HOW TO MANAGE ADHD IN ADULTS

from Active Magazine // Stamford & Rutland // December 2022

WILL’S WALKS

ADHD in Adults

We fi nd out more about how to manage ADHD in adults

AWARENESS OF ATTENTION defi cit hyperactivity disorder A H is growing and more children are being diagnosed than ever before. But there is still a distinct lack of knowledge about the condition and many children are being missed. Adults were not even diagnosed with A H in the UK until 2 . This can mean that medics trained before then often still believe that A H is a childhood behavioural disorder that you grow out of in your late teens. This couldn’t be further from the truth. A H is a neurodiversity meaning tens of thousands of adults are now realising they have the condition.

Sarah Templeton is an A H counsellor, coach, CBT therapist and author. Here she off ers fi ve top tips for managing A H in adults.

● Keep a close eye on budgeting and money matters

It’s very easy for A H adults to get into debt. The impulsive and compulsive elements of A H mean that a lot of A H people struggle with money matters. They get very excited by buying anything new and it’s not unusual for them to fi nd themselves spending more than they earn. Wanting something now is also an A H trait so waiting until they can aff ord it is often the last thing on their mind. The appeal of credit card off ers coming through the post can be too much for them to say no to and numerous adults with A H have very poor credit ratings.

● Watch Impulsivity

Impulsivity can be a big problem for adults with A H . Their brain is constantly both impulsive as well as compulsive. This could result for example in extra-marital aff airs when they are actually happily married, or resigning from a job they like, because their boss has said something that has in amed them.

Compulsivity means that once an A H brain has a taste for something it likes it will fi nd it extremely di cult to stop. Being aware that an A H brain is both impulsive and compulsive can reduce the times this is likely to happen but only A H medication truly eradicates them.

● Choose your job carefully

Work and how to earn a living needs careful consideration when you are A H . Usually anything repetitive where each day is the same is not stimulating enough for an A H brain. Often A H people prefer to work outside and always with a diff erent routine.

Anything that is exciting or stimulating usually works best. The top job for A H adults is a paramedic with chef following closely behind. An A H brain performs best when it is stimulated and there is excitement, drama or a bu involved. A lot of A H adults work in the police force and the fi re service. A H brains get ooded with adrenaline when anything is exciting, so A H people perform better in life or death situations than people with neurotypical brains.

● Exercise

Exercise is incredibly important when you have A H . A lot of people choose to self-medicate by exercising every day because the adrenaline fed to the brain from exercise can be just as eff ective as prescribed A H medication. Whether you are on A H medication or not, having a regular exercise routine is very important. Many adults with A H fi nd that without their daily exercise they are constantly fi dgety, anxious and restless. They cycle, run or go to the gym daily and fi nd that without it, their

A H traits are much more heightened and di cult to manage. artners can often tell when their other half hasn’t done their daily exercise, purely by how restless and irritable they are.

● Watch food intake

This can be extremely di cult for a lot of A H people and obesity and long-term weight problems are most defi nitely linked with the condition. The A H dopamine-seeking brain likes anything sweet. So chocolate, cakes, sweets, biscuits and ice cream are particularly appealing. Undiagnosed adults can fi nd themselves severely overweight but as soon as they are medicated their brain stops seeking sugar hits from dopamine and people can go from severely overweight to slim in a matter of months. The connection between obesity and A H is now so accepted that screening for A H will soon take place before patients are accepted for bariatric surgery. Eating disorders, including anorexia, binge eating and even ARFI can also be connected to A H , particularly in teenage girls.

How Not to Murder Your ADHD Kid: Instead Learn How to Be Your Child’s Own ADHD Coach, is available on Amazon, priced £19.99.

Keep calm and carry on

Christmas can be stressful for many different reasons. Gary Trickett recommends ways to keep calm

ADVENT CALENDARS TO the ready, it’s that time of the year again. The lead-up to Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year, not to mention one of the most stressful: over-excited children waving their neverending wish lists under your nose, last minute deadlines at work and the pressures of the social merry-go-round as the party season gets into full swing. That’s enough to have the hardiest of tinsel enthusiasts heading for the hills, and we haven’t even mentioned the in-laws and family squabbles.

Worry not. The following tips should help to ensure this Christmas is memorable for all the right reasons.

Step back and take a deep breath. If you keep thinking about the mountain of jobs you have to do you’ll soon feel overwhelmed. Break them down into small, manageable tasks and if you’re feeling brave, enlist the help of your children – your very own Santa’s little helpers.

This is where correct breathing comes into play. By taking fewer but deeper breaths you will optimise your oxygen intake helping you to relax and remain calm.

Watch your diet. In times of stress certain nutrients are used in larger quantities than normal so increase supply where necessary. Vital vits include the B vitamins which help to support the nervous system, and vitamin C which helps to support your adrenal glands (which help you cope in times of stress and distress). The B vits are found naturally in potatoes, bananas, lentils, peppers, tempeh, beans and brewer’s yeast (Marmite and Vegemite are excellent sources) and vitamin C is of course found in most fresh fruit and veg, including broccoli, kale and peppers.

Other essential nutrients include magnesium (think pumpkin seeds, Brazil nuts and spinach) for the nervous system and iron for energy. Good food sources of iron include green leafy vegetables, figs and apricots. For additional support during times of anxiety and stress try A ogel’s passi ora complex spray which is used to promote relaxation. This spray can be used by adults and young people over the age of 12. It’s easy to use and will easily fit in your bag or pocket – perfect for if the Christmas shopping becomes too much.

If stress is having a knock-on effect on your sleep, try valerian. It is recognised for its calming action and is thought to inhibit the breakdown of GABA, a chemical transmitter that enables you to ‘cross over’ into sleep. A perfect partner to valerian is hops, as it exerts a gentle sedative action on the nervous system. Resolving sleep issues benefits so many aspects of health as the brain gets the opportunity to do vital night time restorative and organisational work. If you’re experiencing trouble sleeping or di culty staying asleep, ormeasan Sleep, with valerian and hops, helps to relieve symptoms of sleep disturbances caused by mild anxiety.

Finally, keep moving! Exercise is a great way of beating stress. It enables you to vent your frustration and causes the brain to produce more of the ‘happy hormones’ endorphins. Try to exercise for at least 10 minutes a day (yes you do have the time) and even a short walk can help. For further information, visit Gary and his team at The Health Store, West Bridgford or call 0115 9814080.

Will’s Walks Volume 3 Volume 3 Will’s Walks Volume 3 Volume 3

It’s here, volume 3 of our walk book, 21 more rambles around Stamford and Rutland. Due to popular demand, Will set out again to fi nd more walks and here it is, the third book to add to the trilogy!

Enjoy some winter walks where it is drier underfoot during the bad weather, shorter walks of up to four miles and then some real leg stretchers which will tire you and the dog out. Get out there, enjoy the fresh air and exercise which will warm you up and, of course, walking is free!