ADHD Support

ADHD is a common self-diagnosis today. The average attention span has reduced due to overstimulation, technology overuse and an overload of information. However, distractibility, hyperactivity, inability to get organized, forgetfulness and poor regulation of impulses are signs and symptoms of ADHD disorder. Its important to see your health professional to test for ADHD so you can assess if it’s just lack of attention due to lifestyle habits or if it is a mental health issue. When clients say to me “I have been diagnosed with ADHD, and I now know why I couldn’t concentrate at school or I couldn’t keep still” there is a sense of relief as for so long they were told they were naughty as children and then “hyper” or chaotic as adults.

Dr Gabor Mate, an expert in this area and has suffered with ADHD most of his life digs deep into the origins and healing of Attention Deficit Disorder in his book “ Scattered Minds “He explores the genetic influences, Neuroscientific research and family systems theory to find the roots of this debilitating disorder. His recommendations for reducing symptoms are those we can all adhere to:

Sleep Hygiene-switching off devices at least two hours before bedtime, implementing a bedtime routine

Nutrition- Regular nutritious meals in a quiet environment

Physical exercise- Stretching to relieve tense muscles

Nature- Experiencing nature and spending time outdoors

Creativity- Include creativity in your day eg. Art, pottery, writing

Meditation- Mindfulness to keep the mind in the present- this I will say takes practice

I would like to include, a schedule that is simple, a routine that supports calm and measured activity. Keeping responsibilities to a level you can manage so you don’t become overwhelmed. A daily dose of a mind-body practice. Baby steps are always the best pathway to success, establishing these steps so you continue to build the new neural pathways required for long term change.

Yoga is an entry point to start to focus the mind. Yoga therapy is not the unrealistic images you may have seen in common advertising. This scares people off from the wonderful benefits that yoga applied therapeutically has to offer. Yoga prepares the mind and body for attention and sustained attention which when done daily can provide positive results for a long period of time. The very first sutra (pearls of wisdom) in yoga Philosophy is “Atha yoganusasanam” Atha means attention. Through synchronizing the breath with movement mesmerizes the mind in one direction which increasingly extends over a period of time. I also suggest to all my students to choose 1-3 times in their day where they can practice mindfulness, presence. I do this when driving (no music or podcasts) just looking in front of me, listening, feeling my hands steering, then whist I’m simply folding clothes and of course when I am teaching. Mindful walking is also useful. Instead of iPods, look around you connecting with all your senses-the rustling of the leaves, the smell of flowers the breeze or sun on your skin. No mental dialogue needed, just observation.

Getting your life back into some order is not impossible, finding the right support that works for you as an individual is key and of course committing to your mental health.

International Journal of Applied Research

https://www.allresearchjournal.com › archives › PartF · PDF file

Effects of yoga and pranayama on attention-deficit/ hyperactivity ...