ADD/ADHD Holistic Treatment | NYC

Teenagers with ADHD

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Myth: ADHD only exists in childhood… 

There is a common misperception that ADHD is only a “childhood” disorder.  ADHD can be diagnosed in children as young as four years old and is typically diagnosed in childhood. A person usually develops ADHD in this younger age and parents and teachers look out for children who exhibit the core three symptoms: inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity.

The six-year-old who cannot sit still and constantly fidgets, or the little girl who stares out the window for hours on end or the child who cannot help but knock down the toy towers even when told not to. In kindergarten and elementary school, if children are suspected of having ADHD, they are evaluated by a pediatrician so they can receive the proper therapy and medication.

As the child gets older, he or she is likely to outgrow ADHD, but this is not always the case. Many teenagers struggle with ADHD as they go through life changes: going to high school, peer pressure and learning to drive. Also, children who were never diagnosed with ADHD can start to experience debilitating symptoms as life stressors begin to increase.

ADHD in Teenagers

When a teenager experiences ADHD, it presents differently than it did in childhood. In children, the core symptom to look out for is hyperactivity, but as children mature, they are less likely to be fidgeting and jumping out of their chairs.

Teenagers with ADHD struggle with:

  1. School performance: As assignments become more demanding, challenges with executive functioning become more apparent. The inability to focus and stay on task can cause a teenager to perform poorly on tests and fall behind in work. 
  2.  Long-term consequences: Understanding to prioritize working on a school project rather than watching T.V is more difficult for teenagers with ADHD, who are wired to seek out immediate gratification.
  3. Social Challenges: Teenagers with ADHD are likely to be victims of bullying or be the bully themselves. They are more likely to be impulsive and act on anger and emotion, rather than process the feelings before speaking.
  4. Risky behavior: Teenagers with ADHD, struggling with impulsivity, are more likely to be tempted by drugs, smoking, and alcohol.

Tips for Parents of Teenagers with ADHD 

  1. Academic Support: ADHD is co-morbid with learning disabilities and with extra help in school, a teenager can succeed academically. By providing extra time, tutoring or studying tips, a teenager with ADHD can improve test scores and confidence in their academic abilities. It is not someone with ADHD’s fault when he or she finds focusing and concentrating more difficult than other people without ADHD. ADHD is a brain-based disorder but cognitive strategies and extra support can help mitigate symptoms.
  2.  Independence:  During teenage years, it is normal for an individual to want to have his or her privacy and freedom to make decisions. It is also normal for parents to want to be involved in their teenager’s life (especially if he or she has ADHD). Parents need to find a balance between providing the structure and support a teenager needs while also allowing for independence. Many teenagers with ADHD report having conflicts with their parents and this can be due to the parents’ desire to help their teenager with school and other experiences. Providing help is one thing but treating your teenager like a child is another thing.
  3. Extracurricular Activites: Encouraging a teenager with ADHD to sign up for after-school clubs or teams can be extremely beneficial. Extracurriculars provide structure and organization to schedules and also provide a way to meet and interact with other peers.
  4. Driving Lesson: Teenagers with ADHD are more likely to struggle with driving due to their inattention and impulsivity. Having extra driving lessons can help a teenager with ADHD feel more confident behind the wheel.

Symptoms of ADD in adults can be alleviated with meditation

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ADD in adults

Couldn’t resist those beautiful black pumps you saw at the store – even though you already have seven pairs of black pumps? Did you really need those donuts from the break room? Do friends or family members tell you that you never let them finish what they’re saying?

Acting impulsively is one of the most serious symptoms of ADD in adults. Impulsive actions may lead to financial difficulties, health problems and failed relationships. If you’ve gone through adult ADD testing or have asked yourself, “Do I have ADD?” these challenges may be only too familiar to you.

Your impulsive actions may be keeping you from living your best life. But you can take positive steps to change that. As we say at the Sachs Center, which offers ADHD testing for adults and children, there isn’t a cure for ADHD, but there are solutions that can help you manage your condition and make the most of your strengths and weaknesses.

Dr. George Sachs is not only a preeminent ADD/ADHD doctor, he is living with ADD. He understands all about impulsive behaviors and about the limitations of traditional treatments for ADD in adults. In looking for answers and solutions, Dr. Sachs has found that the best way to overcome those impulsive tendencies is through meditation and mindfulness.

