ADD / ADHD Blog

Getting our children to clean up after themselves and keep track of their things -- these are two tedious tasks of parenthood. For a parent with an ADHD child, this job becomes even more important and certainly more difficult. Luckily, there are some basic things you can do to help your child develop good habits when it is time to clean up.

Click on Organizing Cleanup to read more.

Please feel free to share any other tips that have worked in your home.

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Do you ever make commitments, yet fail to follow through? Perhaps you promised to do something that you really didn’t want to do -- maybe a tedious task, something you need to do but honestly just don’t want to do. It may be that in the midst of the conversation with someone it felt right, but later as time passed the task just didn’t seem so important so you lost track of it. Perhaps you even find yourself saying "yes" to too many things until your pile of things-to-do becomes impossible.

Adults with ADD/ADHD often find themselves caught in this negative pattern. Following through with or even remembering these commitments can sometimes be a struggle.

Click on Keeping Commitments to read more.

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Justin Timberlake has not only brought SexyBack, he has also revealed that he has both ADD and OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder). In an interview with Collider.com the 27-year-old singer/actor is quoted as saying, “I have OCD mixed with ADD, you try living with that.”

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), OCD -- an anxiety disorder characterized by repeated, upsetting thoughts called obsessions and repeated actions or rituals called compulsions -- affects about 2.2 million American adults. It strikes men and women in roughly equal numbers and usually appears in childhood, adolescence, or early adulthood. ADD affects approximately 2 million children in the United States and according to the NIMH between 30 percent and 70 percent of these children will continue to exhibit symptoms in the adult years.

Though ADD and OCD can obviously present challenges in an individual’s life, problematic symptoms improve with treatment and Timberlake is obviously thriving.

In addition to his music, laughter has been a big part of Timberlake’s life. “My earliest memories as a kid was I would always try to make my mom and my stepdad laugh at dinner. Or make my friends laugh in class. And I don't know, it’s something I just really enjoy doing.” Timberlake continues to enjoy the excitement of live performances, as well. He even still gets butterflies right before taking the stage. “It’s not like, ‘Oh my God, I hope I do good.’ You just kind of get caught up in the electricity of it,” says Timberlake. “And when that stops happening, you should stop. It’s addictive, you know what I mean?”

Family and a sense of humor can be a great source of support in dealing with the stress that comes along with OCD and ADD. He credits his mother and stepfather for teaching him humility and keeping him grounded with a simple message -- everybody puts their pants on the same way every morning. Michael Jordan was the “it” celebrity when Timberlake was a kid. “I remember when I was really young and my parents telling me, He’s a great basketball played but that doesn’t make him superhuman, you know? That makes him a great basketball player.”

This matter-of-fact approach has continued to help Timberlake in his adult life. When he begins to feel too much pressure to meet people’s needs or fascination, he is able to just let it go. “I don’t invest in it. And I stay away from it as much as I can,” says Timberlake.

Sharing about his OCD and ADD also lets the world know that if you have OCD or ADD you are in good company!

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What does summer mean for your child's ADD/ADHD medication schedule?

Take the Readers' Poll.

For many children with ADHD, medication can make a big difference in school performance. A child’s ability to maintain focus, complete assignments and control their restlessness, hyperactivity or impulsiveness is greatly improved. Once school is out for the summer, though, is it necessary for a child to continue on ADHD medication?

Click on Summer and ADHD Medication to read more.

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“I have a 13-year-old daughter with ADD, and she is homeschooled. She often refuses to do what she is told, is very impulsive, lies, has taken things from family members, etc. I am at my wit’s end. We’ve tried therapy, changing meds, adjusting her diet. Any advice?”
--About.com user

Click on Parenting and ADD to read response.

If you are a parent of an ADD teen or if you are a teen with ADD, I’d love to hear from you. Feel free to share your own experiences.

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A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association finds that St. John's wort is no more effective than a placebo for treating children with ADHD. St. John’s wort, also known by its Latin botanical name, Hypericum perforatum, is 1 of the top 3 botanicals used in alternative therapies for ADHD. The other two most common herbal treatments used are Echinacea species and Ginkgo biloba.

Click on St. John’s Wort Study to read more.

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Being a parent is tough; being a parent with ADD raises the toughness factor! It can be overwhelming to manage and organize the family when you are having a hard time organizing your own life. If your child has ADD, your need to create structure and organizational strategies increases two-fold.

What are the additional challenges of having ADD and parenting?

Click on Parenting with ADD to read more.

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There are some similarities and overlap in the symptoms of ADHD and bipolar disorder. Both may include hyperactive or restless behaviors, distractibility, poor concentration, impulsivity and racing thoughts. Both are also thought to have a strong genetic link. Both can result in sleep disturbances, poor social relationships, feelings of anxiety, depression, frustration and self-doubt. Both can significantly impact daily functioning.

In addition, ADHD and bipolar disorder commonly occur together, making it even more difficult to tease them apart.

Click on ADHD or Bipolar Disorder? to read more.

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What are your thoughts about recent research that indicates ADHD can lead to decreased productivity at work?

Click on ADHD and Work Productivity to read the article.

Please take the poll and feel free to include any other thoughts in the comments section.

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