ADD and ADHD in Adults

Posts: 57

How can you tell in Adults if they have either ADD or ADHD?

What are the differences?

Are there "natural" herbs, supplements or other ingrediants that you can add to the diet?

Are there differences in Men and Women?

If so... then what?

Posts: 8249

Videos:

Dr Thomas Szaszon Psychiatry

	http://web4health.info/en/answers/adhd-add-difference.htm wrote:
	# ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) is the term used in the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR) diagnostic criteria. # ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) with or without hyperactivity is the older term from the DSM-IIIR. So in some older literature you will find this term as a synonym for ADHD.

Just blogged this this morning (emphasis mine):

Ped Med: Environmental triggers of ADHD

LIDIA WASOWICZ @ http://www.upi.com/ConsumerHealthDaily/view.php?StoryID=20060322-042034-6119r wrote:

SAN FRANCISCO, March 22 (UPI) -- The list of potential contributors to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder extends from liquor to lead, from the womb to the washroom.

"There are environmental factors that can cause childhood behavioral problems, such as lead exposure during childhood, substance and alcohol abuse and smoking during pregnancy an impoverished environment, malnourishment, physical abuse, traumatic brain injury, seizures," said neuropsychologist Donna Palumbo. Research shows children of tobacco users face a higher risk of ADHD.

Palumbo is associate professor of neurology and pediatrics at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in New York and principal investigator on a multi-site, government-funded study looking at the appropriateness of diagnosing and treating ADHD in preschoolers.

Among studies pointing to an environmental impact on ADHD:

-- A survey of 2,232 5-year-old twins suggested a connection between motherly affection and lower rates of the disorder in low-birth-weight offspring.

-- A University of Illinois investigation of hyperactive youngsters ages 5 to 18 indicated the great outdoors can make a big positive difference in comportment.

-- A Temple University preliminary report noted sensory intervention -- for example, deep pressure and strenuous exercise -- can soothe symptoms, such as restlessness, impulsivity and hyperactivity. The authors suspect many children with ADHD also suffer a sensory processing disorder that makes them, alternately, run toward or recoil from movement, sound, light, touch and other stimuli that arouse the senses.

Both those who discount and defend claims the behavioral disturbances can grow out of purely social, familial or cultural roots acknowledge the potentially exacerbating effects of environment on comportment.

"I don't think you can make a child have ADHD," Palumbo said. "A child is born with a predisposition, and the environment will make or break that predisposition."

The list of the potential brokers or breakers is both extensive and elusive.

"There is a lot of speculation but no definitive information; maybe TV is responsible, maybe videogames, maybe environmental toxins, maybe higher survival of pre-term children, maybe ... " said Jane McLeod, associate professor of sociology and director of research at the Schuessler Institute for Social Research at Indiana University.

"Any explanation we can imagine is unlikely to apply equally well to all children," she noted. "For example, some research shows high rates of anxiety among children who live in wealthy suburbs, suggesting that those children are experiencing new forms of stress associated with childhood's increasingly competitive environment. In contrast, children who live in poor, urban areas are exposed to more violence now than they were 20 or 30 years ago, but they probably are not experiencing the achievement-related stresses common to more affluent areas."

Violence has burst through as a possible factor in hyperactivity in a number of surveys.

One, published in The Journal of Pediatrics, found 90 percent of youngsters ages 4 to 6 exposed to some form of aggression experience a traumatic stress reaction. That includes nightmares, thumb-sucking and bed-wetting. In addition, nearly one-third of them have allergies, asthma or ADHD. Children with one or more of these health problems are significantly more likely to have had an encounter with excessive force, the investigators observed.

Or a lack of encounter with the sandman, according to a king-size pile of reports that link sleep and behavior problems. One study, of 229 preschoolers, showed those who snored at the start of the survey were four times more likely to develop new or worsened symptoms of hyperactivity four years later than their counterparts who slumbered in silence.

"It is clear from clinical observations and on theoretic grounds that an association between ADHD and sleep disturbances exists," concluded another team of researchers who had examined the effects of slumber deficits on adolescents' school performance, cognitive function and mood.

