Top 5 Ways To Naturally Control ADD/ADHD

Do you ever notice yourself getting easily distracted, needing to fidget, or being unable to finish a task? This could be a sign that you are struggling with ADD or ADHD. There are a variety of symptoms and behaviors that you may experience with ADD or ADHD, but they are debilitating if not treated properly. 4.4% of U.S. adults struggle with ADHD. Of the adults, 38% are women, and 62% are men. In addition, an astonishing 6.1 million children struggle with ADD or ADHD, from ages 2-11 years old; around 12% of the kids in the U.S. deal with this learning disability. In today's article, I am going to teach you all about ADD and ADHD and how they are caused, and how you can naturally treat them.

What Is ADD/ADHD?

ADD & ADHD are the same brain disorder but have different symptoms and behavioral traits. For example, someone with ADD may struggle to stay focused throughout the day with particular tasks, but someone with ADHD may work to even get out of bed because of how overwhelming starting the day may be.

ADD is usually described as ADHD without Hyperactivity but with impulsive behaviors. When you struggle with ADD, you generally find yourself daydreaming or getting bored very quickly with tasks. Some things you may work with if you have ADD:

● Easily distracted

● Frequent Forgetfulness

● Trouble concentrating

● Trouble following instructions

● Make frequent mistakes in your job or schoolwork

● The problem with managing time

● Trouble making decisions

● Procrastination

ADHD is usually described as Hyperactivity and impulsivity. You may not be able to sit still for long or need to talk to get attention to stay focused. Some of the Symptoms you may experience if you have ADHD are:

● Difficult sitting quietly

● Excessive talking

● Difficulty waiting patiently or taking turns

● Frequent fidgeting

● Trouble staying seated for long periods

● Feeling restless

● Trouble relaxing

● Finishing others sentences

● Interrupting others and intruding on conversations

● Shop impulsively

● Have trouble managing emotions

Where Does ADD/ADHD Come From in Children & Adults?

There is no evidence or exact contributing factor to ADD or ADHD. Each can come from many factors, from genetics, foods, & environments, and even a combination of all three elements.

Genetics play a huge role because what the parents carry, they pass down to their children. For example, let us say the parents both had learning disabilities growing up; it is more likely for the child to end up with the same disability. Also, being born via C-section can have much to do with different vitamin deficiencies contributing to ADD or ADHD. If not treated properly, that can be a problem for the kid's future when performing in everyday life. Therefore, catching ADD or ADHD as early as possible is critical to finding the best treatment.

Food is also a considerable contributor to ADD, and ADHD; caffeinated sodas, ultra-processed foods, and candy all contain toxic ingredients that can cause damage to the brain. Specifically, the prefrontal cortex where ADD and ADHD live. Eating artificial ingredients, food coloring, and preservatives affect your decision-making skills and stump your brain's ability to calm down. We begin to create an attachment to these foods, and over time, this causes us to develop symptoms of ADD and ADHD. When you have ADD or ADHD

Eating these foods makes it harder to treat and can worsen the symptoms.

The environment plays another crucial role in how ADD and ADHD can be worsened or even created. If you think about the screens we carry around and stare at all day, every day, they are one of the most significant contributors to ADD and ADHD symptoms. The things we allow ourselves to watch throughout the day go from social media to the news to texting and emails. The amount of stimulation you go through on your devices creates much mental strain that our brain can only take so much of. After a while, your brain begins to rely on that stimulus; without it, you can't focus. So sitting still becomes more difficult. You start fidgeting, get irritable in silent situations, get distracted easier, and so on.

Combining is the biggest problem with ADHD and ADD because that is the majority of our population today. People have kids struggling with these factors, and the behaviors repeat themselves throughout their family history. If you struggle with ADD or ADHD, take a look at these factors and see which one could be something you could work on.

How Does ADD/ADHD Affect the Brain?

People with ADHD or any other neurobehavioral disorder do not create the correct pattern of neural pathways when learning or concentrating. Brain networks are nerve cells called neurons that send information throughout the brain. Scientists use imaging tools such as MRIs and X-rays, which can measure how the brain operates in someone who has ADD or ADHD. In studies conducted using challenging thought-related tasks or emotion-inducing situations, researchers looked at the brain patterns of people with and without ADD and ADHD. They found that some brain areas were hyperactive, whereas others were hypoactive.

