Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Medical Rule Outs




The first step to getting appropriate treatment is to visit a doctor or mental health specialist. Certain medications, and some medical conditions such as viruses or a thyroid disorder, can cause the same symptoms as depression.

A doctor can rule out these possibilities by doing a physical exam, interview, and lab tests. In order to accurately diagnosis you or your child's Mood Disorder or ADHD, etc.,


See also 50 Conditions that Mimic ADHD

I would like to suggest that you make an appointment with your Primary Care Physician to discuss possible contributing medical conditions, such as:

  • Blood sugar imbalance, hypoglycemia, diabetes
  • Anemia
  • Thyroid imbalance
  • Hypertension
  • Ferritin (Iron stores), B12, B6, folic acid
  • Vitamin D, RBC zinc, copper, and magnesium
  • Neurotoxin exposure (e.g. lead poisoning, mercury other heavy metals)
  • Infections (e.g., encephalitis)
  • Use of medication (bronchodilators, isoniazid, alkathisia from neuroleptics)
  • Medication side effects, interactions
  • Viruses
  • Complete blood count, basic metabolic panel to rule out anemia and to assess general nutritional status
  • Sleep disturbance
When evaluating a child for possible depression, consider:
CBCrule out anemia
Electrolyteselectrolyte abnormalities
Creatinine/BUNrenal dysfunction
LFTsrule out hepatitis and drug effects
TFTsrule out thyroid disease
EKGas a baseline if pharmacotherapy with a tricyclic antidepressant is being considered
EEGrule out seizure disorder

"Depression also may occur with other serious medical illnesses such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, and Parkinson's disease. People who have depression along with another medical illness tend to have more severe symptoms of both depression and the medical illness, more difficulty adapting to their medical condition, and more medical costs than those who do not have co-existing depression.7 Treating the depression can also help improve the outcome of treating the co-occurring illness.8 "

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression/complete-index.shtml
Continue Reading...

Evaluation Medication for Children & Teens

By Jane Rekas, LCSW, Mental Health Specialist


We now know that Depression, Anxiety and ADHD are indeed affecting children in epidemic numbers. Up to 2.5 percent of children suffer from depression and 3 to 5 percent of all children have ADHD (as many as 2 million American children or at least one child in every classroom).

Approximately 4 out of 100 teenagers get seriously depressed each year. Anxiety disorders affect one in eight children. Research shows that untreated children with anxiety disorders are at higher risk to perform poorly in school, miss out on important social experiences, and engage in substance abuse. Anxiety disorders also often co-occur with other disorders such as depression, eating disorders, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).


Successful treatment of depression, anxiety or ADHD requires a combination of behavioral and family therapy and proper medication. But you are probably well aware that there has been a backlash against medicating young children – particularly for ADHD with Ritalin.


Parents have every reason to be concerned about misdiagnosis and incorrect medication. However, according to child psychologist Patricia Dalton, while there have been many cases of children who have given medication when they did not need it, the larger concern is actually children with disorders who are not receiving the proper medication (or the proper dose).


The Surgeon General’s Report also indicates “fewer children… are being treated for ADHD than suffer from it.” So many more children are not receiving proper treatment including medication, due in part to parents’ fears.


What is most important is for you to advocate for your child with your physician or psychiatrist. Be sure to have an ongoing dialogue with them about the correct dosage for your child, the correct schedule for giving the medication, proper ongoing monitoring, any needed lab testing, and possible side effects. When you are confident that these questions are being answered, then you can be more comfortable with getting your child the medication they may very well need.


http://www.athealth.com/


Note: All health and medication matters should ultimately be discussed with your pediatrician or a child psychiatrist. Also, most diagnoses of depression and ADHD do not occur before age 5, however, there are exceptions. A thorough examination to rule out other medical conditions and to confirm a diagnosis is also necessary.


Stimulants / Amphetamines


Many children and teens with ADHD take a medication called methylphenidate, better known by the brand name Ritalin. But although methylphenidate drugs are the medications that are most frequently prescribed to manage ADHD, lots of children take other medicines to control their ADHD symptoms.

In addition to methylphenidate drugs, doctors often prescribe other types of medication to help people with ADHD. Like Ritalin, amphetamines (such as Adderall) and dexamphetamines (such as Dextrostat or Dexedrine) treat ADHD by stimulating the brain's attention centers.


Non-Stimulants for ADHD and other Disruptive Behavior Disorders


Other types of medications that are prescribed for ADHD are nonstimulating and work differently. These include atomoxetine (like Strattera) and certain antidepressants (such as Wellbutrin). Alpha-2 Agonists are also used: Clonidine or Tenex. Risperidone – Atypical antipsychotic used in the management of schizophrenia. It has also found use in the treatment of Tourette’s syndrome, bipolar disorder, autism, and aggressive behavior (12).