Exactly what that relationship is -- does one cause or follow, exacerbate or mitigate, mirror or reflect the other? -- remains to be uncovered.

Getting the right answer to the questions hovering over ADHD is more than academic. It is a critical link in a chain that secures the selection of the best possible treatment for a suffering child.

Next: Reaching for the bottle of pills.

(Editors' Note: This series on ADHD is based on a review of hundreds of reports and a survey of more than 200 specialists.)

--

UPI Health News welcomes comments on this column. E-mail: lwasowicz@upi.com

Last edited by madthumbs on Fri Nov 03, 2006 5:41 pm; edited 1 time in total

Posts: 57

So my questions still stand....

Is there a difference between men and women??

Are there natural suplements that you can add to your daily food intake?

What are the real differences between the 2 besides a name?

Posts: 8249

	BellePrincess wrote:
	Is there a difference between men and women??

Not that I know of -why do you ask? I've posted a lot of articles about ADD/ ADHD on the blog recently which are searchable if you're very interested in the latest news on it. The article here demonstrates multiple causes.

	BellePrincess wrote:
	Are there natural suplements that you can add to your daily food intake?

Like with any other neurological disorder; it's best to eat healthy in general and avoid supplements. Make sure you're getting the full range of B-Vitamins (especially important to vegan/ vegetarians). Some people don't consider this a disorder btw. There are advantages to having these conditions just like there are advantages to being an HSP. Some herbs may be worth trying.

	BellePrincess wrote:
	What are the real differences between the 2 besides a name?

hyperactivity

Posts: 57

Well then what herbs would you reccomend?

I am concerned about someone and would like to help them out... thats why I'm asking and I know you are the best to ask and are the most knowledgeable about these types of things. He has already said that he would be open to try something, but I don't want it to be a medication since I really don't think thats whats needed.

Posts: 8249

Honestly I haven't looked much into herbs, and yomann probably knows a bit more about ADD/ADHD and herbs if you can get his attention (he's in IRC most of the time until around 4pm EST).

I checked the Native Remedies affiliate on the main page. On the left side of the page is a list of ailments that with ADD/ADHD at the top. They have something called Focus for ADHD; For ADD they have Focus ADDult.

Focus contains:

Quote:

Ginkgo Biloba, is a powerful herb from the Far East and has been grown in temple gardens for millions of years. Its medicinal properties have only been discovered by the West during the last 20 years, where clinical studies have indicated its effectiveness in restoring the functioning of the circulatory system and improving blood flow to the brain. Active ingredients include flavone glycosides (including ginkgolide), bioflavins, sitosterol, lactones and anthocyanin.

Scuttellaria Laterifolia (also known as Skullcap), is a relaxing nerve tonic and anti-spasmodic, which reduces excitability and relieves depression. Active ingredients are flavonoids, tannins, bitter, volatile oil and minerals.

Matricaria Recutita (also known as German Chamomile), is traditionally used to promote calm and to soothe nervous tension. Its active ingredients include volatile oil, flavonoids, valerianic acid, coumarins, tannins, salicylates and cyanogenic glycosides.

Centella Asiatica (also known as Gotu Cola), is found wild in moist areas throughout Africa and Asia. Centella Asiatica is used to re-vitalize the brain and nervous system, increase attention span and concentration and combat ageing.

Avina Sativa (Green Oats), also called Hawer, is a remedy traditionally used in folk medicine as well as in modern herbalism to treat nervous exhaustion and as a general nerve tonic. Active ingredients are saponins, flavonoids, minerals, alkaloids, steroidal compounds, Vitamins B1, B2, D, E, carotene and wheat protein.

Urtica Urens, called Umbabazane in Africa is used traditionally and in modern herbalism as a circulatory stimulant and to lower blood sugar levels. Active ingredients are histamine, formic acid, acetylcholine, glucoquinones, minerals, Vitamins A, B and C and tannins.

