Tips For Living Successfully With ADD / ADHD

If you have ADD / ADHD, you're not alone. Roughly 4% of the population has this condition and 1 in 5 children are either diagnosed or suspected to have it.

It's hard to live a normal life with this condition, especially when things that most people can do easily are much more difficult for those living with attention deficit disorder (ADD). But there are some ways that can help. Here are our tips for how to live successfully with ADD / ADHD:

1. Follow a routine - It's better to know what's going on than feel like you're at the mercy of your body telling your brain when it should be awake and when it should relax and rest. You are following a routine if you wake every morning at the same time, get up and have breakfast at the same time, work and go to school at the same time, come home and engage in some kind of physical activity or hobby.

2. Get help - If you are skipping meals, having trouble sleeping or less than optimal moods, recognizing the early signs of a possible problem is important. It's important that you get help quickly so that your child does not face repercussions for something he or she cannot control.

3. Build a support system - It's important to surround yourself with people who know about ADD / ADHD so that there is support for when things get tough. There are different types of support systems, but the most important type is a positive and healthy relationship with your parent.

4. Expose yourself to things that stimulate you - This may seem counterproductive, but there are some things that you can do to get your attention back. Sleep deprivation and stress can cause ADD / ADHD to flare up so expose yourself to situations where there is a lot of stimulation, even if means being loud or causing a ruckus.

5. Maintain a good diet - Since exercise is typically restricted because of having ADD / ADHD, the most important thing you need to do is maintain good nutrition. This is hard for people to do, but if you can keep your blood sugar at an even level and maintain a good balance of vitamins, minerals and sugar, your restlessness may decrease.

6. Know when to get help - If you feel like there is no hope for managing your condition and it's interfering with daily living, then it's time to get help. There are some medications that can be very effective in managing ADD / ADHD but they work best when taken in the long term.

7. Find ways of controlling your impulses - Many children with ADD / ADHD have bursts of energy or anger that causes them to become agitated or upset. If you have these bursts, find ways of controlling them. Use relaxation techniques, exercise or some other activity that can decrease the intensity of the emotional response.

8. Know that it's not impossible - So many people with ADD / ADHD feel like they will never amount to anything because they feel like such a disappointment to their family and friends. We are here to tell you that it is possible. There are so many people who have achieved great things in spite of having this condition. It may be difficult, but if you're working at it with a good attitude and some balance in your life then you can make it happen!

9. Get help - If you are skipping meals, having trouble sleeping or less than optimal moods, recognizing the early signs of a possible problem is important. It's important that you get help quickly so that your child does not face repercussions for something he or she cannot control.

10. Don't put labels on yourself - Just because you have ADD / ADHD doesn't mean that you can't do anything. You just have to find things that make sense for you and utilize them as much as possible when dealing with different situations.

11. Don't blame yourself - If you find yourself getting upset and feeling like it's your fault if something goes wrong, don't worry about it. Sometimes your friends or family may test you and see how you deal with it or try to put the blame on you. We are not saying that this doesn't happen, but it's important to treat people with respect and be as helpful as possible when problems occur.

12. Know that many things can help - Some people with ADD / ADHD have a lot of drive and passion for certain activities, but learn very little in school or have difficulty focusing on long term tasks. Others function pretty well in life even though their minds don't always seem to be active. These are different ways that ADD / ADHD is expressed, so know what works for you and don't feel like you should do anything differently because it seems difficult.

13. Recognize that it's normal - This one is a little hard to do, but it's important to know that you're not an outcast or a bad person because of having ADD / ADHD. You are just living your life differently than most people do and that is perfectly fine.

14. Know what you have - If you have ADD / ADHD, then you probably understand very well the symptoms and how different medications can make them worse or help in different ways. Knowing this allows you to gain control over them better, so just use what works for you and don't worry too much about the rest!

15. Don't be afraid to say you have ADD / ADHD - People who don't know about ADD / ADHD often think that it's a sign of bad behavior and/or laziness. It's important that you don't be afraid to tell people that you have ADD / ADHD because it can make a big difference in your relationships.

16. Know that family history is linked - If your child has ADD / ADHD, then there is a very good chance he or she will inherit this condition from one or more of their their grandparents. This means that the best thing you can do for them is to understand what your child has inherited so you can respect and help them develop in the best way possible.

17. Get a good diagnosis - It's very common for people with ADD / ADHD to be misdiagnosed or diagnosed with something completely different. Taking the time to get a good diagnosis from someone who understands ADD / ADHD can make a big difference in your overall comfort.

18. Don't rely on medication - This is very important to avoid, because it can cause your body to depend on medication for a sense of well being and balance. From there, you can start to obsess about needing the medication and that it won't work if you don't take it every day or all day long. Take your medicine when it's necessary, but don't rely on it as the only way to deal with things!

19. Don't limit yourself - Just because you have ADD / ADHD doesn't mean that you can't do anything. You just have to find things that make sense for you and utilize them as much as possible when dealing with different situations.

20. Don't judge yourself - Having ADD / ADHD does not mean that you are a bad person or someone undeserving of good things in life. You may have some challenges, but don't despair in your weaknesses or worry about what people will think if they know you have ADD / ADHD. Keep moving forward and always strive to do better!

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Conclusion

After writing this article, we've learned that there are a lot of things that you should and shouldn't do if you have ADD / ADHD. It's something that is not romanticized in any way and it can cause some serious problems in your life. If you have ADD / ADHD, it's important to recognize the symptoms and get help as soon as possible because the longer you wait, the harder it will be to manage your condition.

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