ADHD – continued….

So last time we talked about what ADHD is – a dopamine deficiency in the brain – and what it isn’t: anything that isn’t just that. Of course, there are many conditions that result in ADHD like symptoms, and that is precisely what is causing the recent trend of misdiagnosis and overall confusion. This is especially true with respect to children, who often have difficulty localizing and articulating the nature of their discomfort, instead resorting to the sort of distractive behavior that could easily be misattributed to a case of ADHD. And as the latest trends have shown, the majority of doctors succumb to false diagnoses all to quickly, hastily prescribing pills of all sorts to kids who are just simply, being kids.

So what’s really going on here?

Again, the body is a very complex machine. A plethora of different circumstances can manifest themselves in very similar ways—such as, for example, ADHD like symptoms. Consider the following conditions:

Physical Imbalance:

The impetus for every humanly action, whether conscious or unconscious, is a drive of some sort. We are in a constant quest for equilibrium – a balance, if you will. That is why we eat when we are hungry, we drink when we are thirsty, and we sleep when we are tired. As our bodies deviate from the equilibrium state, we act to alleviate the discrepancy. This constant and predictable cycle defines our state of overall balance, which can be defined as the ability to move freely in all directions. Logically, then, when there is a physical imbalance, we become constrained. The capacity for mobility diminishes. Such a state of physical disarray can be caused by a variety of factors: stress, injury, and trauma are prominent examples. The result is an array of ADHD like symptoms, especially in children. Why? If the body is not balanced, then it is uncomfortable – this is something that, as simplistic as it may sound, is not obvious to children. The root cause is ignored, but the ADHD like symptoms persist. Children become unfocused, irritable, and distracted.

Anxiety

Just as there can be physical imbalances in the body, there can also be chemical balances, which are just as caustic, and can manifest themselves very similarly. The problem, again, is that it can be very difficult for children to recognize their own anxiety. That is why as parents and mentors, it is important to be very emotionally alert. Often times, the underlying reasons for a child’s apparent “misbehavior” is not ADHD, but rather, a chemical imbalance. How do we know when a child is anxious? There are several markers. Giving up on challenging tasks very quickly- this is a sine qua non of anxiety. So is a low frustration tolerance. These sorts of behaviors also indicate an MTHFR deficiency in the brain, for which the Vitabens product could be most helpful. Otherwise, there are a variety of anxiety remedies to explore – remedies which haven’t the least to do with ANY ADHD medication.

Sleep deprivation

This is a huge one. Parents need to understand that children (and adults for that matter) need to get an adequate amount of sleep in order to function properly and to the best of their abilities. The underlying cause of behavior that appears to mimic ADHD is often a lack of sleep. Children under 8 years old require 12 hours of nightly sleep. Between 8-12, they need upwards of 10 hours. Adolescents from 13-17 face a radically new stage of mental and physical development. This is what doctors often call the “prowling era.” From the moment they hit puberty, teenagers begin to undergo a period of changing brain chemistry, which can pose real problems since it impinges upon their heretofore-ordinary sleep cycle. Suddenly, the brain becomes nocturnal, exhibiting the most neural activity around 9:00 or 10:00 PM. At this stage of life, it is important to make a concerted effort to unwind and relax in the late evening hours, in order to ensure 6-8 hours of solid nightly sleep. Otherwise, irritability and distractibility – apparent markers of ADHD – will become omnipresent factors of daily life. Again, this is a case in which non-ADHD affiliated issues manifest themselves in a way that is very similar to the disease.

With so many possible conditions resulting in ADHD-like symptoms, the modern trend of misdiagnosis and over-prescribing does not come as a huge surprise. Of course, it is also necessary to remember that the pharmaceutical industry is an industry nonetheless, and the goal of business is to make money. For all of these reasons, it is important to remain vigilant of symptoms that may mask themselves behind the guise of ADHD. This is especially true with regard to children, who tend to be less attuned to the nature of their discomfort.

The key is mindfulness. The answer is bodily equilibrium.