How to Overcome Symptoms of ADD and ADHD Through Self-Help Methods

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) are terms sometimes used interchangeably. The disorder is currently diagnosed in over two-million children in the United States, but is also diagnosed in adults.



While 80% of those diagnosed with ADHD will find themselves on stimulant medications at one time or another, self help methods to address symptoms of ADHD can effectively reduce the symptom profile of those with ADHD, to the point that an adult or child is out of the classifiable range. You can overcome symptoms of ADHD effectively through self help methods.

Things You'll Need

• Art supplies
• Healthy snacks

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Instructions

• 1

  Take the television out of your or your child's bedroom.

  Take the television and all electronics such as video games and Internet out of your bedroom, or out of the bedroom of your child or teen. Although television doesn't necessarily cause ADHD, it can affect the mind detrimentally, making it more difficult to focus for some individuals.

  Too much TV in childhood, has been demonstrated to contribute to a higher intensity of ADHD symptoms in young children, according to a clinical study by D. Christakis, MD, MPH, and as reported in Pediatrics, the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

• 2

  Reduce the number of hours that you or your child is exposed to the media. Too much media time can overwhelm the mind of a child, teen or adult. Reducing the daily media time during school days or during the work week, can help children focus better in school. The average child or teen spends between two to seven hours daily exposed to the media, including television, movies, video games, social networking and music time.

  This can overwhelm the mind of a child or teen, whose brains are rapidly growing. Not all children are overly-sensitive to the media, but some children are. Excessive media time, especially media which is intense or violent, can affect some children, contributing to symptoms of ADHD. This can be true of adults as well.

• 3

  Engage a child or teen, as well as yourself if you're an adult, in artwork. Many who have symptoms of ADHD are visually-oriented. They respond to visual stimuli and are attracted to it. Art helps fill that visual need, which can help a child, teen or adult to focus.

  Daniella Barroqueira, an art professor at the University of Illinois, recommends art as a self-help therapy for ADHD. Barroqueira, who herself is diagnosed with ADHD, states that the art room is the only place she feels truly comfortable.

• 4

  Eating healthy can help alleviate some of the symptoms associated with ADHD.

  Eat healthy foods and cut out excessive sugar from your or your children's diet. Although sugar doesn't cause ADHD, CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) indicates that it can be a contributing or aggravating factor for some children.

  Cutting out excessive sugar that is excessive in sodas, junk foods and sweets, and giving balanced attention to good nutrition can help to even-out the body's energy levels and help some children to gain more self-control. This can assist in reducing the intensity of some of the symptoms associated with ADHD.