Continue Reading...

12 Tips for Getting Organized for Adults with ADHD

By MARGARITA TARTAKOVSKY, M.S.

12 Tips for Getting Organized for Adults with ADHDOrganizing is a challenge and a chore for most people. But when you have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), symptoms like distractibility, forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating can make getting organized seem impossible.
But there are small steps you can take to organize your space and your life. Below, attention and ADHD coach Laura Rolands and clinical psychologist and ADHD expert Ari Tuckman share their strategies for getting a handle on clutter and creating a clean space.
1. Start small. When it comes to organizing, one of the mistakes people with ADHD make is to try to work on everything at once, said Rolands, who operates LSR Coaching and Consulting.
The second mistake, according to Tuckman, is letting your space become unbearably disorganized. So the disorganization becomes doubly overwhelming, and you give yourself more reasons to avoid it.
“Pick one area to clean for today and make it an area that is not too large,” such as “one section of your kitchen counter or one corner of your living room,” Rolands said.
If this is still overwhelming, think of an amount of time that feels comfortable to you, such as 10 minutes, she said. Set your timer, and organize until you hear the ding. Timers also serve as great reminders that you need to move on to your next project.
2. Work on one small area each day, Rolands said. Again, this helps you avoid getting overwhelmed and easily distracted.
3. Organize on a regular basis. As Tuckman said, “We don’t expect one shower to last all week, so it’s the same with organizing.”
Find yourself slipping? “Remind yourself that although being organized takes some time, it also saves time when you’re able to find things quickly and with less stress,” he said.
4. Shrink your stuff. “The less you have, the easier it is to organize what’s left,” said Tuckman, who’s also the author of More Attention, Less Deficit: Success Strategies for Adults with ADHD.
Some items will be easier to part with than others, he noted, while you might hold onto items just in case you need them later. But he reminded readers that “If you can’t find it when you need it, you may as well not own it.”
5. Downsize regularly. In addition to getting rid of the things you own, be strict about buying more things and letting clutter in your life in general. “The less stuff that comes into your life, the less you need to manage, so get yourself off of mailing lists and resist the temptation to buy those unnecessary little items,” Tuckman suggested.
6. Keep your system as simple as possible. Having an easy organization system “makes it more likely that [you] will stick with it, which is the ultimate goal,” Tuckman said. For example, use file folders with brightly colored labels, Rolands said. Using different colors makes them easier to find, Tuckman said.
Too distracting? “Use one folder for all bills related to the house, rather than creating separate folders for each bill,” he said.
7. Color-code email based on the sender. “This way, you can see emails from your priority customers, family members and bosses first,” Rolands said.
8. Create a simple system for your home and office mail. Mail is something that easily piles up and creates tons of clutter. So organize mail every day. “Give yourself a few options such as File, Toss, Do and Delegate,” she said.
9. Carve out time to clean the clutter. Rolands suggested that readers “Make an appointment with yourself to organize.”
10. Limit distractions, Rolands said. If you don’t want to be organizing in the first place, there are tons of things that can pull for your attention. So turn off the TV and computer, and let your phone go to voicemail. Also, consider other common distractions that stop you from accomplishing your tasks and avoid those.
11. Ask for help. You don’t have to organize alone. For starters, you can ask someone to simply be in the room as you organize. “Having someone else present tends to keep us working longer and [with] fewer distractions,” Tuckman pointed out.
If you’re having particular trouble creating a simple organizing system, ask a friend to help or hire a coach, Rolands said.
12. Check out helpful resources. Rolands likes the National Resource Center on AD/HD for anything ADHD-related and Families with Purpose, “an organization dedicated to helping busy parents create a meaningful family life for themselves and their children.”
Also, ADDitude magazine offers a variety of free downloads on organizing and other ADHD information.
Ultimately, do what works best for you. “There is not a one-size-fits-all [system] with regard to anyone, especially adults with ADHD,” Rolands said. Tuckman added, “Don’t expect yourself to enjoy [organizing], just do it anyway.”
Continue Reading...

ADHD: The UnRitalin Solution

"Dr. Yannick Pauli is a chiropractor who has advanced training in functional neurology, nutrition and functional medicine. He also has advanced education in chiropractic paediatrics.

He is the Director of the Centre Wellness NeuroFit in Lausanne, Switzerland.
It is in this clinic that he runs Brain Potential, a holistic brain-based stimulation program that integrates various therapies to help children suffering from ADHD, dyslexia and other learning disorders, as well as other developmental disorders such as autism.

