In this article, I would like to draw attention to ADD. ADD is not the same as ADHD, which most people associate with hyperactivity. Individuals can have attention deficit disorder without being hyperactive, and it is very likely that many people have ADD challenges without knowing it.
ADD is, as I said, an attention deficit disorder without hyperactivity. The symptoms can vary for each individual but I will list out common ones here among children.
Typical phrases I associate with ADD are:
“I can´t remember anything”
“I have trouble remembering things”
“I just have such a poor memory”
Of course, children do not remember everything, rather than us the adult people. However, if these are common phrases then I look for other symptoms e.g. difficulties with a sense of time. For example, it may appear in recurring questions about when an event is. The child can also have difficulties remembering days, months and even gets confused about seasons.
Other symptoms include procrastination. Does the child delay get started on a task? When the child finally starts, is it difficult for the child to finish the task and stay focused?
Are you a parent who has repeatedly heard during parent meetings that “he/she can do much more than he/she does”?
Is school challenging because the homework gets “lost” or the child does not “remember” what the homework was about?
Does the child have difficulties organizing events?
Does the child often make mistakes when doing a task, even a light task that you know the child can handle?
Is the child often distracted? Or do you as a parent feel that your child is not listening to you? Because the child looks distracted?
If you, as a parent, recognize many of these symptoms, I recommend that you explore the possibility of ADD further.
Several individuals with ADD often experience conflicts due to some of these symptoms like procrastination or being late. This can create frustrations for parents, teachers, or friends because it can be interpreted as a lack of interest.
Individuals with ADD do have their share of challenges within the school system & often fail to complete their studies. Therefore, it can be difficult for those individuals to find their path in life that can further lead to anxiety, stress, or even depression.
Just exploring the options & being open to the idea that the child could be experiencing some ADD challenges can transform the lives of children with ADD and not only them but also the parents as they develop a deeper understanding of their child. The brain of individuals with ADD works differently in receiving information & therefore it can lead to struggles.
I hope this article will raise awareness for parents & not only parents but also individuals with ADD that potentially are unaware of it.
Just being aware of it can make a huge difference in the quality of life of individuals with ADD.
I often recommend Happy, Calm, Focus for individuals that suspect they have ADD. Many of my clients have told me that by taking Happy, Calm, Focus they experienced their mind being calmer & their concentration increased. One of my clients told me that for the first time in his life he could hear everything that the teacher was saying & his mind was finally not racing all the time.
I am a huge fan of Happy, Calm, Focus because it is not medicine & it does not contain stimulant or inhibitors. Plus children at a certain age can take it.
If interested you can read about it here at Amazon:
Contact me for more information or for booking an appointment or online therapy:
Picture by: Mads Christensen