Aspalathus linearis (also know as Rooibos) Many children with ADHD symptoms suffer from hypoglaecemia or they are hypoglaecemia due to incorrect diet. This means that their blood sugar levels will fluctuate a lot, leading to mood swings, irritability and restlessness as well as lack of concentration. Rooibos contains Magnesium, zinc and iron which are all essential to a healthy nervous system. Zinc and iron in particular are important for brain functioning and concentration. Deficiencies in these elements will cause problems in concentration, memory and mood. Rooibos also has calmative properties and is known to soothe and decrease nervous tension (although this effect is not as strong as the two above ingredients. Many children with ADHD symptoms also suffer from various allergies and food intolerances. Rooibos is of great benefit in the management of allergies and to build up the immune system. Rooibos improves overall liver functioning, which helps the body to eliminate toxins and improves overall body functioning thereby increasing the efficiency of all organs of the body. Rooibos is endemic to the Cedarberg Mountains of the Cape and is not found anywhere else in the world.

They have a 60 day money back guarantee, a toll free number, a and a bulk deal.

I thought to mention chamomile, and gingko biloba which are in it's ingredients.

Quote:

We are so certain that you will be completely satisfied with our wonderful, natural products, that we offer a 60-day unconditional money back guarantee*.

Simply try our products for at least 30 days. If you are not completely satisfied - for any reason - return the product to us within 60 days for a complete refund less shipping fees.

Please ship any unused portion of the products with their original containers, plus your name and invoice or order number, via prepaid USPS:

Native Remedies, LLC
2061 NW 2nd Avenue
Suite 106
Boca Raton, FL, 33431
U.S.A.

* Limited to orders of $200 or less. For larger orders there is a 25% restocking fee.

Posts: 91

Simply said ADD and ADHD are both attention deficit
disorders, that you are told to have when you exhibit
i believe it is 6 or more out of 10 symptoms [diagnosed criteria] ascribed to it.
ADHD is attention deficit disorder in which hyperactivity is
prevalent. ADD is often not noticed in adults/children ,
because the most obvious "symptom to ADD/ADHD is usually
taken to be uncontrollable hyperactivity.
ADD is caracterized by the innabillity to remain focussed on
a single task or topic, it is strongly related to external factors,
like motivation , impulses , structurization, surroundings.

A list of ADD symptoms in adults:
[one must exhibit 12 out of 20 to be
diagnosed as having ADD ,..less than 12 is either
a borderline case or not ADD.

Quote:

A. A chronic disturbance in which at least twelve of the following are present:

* l. A sense of underachievement, of not meeting one’s goals (regardless of how much one has actually accomplished).
* 2. Difficulty getting organised.
* 3. Chronic procrastination or trouble getting started.
* 4. Many projects going simultaneously; trouble with follow through.
* 5. A tendency to say what comes to mind without necessarily considering the timing or appropriateness of the remark.
* 6. A frequent search for high stimulation.
* 7. An intolerance of boredom.
* 8. Easy distractibility, trouble focusing attention, tendency to tune out or drift away in the middle of a page or a conversation, often coupled with an ability to hyperfocus at times.
* 9. Often creative, intuitive, highly intelligent.
* 10. Trouble in going through established channels, following “proper” procedure.
* 11. Impatient; low tolerance of frustration.
* 12. Impulsive, either verbally or in action, as in impulsive spending of money, changing plans, enacting new schemes or career plans, and the like; hot-tempered.
* 13. A tendency to worry needlessly, endlessly; a tendency to scan the horizon looking for something to worry about, alternating with in attention to or disregard for actual dangers.
* 14. A sense of insecurity.
* 15. Mood swings, mood lability, especially when disengaged from a person or a project.
* 16. Physical or cognitive restlessness.
* 17. A tendency toward addictive behaviour.
* 18. Chronic problems with self-esteem.
* 19. Inaccurate self-observation.
* 20. Family history of ADD or manic-depressive illness or depression or substance abuse or other disorders of impulse control or mood.

People with ADHD are said to often also have/display:

	Quote:
	-aggression -disturbed social behaviour -learning difficulties/disabbilities -phobia -depressions -tics [uncontrolled facial muscle cramps]

----------------------------------------------

^^ the above is all "official" information,
as opposed to personal experience, i put a line inbetween
so there will be no confusion as to what is IMHO.

