ADHD

The Many Faces of ADHD

Tuesday, October 16th, 2012
Teenagers playing soccer in the rain

ADHD Awareness Week runs from October 14-20, 2012 (Photo credit: marlon.net)

The 2012 ADHD Awareness Week campaign seeks to educate and spread understanding about who ADHD affects.  For many who live with this condition, their families, and the providers that work with them, this is a very welcome change.  For years, most ADHD awareness efforts have been focused on dispelling myths, correcting misinformation, and legitimizing this real, brain-based disorder that affects millions of Americans in the collective minds of the public.  The shift in focus for this year’s campaign signifies that the most important thing we need to talk about regarding ADHD is no longer whether or not it is real.  It means we can start talking about who is impacted, how it helps and hurts them, and what can be done to help those with it thrive in all areas of their life.

When it comes to ADHD, there is no discrimination and no bias based on race, ethnicity, religion, age, or even gender.  Anyone can have ADHD.  It is not a white disorder.  It is not something only boys get.  It is not more prevalent in the U.S. than the rest of the world and it is not a condition confined to childhood.  The faces of ADHD are young and old, black, white, and brown, male and female.   They are also rich and poor, successful and unsuccessful, single, married, and divorced, thriving, and struggling.  The many faces of ADHD show us that there is no “typical” person with the condition.

One of the reasons it is so important to understand the diversity of the ADHD population is to help increase the likelihood that those with the condition will be diagnosed.  The clearest path to living successfully with ADHD is proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment.  If people are not aware that ADHD can affect them or their families, it is less likely that they will seek diagnosis, pursue treatment, and take advantage of those things that can help them manage their lives more effectively.  Adults who believe only children have ADHD may not recognize the signs in themselves of their partners.  Parents who think only boys have it may not realize their daughter’s struggles in school are not just bad behavior.   Raising awareness about the many faces of ADHD means we can open the door for more people to get the support and assistance they need to be the best they can be.

ADHD Awareness Week runs from October 14-20 this year and will feature educational opportunities and events across the country.  Take a few minutes this week to learn more about ADHD including the signs and symptoms, the process used for diagnosis, and recommended treatments.  The information available about ADHD has increased significantly in recent years as our understanding of the condition has expanded.  Many things that were “true” for many years have been replaced by new facts based on better science.  From who has it to how it’s treated, the world of ADHD has come a long way in recent years and by raising awareness, educating others, and encouraging people to be informed, those with the disorder are already making the world a little easier to not only survive in, but into a world where people with ADHD can thrive.

 

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Phoenix Teen Counseling: Mental Health 101: Teen Troubles

Wednesday, June 27th, 2012
Adolescence

Do you know when your teen needs more help than you can provide? (Photo credit: kevinthoule)

The teenage years can be troublesome and traumatic.  Faced with a myriad of pressures from every direction, teenagers often feel that they need twist and morph themselves into someone else in order to fit into other people’s molds.  This is made more difficult because they are only beginning to discover who they are and what they want.   They feel pressured to look a certain way, get good grades, fit in with friends, make the team, get the part, and be popular and sometimes that pressure can be too much.  Teens also have to deal with other issues like family financial problems, divorce, and illness.  Although the majority of teenagers make it through these tumultuous times to become well-adjusted adults, some teens struggle enough that they need professional help.

For parents, understanding when a teenager’s behavior is normal teen angst and when it is not is one of the biggest challenges.  In order to get teens the help they need to successfully navigate whatever challenges they are facing, parents need to know what to look for, what to expect, and when to seek help.  Here is a list of the most common mental health issues teens experience to help parents know when it’s time to seek outside help.

Mood Disorders

Bipolar Disorder – A teen with bipolar disorder has periods of mania and periods of depression.  When they are in a manic period, they may be extremely happy, hyperactive, and/or irritated.  They get by on very little sleep, get involved in multiple projects and activities, and may participate in risky behavior.  When they are in a depressive period, they display the signs of depression.

Depression – When teens are clinically depressed, they experience feelings of sadness and irritability along with several other symptoms that can include changes in appetite or sleep, rapid weight loss or gain, fatigue, loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities, problems concentrating, feeling hopeless, and suicidal thoughts.

Anxiety Disorders

General Anxiety Disorder – Feelings of anxiety are common in teens, but in some cases these feelings can rise to the level of a disorder.  Teens may worry excessively about situations, events, or activities to the extent that it interferes with their normal life.  Symptoms include feeling restless, having trouble sleeping, being irritable, and being unwilling or unable to participate in everyday activities.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) – Teenagers dealing with OCD have distressing thoughts or impulses that occur over and over and repetitive behavior patterns like hand washing, counting, and hoarding that interrupt their ability to live their life normally.

Eating Disorders

Anorexia Nervosa – Teens with anorexia nervosa do not eat enough to maintain a healthy body weight.  Signs and symptoms include being significantly underweight, dry skin, low blood pressure, depression, moodiness, and unwillingness to eat around others.

Bulimia – Teens with bulimia participate in a cycle of bingeing and purging, eating a large amount of high calorie food and then inducing vomiting.  Bulimics may also use laxatives, exercise, diuretics, and diet pills to prevent weight gain.  Signs of bulimia include obsessing over weight, exercising hours at a time, eating in secret, spending time in the bathroom directly after eating, and low self esteem.

Trauma and Abuse

Teens who have been physically, emotionally, or sexually abused or who have lived through a traumatic event may need assistance to overcome the lasting damage these circumstances can cause.  Teens may experience Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, substance abuse, suicidal tendencies, and self harm.

Suicidal Tendencies

According to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, suicide is the third leading cause of death amongst teenagers.  Warning signs include depression, frequent thoughts of and conversation about death, substance abuse, previous attempts, and traumatic events.

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