice and tips for positive parenting. What have you found to be most helpful?

CLICK HERE to share your parenting tips.

Share Your Positive Parenting Tips originally appeared on About.com ADD / ADHD on Tuesday, November 10th, 2009 at 13:22:45.

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The Importance of One-on-One Time

2009-11-10T13:07:05Z

Days are often so busy. Our to-do list can sometimes be pages long. It may seem difficult to fit one more thing in, but regular one-on-one time with your child is very important. How often do you sit down with your son or daughter with no distractions, just focusing on him or her, listening without correcting, being together and soaking up positive one-on-one attention?

Learn more about Positive One-on-One Time

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The Importance of One-on-One Time originally appeared on About.com ADD / ADHD on Tuesday, November 10th, 2009 at 13:07:05.

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