Reading the official symptoms above of psychiatric
problems that occur along ADHD often,.. i'd say they
near perfectly describe someone stressed out to the point
of a nervous breakdown.I believe a lot of what is
percieved as ADHD is "stress" > it is the stress that
builds from not being able to digest/compute the
overflow of impulses and stimuli the outer world provides.
It is the stress that one indures when attempting to
explain an evergrowing picture/image of the world to oneself,
while having to function by predetermined rules the
people / world in question have set up without your consent.
This is not limited to the more intelligent children/adults,
but i do believe that the largest amount of stress is induced in the
brightest ones,..or the ones with the largest
capacity of processing signals,..in which a defecit of
such abillities is noticed sooner.

My moms is "at the forefront" of pedeatrics,
she "tests" children whether they have ADD/ADHD,
learning disabbilities , etc,etc.
I believe ADHD is prevalent in children
that are either above normal intelligence, and/or
have a difficulty to cope with processing stimuli
from their direct surroundings. Children that are
diagnosed to be Autistic or have Asperger's syndrome,
have some of the descriptions in common with children
diagnosed to have ADD/ADHD.
My cousin is hyperintelligent, has been
diagnosed as having ADHD and is on Ritalin for 5 years or so now.
I strongly believe him being close to any genius in
thinking capacity, explanes what is percieved to be lack of
attention for / interrest in the usual material taught to children his age,
IOW he has been systematically understimulated and bored
by the very limited perspectives of learning / self-develloping that he was offered.
ADHD being only defined as a "disorder" in the last 40 years or less,
correlates with many noticeable changes in the living environment of humans;

-an overal more "stressfull" existance.
-increase of information flow.
-decrease of natural surroundings [nature] [especially inner city.]
-less of a classically structurized society.
-increased high voltage electricity.
-GPRS / GPS constant pulsewaves. [cellphone-towers]
-increased radioactivity.
-increased food additives known to cause hyperactivity in some.
-24 hour economy.

I used to be hyperactive till i was 15/16 or so,
my mom couldn't help but diagnose me as such,..
I couldn't keep my hands nor feet still, tapping on
everything uncontiously , wiggling my chair back n forth.
I don't have the most intense case of ADHD ,..as i
know people defined as having ADHD to whom in comparisson
my incessant [mental] ramblings are easy to deal with.

*DISCLAIMER*
In no way am i endorsing the use marihuana as a
sollution, it is a form of self medication to me which has
many connotations. Use of marihuana does not have
the same predictable effect on every person, and has
not been proven to help aginst the symptoms
of ADHD as a whole, it has only some cases
been found usefull dealing with hyperactivity. 8)

I started smoking hashish/pot around age 15 and noticed
immediately that it has the effect of "channeling", [Not in the
"occult"/"new-age" meaning of drawing some spirit into the fysical present Laughing

]
It channels my thoughts, not as much in a set direction,
but more > it diverges the intake into a set of streams.
Being able to progress one stream at a time or two,
filtering which is "signal' and which "static", makes everything
nicely organised as opposed to one gigantic sea of impulses to drown in.
It allows me to focus on things i truely enjoy or
attempt to study to learn about, without constantly
being distracted by the presence of outside influence/stimuli.

@Belleprincess

	Quote:
	How can you tell in Adults if they have either ADD or ADHD?

check for the above listed symptoms, the difference ADD/ADHD lies largely
in hyperactivity which both children and adults can have.

	Quote:
	Are there "natural" herbs, supplements or other ingrediants that you can add to the diet?

well,.. i mentioned my pot use..
In general i'd eat diverse and organic,..
stay off the E number food additives that are articifial coloring
and the like,..don't use large amounts of sugar , don't stack yourself
with too much energy you can't get rid off.

	Quote:
	Are there differences in Men and Women?

Yes there are some,.. But the ones who defined the
symptoms of this "disease" didn't discriminate between them. Wink

I believe there's more boys than girls diagnosed with with ADD ADHD
besides that i'm not aware of any apparent differences.

Peace'
Standvast.

Posts: 688

how come noone ever mentions ODD (obedience defiance disorder)

basically if ur against authority its a mental disease now....

its all bullshit... but dont take my word for it... according to the ppl that came up with this bullshit as an excuse to drug u and ur kids , im insane...