A lot of people think they know what meditation is and have convinced themselves they can’t do it because they can’t turn their thoughts off. But meditation doesn’t require a lack of thoughts, it’s about not getting caught up or engaged in those thoughts.

As a very helpful lesson on Headspace, a free meditation app you can download for your phone, explains, when you’re meditating your goal is to acknowledge those random thoughts and then just let them pass right by. Headspace offers a short, animated clip that illustrates this aspect of the practice. Meditating, they say, is like sitting by the side of the road and watching the traffic go by. Each car, truck, van and SUV speeding by is a thought generated by your active brain. If you’re meditating, you can recognize them as they come speeding at you, but then just let them pass on by. The point is not to jump in front of a speeding vehicle and try to stop it. In other words, let the thoughts that pop into your mind go without engaging in them.

Meditating on a regular basis can help you develop a greater awareness of your thoughts and of your emotions. Meditation can even help make you more aware of your body and the way it interacts with the physical world. This awareness will better enable you to slow down and implement the self-control needed to control the impulses associated with ADD in adults – and, for that matter, in children.

If you would like to read more about meditation, Dr. Sachs recommends two books on meditation. One is Russell Simmons book, Success Through Stillness. The other, How To Meditate, is by a famous female monk, Pema Chodron.  Both books, he says, offer a practical guide to the art of meditation.

And, if you have plenty of good intentions but are running short on motivation, like so many adults with ADD, Dr. Sachs recommends seeking strength in numbers. In other words, find a group of people to meditate with. You may be able to find a meditation center or meetup group near you.

For more tools to help you manage your ADD, including neurofeedback for ADHD, or for ADD testing in NYC, call the Sachs Center at 646-807-8900, text us at 646-418-5035 or send an email to [email protected]com.

Bring Change to Mind is helping reduce the stigma associated with mental illness, including ADD in adults.

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mental illness

If you’ve ever heard actress Glenn Close talk about her own family’s experiences in coping with mental health, you’ll know what a powerful advocate she is for the mental health community and for every family and every individual dealing with mental health issues – including those who are coming to the Sachs Center for ADD testing or ADHD treatment in NYC.

In 2010, Close co-founded Bring Change to Mind after her sister, Jessie Close, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and her nephew, Calen Pick, with schizoaffective disorder. The nonprofit organization is dedicated to encouraging dialogue about mental health, and to raising awareness, understanding, and empathy.

As their website says, “Every individual who speaks out inspires another. And another. That’s how we’ll end the stigma around mental illness. That’s how we’ll Bring Change to Mind.”

At the Sachs Center, we believe there are many ways to help people coping with mental health issues in addition to traditional methods.  Our ADHD test for adults may help a business executive understand why she is struggling.  We offer social skills groups that help those with ADD learn how to navigate the world around them. We provide psychoeducational testing in NYC and help students get the extra time for testing in New York that they need to succeed.

Joining the effort to end the stigma associated with mental illness is also an important way that each of us can help those in our community who face the challenges of ADD/ADHD, Asperger’s, depression and all the other illnesses that affect the mind.

We would like to share the core principles and beliefs of Bring Change to Mind, so that you can be part of the effort, too.

  • Start the Conversation

Opening a dialogue about mental illness builds the awareness, understanding, and empathy necessary to inspire the action, structural change, and the creation of new norms which end stigma and discrimination.

  • Amplify Voices

Our role is to give a voice to others, as their experiences and stories can transform feelings of isolation and despair into feelings of community and hope. These stories will open hearts and minds and change fear and stigma toward people living with mental illness into compassion and support for their journey ahead.

  • Be an Ally

We are a trusted ally in the conversation about mental illness and openly collaborate with other mental health professionals, academics, resources and advocates to grow this consequential movement

  • Empower the Future

The foundation of broad awareness will be built by deeply engaged change agents, such as young people touched by mental illness and motivated to improve the lives of others.

  • Support Science

Science and evidence-based action is essential to achieving our mission. Therefore, we ground our work in the latest research, which we evaluate for effectiveness then share with confidence.