What is ADHD? - The Unritalin Difference


You may have heard many different opinions about what ADHD is or is not. Those opinions vary widely on a spectrum, with one extreme holding on to the view that ADHD is mainly a genetic brain condition, while the other extreme affirms that ADHD does not exist at all. As always, the truth lies somewhere in the middle.In order to present you with the most complete understanding possible of what ADHD is, I thought that you could greatly benefit from getting a “contrasted view” of the field of ADHD. This is why I have compared the traditional medical view of ADHD to the Unritalin Solution view of ADHD.

http://www.unritalinsolution.com/overcomingadhd

Cognitive Treatment

"The most popular ADHD natural treatments involve changing the way kids with ADHD think. After all, a child's brain is still very malleable and can form new neural pathways to alter the way it thinks and responds to certain situations. Neurofeedback and Cogmed Working Memory Training are just some examples of brain therapies that help ADHD kids control their impulses. Another option is a new online program from the Brain Potential Institute. Find out more at the UnRitalin Blog."
Continue Reading...

What Affect Does ADHD Have on Relationships?


Source


Because the effects of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can strain relationships in many ways, it is important for the person who has the condition to let important people in their life know about their diagnosis. ADHD affects relationships differently from couple to couple, but here are ten tips that can prove helpful for most relationships:

  • Work together. Because ADHD affects both people in a relationship, both should be involved in the treatment plan. Educate yourselves on the condition and treatment so you know what to expect. In the end, working together makes the entire experience easier on both people.
  • Talk to each other. Communication is an important key to any relationship, but it is essential when dealing with ADHD. Sit down and discuss how ADHD has affected your relationship, both the good and the bad. If you have to, schedule some time to be together and discuss your relationship regularly. Realize that the process will probably take more than one sitting, so keep talking! Talk about how you feel about ADHD and what sorts of things you'd like to change. Talk about your strengths and weaknesses and find ways to accommodate both of you. For example, if one person becomes overwhelmed at having to go grocery shopping, don't make that person do it; he or she might be better off keeping the kids busy or doing the laundry while the other person goes to the store. The next time you talk, go over the changes you were able to make and see if they were successful or not.
  • Help in follow through. People with ADHD often have trouble following through with what they intend to do, including sticking to their treatment plans. The person in the relationship who doesn't have ADHD can do several things to help the other person stick to their plan and honor their agreements. Try to find ways of reminding that are effective, but aren't nagging. There are a lot of suggestions about how to change the environment to help the person.
  • Write things down. When things are written down, they're a lot harder to forget. Make lists of things to do in a day or over the weekend. Leave reminders about putting dishes in the dishwasher or taking the kids to soccer practice.
  • Differentiate between ADHD and the person. Some personality traits are caused by ADHD and others are just personality traits. Don't blame all of your (or your partner's) problems on ADHD, because it doesn't cause all of them. Recognize which traits are ADHD and which are the person, then work towards adapting the right ones.
  • Watch out for signs of a bad relationship. Relationships are always complicated, but ADHD can set up roles that are more difficult on the people involved. Some couples find that the person with ADHD feels that they have to be submissive to the other person's demands and organization. At the same time, the person without ADHD often feels that they are a slave to the ADHD (always cleaning up or being in charge). Get any of these feelings out in the open. It is important to discuss how you feel and ways to make things better.
  • Make time for each other. As in any relationship, it is important to make sure you have time just to be together. Take a weekend away or spend a Saturday afternoon at home or take each other out to dinner during the week to have some time together.
  • Praise each other often. Take the time to point out the good things about each other. Whether you're the person without ADHD or with ADHD, praise your partner when he or she does something well. It may seem silly at first, but it will become easier and more cherished with time.
  • Keep your sense of humor. ADHD can be frustrating, but it also can be a lot of fun. Try to see the humorous side of ADHD as well. When you have the choice between laughing and crying, try laughing. No one and no couple is perfect, the ones that laugh often have an easier time.
  • Get outside help. Many couples need extra help and seeing a therapist can prove extremely worth while.

Continue Reading...

If your partner has ADHD


20 Things to Remember If You Love a Person with ADD


"Understanding what a person with ADD feels like will help you become more patient, tolerant, compassionate, and loving. Your relationships will become more enjoyable and peaceful. This is what goes on in the mind ofa person with ADD/ADHD."


Read more at http://quotespaper.com/quotes-about-life/5871#UudLSq1lhbw0r7te.99
Continue Reading...

Popular Posts