Posts: 57

Thank you Sandvast for answering my questions...and according to the quiz he has 14 of 20... So is there something I can do to help him?? I don't think that medication is the way to go, I'm looking for a more natural solution (if Natural is even the correct term). Would you mom suggest anything??

Posts: 91

@Belleprincess.

I'm not sure correct me if i'm wrong but you are speaking of an adult in your "case"right?

i know from the experience with my cousin that
applying a structure to everyday life helps him alot,..
it doesn't mean planning everything ahead of time,
but having regular meals and most important excericise.
Any sports will do ,,..martial arts work as well as
soccer in this aspect,.as it is mostly to get rid of excess energy.
getting rid of excess fysical energy makes it easier to sleep and
easier to eat regularly as it helps build appetite, which in
it's turn results in a full tummy which helps getting to sleep.
[i'm assuming hyperactivity plays a role with your partner/child.]
Adequate drinking is also stimulated by excercise ..and is essential
to any human being IMHO,..i drink at
least three liters of water a day.

	Quote:
	I don't think that medication is the way to go

In general, i don't think it is the way to go either,
i know some people who ritalin and other alike] has helped though..
like my cousin in a sense,..but if it's not absolutely nescessary i'd not use any drugs.

	Quote:
	I'm looking for a more natural solution (if Natural is even the correct term). Would you mom suggest anything??

What i wrote just now was off the head ,. i'll be
sure to ask her when i see her tomorrow,..perhaps you
could tell a bit more on the person involved?...age / living habits etc..

peace'
standvast.

Posts: 8249

Fish oil is becoming very popular for treating these conditions though it may take up to 3 months.

Posts: 2699

	Quote:
	ADD and ADHD are caused by a lack of exercising the muscle of logic. It has been aptly renamed "Attention Deficit Disorder" by Lisa Van Damme.

Posts: 133

Hi there ,

ADD is just a deficit in your capacity of thinking clear . Dizziness , cloudy mind. Our mind is not something mistical and magic , is the creation of the brain.
When you think you are memorizing is not exactly you , is your brain working properly . The thing is about whats wrong with the brain , not with ME.

FACT.The brain like another part of the body , can be damaged , broken and lose functions. For its normal functioning , it needs certain elements that the rest of the
body manufacture without our consent or will , automatically. The brain also has protections , just in case the body miss something . That protection is called blood brain barrier
which tries to separate potential hazzards carried by the blood stream.

So , in my opinion this is the main source that a brain can be damaged . I prefer not to go on the WAVES issue, because i dont know much about it but in my opinion
matter can be also damaged by waves , just think on the microwave . Sure that mobiles waves damage the cells but i dont know why and how.

I want to focus now on ADD issue . As i said before , when a function or part of the brain doesnt work , the mind is alterated without consent or hope to change with
the way of reason . In that moment the mind wont improve with information but only by repairing that phisical part of the brain damaged. I´m saying this for those who
try to give logic reasons for their new state of mind instead of finding the real cause of their new mindset which is a malfunction in the brain.

An attention deficit is presented clearly in those who have been involved with drugs . Not only while they are drugged , but when they are "clean" they still are dizzy .
Why ? because that drug damaged the dendrites of the neurons like when you plug too much energy into a single wire and it melts.

That is an extreme ADD , the one caused by drugs . But the ADD we all think about is another ADD.
That ADD is also caused by components which damage parts of the brain . Those are in my opinion :

- FLUORIDE - Component in major tooth paste and also on fluoridated water .
- ASPARTAME - Artificial sweetener , component of nearly all soft drinks and spread across the food industry. E951
- MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE - Flavour enhancer spread across the food industry .E621
- THIOMERSAL - Product made from mercury used in vaccines as a preservative for the dead virus.
- ALUMINIUM

Once you have avoid those components that damage your brain . Then you can use enhancers like brewer yeast rich in vitamin B. But first of all is to avoid of your
daily diet the components mentioned above.

Good luck in your research.

Posts: 133

HI

I found a good video about the relation between mind and body linked by nutrition.

See you around.