  • Fight for Human Rights

Our work is about saving lives, reducing suffering, and ensuring that people living with a mental illness are able to pursue their human potential with dignity, full civil rights, appropriate healthcare, and unbridled access to life’s opportunities.

 

Early signs of ADHD

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How Do You know Your Child has ADHD?

ADHD, a brain-based disorder, this typically known as a children’s disorder.  While many adults do get diagnosed with ADHD, in most cases it is diagnosed in elementary school-aged children.

The main three symptoms to look out for in ADHD include

  1. inattention- trouble focusing
  2. hyperactivity- constant movement, fidgeting, and restlessness
  3. impulsiveness- not thinking before acting and making decisions

In a child, this would look like the student who has trouble following along with the lesson, sitting still in his or her chair and who seems to always be calling out. Children are typically diagnosed with ADHD around the age of seven

Signs of ADHD parents and teachers should look out for:

1)  Children who cannot sustain attention in a conversation! These children always seem to be looking away when someone else talks or going off the topic at hand when it is their turn to speak

2) Children who are always losing their belongings. Their hats, gloves, books… you name it! If this is excessive, it could be a sign of ADHD.

3) Children who talk too much to the point where they seem to be on a motor. This can refer to the child in class who constantly blurts out the answers or irrelevant statements.

4) Children who struggle academically. This may be due to their trouble attending and processing information. If their ADHD symptoms are treated, they will better be able to receive good grades and keep up with the material. Also, often times ADHD is co-morbid with learning disorders as well.

Preschool-aged children with ADHD symptoms

In younger children especially, symptoms of intention, hyperactivity and impulsiveness can appear age appropriate.  Many five-year-olds may have trouble paying attention in a classroom setting due to their age rather than due to ADHD. 

A challenge arises for parents and teachers to differentiate between age-appropriate behavior and ADHD like symptoms.  As children get older and go to elementary school it becomes easier to determine by both teachers and parents if they have ADHD.

What behaviors parents and teachers should look out for in preschoolers:

  • Look out for the hyperactive child! In preschool-aged children, hyperactivity is the most predominant ADHD symptom to look for. For example, the child who is constantly bouncing up and down in his or her chair, running around the room and moving his or her body non-stop.
  • Children who exhibit ‘self-focused behavior’. This means the children who cannot recognize other people’s wants and needs. This child may have trouble taking turns with board games and toys
  • The child who cannot finish the puzzle, coloring in a picture or even finish his or her own sentence
  • The children who exhibit disobedient and reckless behavior. Compared to other preschoolers, preschoolers who have ADHD are more likely to get suspended from daycare or school
  • The children who have trouble learning simple lessons and concepts. Many children with ADHD are placed in special education programs in preschool due to their difficulty grasping lessons.

It is important for parents and teachers to work together to determine if a child needs to be evaluated with ADHD. Many times, because certain behaviors are characterized as age-appropriate, ADHD will not be diagnosed until elementary school. However, it can be extremely beneficial to intervene at the start of ADHD and begin treatment rather than wait a few extra years.

Impairments in two or more settings

When diagnosing children, especially younger ones, with ADHD, it is important to see if their behaviors are occurring in more than one setting.For example, preschool children who have trouble behaving and focusing at school but experience no impairments in the home may have a learning disorder or another issue. 

It is important for parents and teachers to communicate with each other and to see if these same behaviors are occurring in both environments. If a child struggles with fidgeting, forgetting things and listening to instructions in both school and home settings, it can be beneficial to get an ADHD evaluation.

Children who experience ADHD (primarily inattentive subtype): 

  • Daydream constantly! They are always spacing out quietly into the distance.
  • Do not follow through with instructions. If you give a three-step direction, they may stop after the second direction. 
  • Struggle with remembering to complete tasks and put things away.
  • They are often coined as spacey and inattentive by teachers.

It is important for parents and teacher to recognize that it is not only the hyperactive loud children who are at risk for experiencing ADHD. ADHD can be primarily inattentive, meaning that these children have difficulty focusing but are not causing disruptions. These children may be struggling academically but they are not misbehaving and causing outbursts at school or in the home setting. However, because they do not fit the stereotype of the loud fidgeting child, their symptoms can be overlooked.