An example would be the more complicated a task or the more serious a situation, a person who struggles with ADHD may be more distracted and disconnected from the case.

One study in 2019 concluded that due to some deficiencies in vitamins, minerals, and proper emotional training, people had more intense ADHD symptoms.

What Are the Long-Term Effects of ADD/ADHD?

Over time, if ADD or ADHD is not treated, it can lead to long-term issues with anxiety, depression, drug or substance abuse, and social isolation. These are the most common due to the pressure from the responsibility we get as we age. That is why it is crucial to catch it early to get the treatment necessary to begin taking control of the behavioral issues that come with ADD and ADHD.

Studies have shown that people that struggle with ADHD are more likely to develop an addiction to a substance than someone who does not have ADHD.

People with ADHD may have difficulty completing tasks and following through with instructions, which may lead to loss of job or trouble in their career path.

People with ADHD have a more challenging time in relationships due to the struggle with executive function, making decisions, paying bills, doing household chores, and remembering essential relationships.

As you can see, ADHD can affect all areas of your life. So if you struggle with any of these symptoms or behaviors, see a doctor to see if you have ADD or ADHD.

Top 5 things you can do to Deal With ADD/ADHD Naturally

*Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor, so please take the information above and below as just information for you to use in your research and ask your doctor what will be best for your treatment.

1. Create A Routine: With ADD or ADHD, you get distracted and forgetful; this makes it much easier to get messy and leave your belonging in places they don't belong. Forgetting important dates, paying bills, taking care of yourself, and much more. After a while, this can Get old and become frustrating. One of the best things you can do is create a routine. Have a calendar for all of your events in a place you always check, go to bed, and wake up at the same time each day. Having specific routines like this can help with your memory and focus. Break big tasks into small bite-sized pieces to help you get them done the best way you know how. You can even create a routine with the whole family by implementing a chores list or homework list that has a reward system; when they accomplish something, they win something. It can be a great way to keep it fun.

2. Decompress: Taking 10-20 minutes daily to disconnect from work or school can help you get out of your head and back into the present moment. People with ADHD struggle to separate work from life, and it can create unnecessary stress on the mind and the quality of their relationships. Having a place where you can go to get some peace can drastically improve ADHD symptoms and even prevent them from showing up. Journaling, meditating, listening to music, or walking are great ways to decompress.

3. Eliminate Ultra-Processed Foods: We do not discuss the Standard American Diet enough and its negative effect on the brain. Anything in a box or bag has the potential to cause damage to the body and brain. Ingredients such as artificial sweeteners & food coloring are amongst the worst to have in your diet; because these directly affect the prefrontal cortex, the decision, making part of the brain that also produces dopamine. If this area of the brain is, involved, it can begin to create symptoms of ADHD. Over time, these ingredients can make ADHD symptoms much worse.

4. Exercise/Sleep: Burning enough energy throughout the day is essential for longevity, but when you have to ADD or ADHD, making sure you get your extra point out is necessary to have more control of your Hyperactivity. Kids playing sports or having some physical activity can be great for them to get their excess energy out. For adults having a fun exercise can be great for channeling your stress and energy into something that makes you happy. After getting your extra energy out, this sets you up for a good night's sleep. Your brain, with ADHD and ADD, has so many thoughts running through it, which can make it hard to get to sleep. By moving your body and decompressing, you will have set yourself up for a great night's rest.

5. Supplements: Supplementation is crucial for people with ADD or ADHD to ensure their brain is firing on all cylinders. From herbs, amino acids, and fish oil, the more you take, the better your brain will function. Below, I will list the top supplements for kids and adults and the best products to help with ADD or ADHD. Now be advised that supplements take about 1-2 weeks of consistently taking them before you start to see results. Please ask your doctor before taking any of the following accessories:

● Nootropic (Adults)

● Focus aid (Kids)

● Fish oil (Both)

● Essential amino acids (Both)

● Adaptogens (Adults)

● Saffron

Take Away

The takeaway message is that you do not have to struggle with ADD or ADHD forever. Nor do you have to rely on medication for the rest of your life to control it. I hope the information was helpful, and If you have any questions, please message me.