To forget even the most important things; to left behind tasks incomplete; to find it difficult to complete daily tasks; outbursts; anger; impatience etc etc …Are you a victim of these given situations and bad habits? If your answer is yes, is it not possible that you too are a victim of ADHD? Definitely possible. ADHD means Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Early symptoms of ADHD are noted during childhood days itself. Over activity, mischievous nature, impatience and lack of concentration in the childhood days may point to ADHD in future. If such conditions are the trademarks of a child’s childhood, such symptoms may be carried forwarded to 70% of teens and 50% of adults. As a child grows above symptoms may be slowly suppressed. Yet lack of concentration and related problems may be carried forward to the next phase of life. Now, 5% of world population suffers from ADHD. Yet according to the reports of World Health Organization, only 10% of ADHD patients get care and treatment. If the disease is detected at an early stage and given proper care and treatment, it’s definitely possible to lessen the impact of this disorder.

How the symptoms get exposed

The main problem of an ADHD patient is lack of concentration. They regularly lag behind in normal tasks and official works. Distraction of mind towards less important things of surroundings like sound and scenes while handling a vital task, feeling lack of interest in every done task, moving to second task before completing the first one or forgetting even the most important suggestions given by others are other major symptoms of ADHD. Such persons may even find it difficult to calculate the estimated time needed to complete a task or they may break promises frequently, though not intentionally. Making simple and frequent mistakes, inefficiency to handle more than one task at a time and moving away from tasks that need more responsibility are other noted symptoms.

Such persons may even get into trouble as they are never patient to think problems twice. They have less self-control and may even drive vehicles carelessly. Spending extra money without a second thought, sudden outbursts for silly things and no discipline in sexual life just follow it. They may not even be able to accept minor criticisms and often expose sudden fluctuations and variations in mental conditions and behaviours. It won’t be a big surprise if such persons break relationships easily or resign job unable to handle situations and pressures. Such persons may easily forget society norms and find it difficult to take decisions of life too.

Mischief in kids is common; they may not remain still in one place for a long time. They may be busy in one activity or another. Nothing to worry as it’s common in all kids if kept in limits. But if such behaviour exists even when he reaches adult stage too? He is always restless and patience when he reaches 18 or 20 plus? Is he moving his hands and legs frequently like a small kid even while perfect silence and steady posture is needed in a group? Is he talking non-stop without giving opportunity to others? Never taking responsibility of a serious task? If you observe a person and find all these symptoms in him, it’s definitely possible that he might be a victim of ADHD.

What are its after effects?

In most cases, ADHD is not detected in its early stages. As a result, it leads to big problems as time passes by. Lose interest in everything, incapability of mind to cope up with problems, stress and tensions, insecurity feelings always in mind and lack of self-confidence may gradually lead to a state of mind that the person feels inside that he is not at all worth and that he had done nothing worth in life! For his simple mistakes and problems, if he faces criticism or funny comments, conditions may become severe. Unfortunately ADHD may lead to unhappy married life, less relationships in the society, lack of social life and even unemployment and financial troubles. As he is impatient and careless, he may invite accidents more easily. More than 80% ADHD patients suffer from depression, anxiety, sleeplessness, addiction to drugs and drinks and temptations to commit suicide. It has been noticed that, more than primary symptoms, the connected problems make the patient’s life more miserable than one imagine.

How ADHD occurs?

Prefrontal cortex – it’s that particular part of human brain that memorizes the tasks needed to be performed and even synchronize and memorize them in order. It also gives human mind enough power to concentrate and study problems and their consequences.  But due to genetic defects or problems occurring in the development stages of embryo, prefrontal cortex may not develop perfectly and its defects definitely cause problems after the child is born. According to studies, 76% of such immature growth of prefrontal cortex happens with genetic reasons. It’s noticed that, at least one of the parents of 1/3rd of ADHD patients do suffer this condition.  Also 1/3rd of their kids may be affected by this defect.

Genes responsible for ADHD are mostly those which help in the communication of human brain cells. Dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin are among those gene species. Receivers of dopamine like DRD4 and DRD5, receivers of serotonin like HTR1B, SNAP-25 and DAT1 which helps in the reabsorption of dopamine and serotonin respectively and some other protein types like and 5HTT that influence the nervous growth have a significant role in the evolution of ADHD. Due to genetic defects, when dopamine and nor epinephrine are not got absorbed in between synapses, it damages the patient’s memory power and concentration a lot! 

High mental stress during pregnancy, usage of certain medicines, contact with certain chemical substances, smoking, drinking, drugs and high blood pressure many lead to birth of kids suffering from ADHD. Premature birth, low birth weight infants or contact with certain alloys, pesticides, insecticides and chemical substances during early childhood and infection of brain are other reasons they may lead to ADHD.

How to diagnose ADHD?

Such symptoms may occur in normal persons also. But if such symptoms have appeared in one’s life before 12 years old and in future, if such defects cause problems in married life, work place or his pathetic relationships with people and social life, then only we need to think about the possibilities of ADHD. In some cases, the defect is detected during childhood itself. But in most cases such symptoms are ignored assuming them merely to be childhood mischief. 