Many times, in preschool and elementary schools, girls can be experiencing ADHD with a primary inattentive subtype, but they are not being evaluated for ADHD. It is important for parents and teachers to understand that the children who are spacey and ‘in their own worlds’ can be experiencing ADHD as well.

Don’t wait until it is too late! 

There are many signs of ADHD to look out for to determine if your child potentially has ADHD. If you notice any of them,  bring your child in to get evaluated.With early intervention, Children with ADHD,  do well in school, socially and in other settings.  It is important to ensure that they receive the resources they need to thrive like their fellow peers.

WORK CITED

https://www.healthline.com/health/adhd/signs

http://www.chadd.org/Understanding-ADHD/For-Parents-Caregivers/Preschoolers-and-ADHD.aspx

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/adhd/Pages/Early-Warning-Signs-of-ADHD.aspx

Mental Health and Men

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Mental Health

Could an ADHD test for adults be the first step on your path to success?

Bring Change to Mind – a nonprofit organization dedicated to encouraging dialogue about mental health, and to raising awareness, understanding, and empathy – established a Men’s Mental Health Campaign https://bringchange2mind.org/mens-mental-health with the goal of challenging some of the common misconceptions men have about mental health. These mistaken beliefs can discourage them from getting the help they need.

The way men perceive mental illness can be a real stumbling block to overcoming the challenges of ADD in adults. While ADD/ADHD is often considered to be a problem associated with male minds, it is in fact an equal opportunity disorder, affecting both men and women.

In many schools, teachers learn how to detect ADHD in boys, which can lead to ADHD testing and appropriate treatments. The disorder presents itself differently in girls and so the problem often goes undiagnosed.  In adulthood, you could say the tables are turned to a certain extent.  Women are much more likely to seek treatment for a mental illness than men.

To try to dispel some of the misconceptions that men tend to have regarding mental health, Bring Change to Mind turned to Dr. Sara Hickmann, a clinical counselor for the Fleet and Family Support Center at Naval Base Point Loma in San Diego, CA. and the former director of player assistance services in the Player Development Department at the National Football League (NFL).

As Bring Change to Mind points out, men challenged by mental illness will often say, “I don’t need help. I got this.” Dr. Hickman sheds light on the reality of the situation by saying, “Research shows that, often, the men who need mental health services most – stressed out, successful, athletic, family men – are also the least interested in getting help. The traditional male role encourages a preoccupation with success, power and competition. And yet these types of men are at higher risk of negative psychological consequences, such as depression, anxiety, and relationship problems.”

In other words, the men who tend to put a lot of pressure on themselves to succeed are more likely to need help.  They may go to great lengths to climb the corporate ladder, score the winning run or earn the top awards, when they could achieve their goals more easily by taking care of their mental health.

Dr. Hickman also explains that men who have difficulty expressing their emotions may be more prone to suffer from depression and less likely to seek treatment for any mental illness.  “Men are geared towards problem solving, but sometimes holding in how you feel is part of the problem,” she says. “When you start talking about things that bother you or are causing stress, the problem solving can begin.”

Waiting until a cough turns into bronchitis to see a doctor, can leave you out of the action.  “Mental health issues can be similar,” Dr. Hickman says. “Untreated depression and other psychiatric problems can result in personal, family, and financial problems, even suicide. According to NIMH, four times as many men as women die by suicide in the United States, which may result from a higher prevalence of untreated depression. Yet eight out of 10 cases of depression respond to treatment.”

ADD in adults also responds well to treatment. But, when the condition goes undiagnosed, a man may find his efforts to resulting in failure. Instead of success, his life can be seen as a series of missed opportunities – in both his work and social life.

Life coaching has become a popular option for many of those who occupy the C-suites, as well as those who aspire to. Treatment for ADD in adults can be even more effective in setting you on the path to success.  The Sachs Center offers ADHD testing for adults, allowing our ADD/ADHD doctors to assess your situation.  From there, we can begin to develop a plan to address your unique challenges.

 

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The Sachs Center ADD/ADHD Treatment Center specializes in the testing and treatment of ADD/ADHD and High Functioning Autism in children, teens and adults. We go beyond labels to see the whole person. Our proven holistic methods will help you and your loved ones reach your highest goals. Call Today. 646-807-8900

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