The first step to diagnose this defect is to gather information about the person from his nearest persons. Doctors gather information of the patient since his childhood. He also asks patients about his present problems. Already prepared questionnaires are there that are used to ask questions to the patients. Along with it, tests are performed to know about his concentration and memory power. His physical and mental problems are also dealt in association with it. Old school records are also used as reference to know its intensity and to know more about the period from which its early symptoms were started. 

Most recently in July 2013, Food and Drug Administration of USA has been granted permission to conduct NEBA test to diagnose ADHD in kids by observing electromagnetic transmission speed of neurons and nervous system. When the person comes to know that behavioral and personal defects those he has been facing since childhood is not due to personality defects, but due to a disease affecting the brain, the comfort that it provides to the patient is not so negligible. Such a knowledge can definitely give the patients a ray of hope to return back to normal life.

Its treatment

Medicines, psychotherapy and counseling – treatments are many. Medicines are given to bring back in control the deviation of measure of fluids in neurons. As medicines prescribed first work on the symptoms causing the disease, it may require a long time for the complete treatment of the disease.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is another alternative. Through this psychological method, patient identifies his own defects and brings chances to his behaviour to get positive results. This method of treatment helps to gain the lost self-confidence to the patient and helps him to lessen his anxieties.

Meta cognitive therapy helps the patient to divide big aims to modules and teaches methods to reach those destinations one by one. It also gives inspirations and guidance how to reach big aims and ambitions in distant future.

Through counseling, one person gets an idea about the profession to choose. It also gives guidance how to face problems in his working atmosphere and how to maintain good relationship with his colleagues. Through relaxation methods, mental pressure and tensions can be reduced considerably. Family therapy and marital therapy are those techniques that help to improve personal relationships, both inside family and the social life as whole.

Are you mischievous?

Now, before I conclude let me give you a simple questionnaire to know if you are mischievous or not. For each question, 5 options are there – Never, Rarely, Sometimes, Often and Very often. You should choose one of these options based on your 6 months experience.

1. Though you take a lot of efforts to do a big task and almost finish its difficult modules, do you find it difficult to complete the task fully?
2. Do you face difficulty to remain disciplined for a work which necessarily needs discipline and order? 
3. Do you forget promises? Or is it difficult for you to remember the responsibilities you have committed?
4. If an assignment needs extra efforts and responsibilities or if you needed to take the leadership of the project do you try to find excuses to keep yourself away from taking over those responsibilities?
5. If you have to sit in one place for a long time quiet, do you find it difficult? Do you move your body parts?
6. Do you feel that you should always work like a restless motor without any rest?

If you have ticked the option,’ Very often’ for 4 or more columns, you definitely need a doctor’s advice.

Some simple tips to overcome problems related to ADHD

If the patient is able to understand his strengths and defects, and take suitable precautions the first phase is OK. If so, he can overcome many of the defects and problems related to this disease. In most of these persons, a few good qualities have also been noted – talent, smartness, mentality to do hard work (over work) in the job they like most, creativity and independent thinking. If the patient is able to identify such hidden potentials rather than placing those good qualities under defects, he can effectively cover the defects of this disease.
Choose hobbies and job you like most. If so, his talents and creativity can be used in a better way. It gives more opportunities to show off his talents as well. If outbursts and emotions suddenly conquer you, just imagine that those emotional outbursts are only a part of your disease and that they are only temporary.  But never blame yourself. Instead deviate your mind and thoughts to some activity in which you can find leisure and comfort. Regular exercise and good sleep can reduce the disease symptoms and their after effects a lot. Keep yourself away from bad habits like drinking and smoking and never be a part of unnecessary arguments. 

Now before I conclude, a few steps to overcome carelessness:

1. If you are about to do some important task, never spend time before television or radio that may deviate your thoughts and concentration.
2. Place your reading/writing table just near to a wall. Never place near window. If so, sounds and scenery from outside may take away your concentration in work.
3. If you are going to attend a meeting or speech assure a seat near to the speaker so that your mind will never loiter around in unnecessary talks.
4. If your boss or someone else is giving you some suggestion or order, you should tell them in brief what you have understood. Thus assure yourself that you have understood what you have been asked.
5. Allocate suitable time for even the small tasks to be performed. Practice time management techniques. It can help you a lot.
6. Make use of your cell phones to set timers and planners to do a particular task or activity. It can improve your performance a lot. 

Conclusion:

As I have told earlier, though the patients suffering from ADHD are different from normal persons at least in their behaviour and memorizing power, they own many positives that normal man never possesses. Main hindrance behind the growth of a normal person is his laziness to perform his job. But, if it’s the case of ADHD patients, he has enough potential to carry on the task without any abrupt. Only problem is, he may leave the task incomplete or lack of concentration may make his efforts miserable. If the patient himself is able to identify his real potential and able to control his mind at the time when it’s the worst, then it’s not at all difficult for him to conquer the world in the way he wants. A doctor can also help him to bring back his lost hopes to life.