Comment from: JB, 45-54 Female (Patient)Published: December 23
I am an elementary school teacher. About 5 years ago I was researching ADHD in order to understand one of my students. Upon reading about ADD and the different areas it can impact. I realized that the symptoms completely described me. I talked with my doctor. My family (parents, husband, and myself) filled out a questionnaire which revealed a strong possibility of ADD. My sister has also since been diagnosed. Medication made all the difference in the world. Imagine sitting in a room when the power goes out. The room may have been very noisy, but until the power went out you never really noticed how loud it really was until everything stopped and went silent. That's what meds did to my brain; it makes the "noise" stop and keeps me from straining to "listen" to just one thing among an ocean of "noise" that I cannot sort out without a great deal of focus and energy. I still struggle with organization and have to stick closely to routines to manage my daily life. I also can still find myself hyperfocusing. Reading, and especially playing video games or browsing on the computer. Those things can give immediate, addicting feedback. In a way, these activities provide a type of external, but artificial "organizer" for someone who does not generate internal organization very well. However, it is so much easier when I am consistent with medication.
Comment from: Elveretta, 55-64 Female (Patient)Published: November 20
I have been on Adderall XR for a little over a year. It was a GOD send for me. I was able to remember, learn new things, ect. I recently had a mental break down and was sent to a new Psychiatrist, he took me off Adderall and put me on Vyvanse 40mg., after about 7 days I thought I could tell that it might be working, but not much, after the 7 days I started to be unable to sleep. I tried Rozerem . My Dr. had given to me a few week's earlier, but I didn't want to take it. The first few nights it worked then I was unable to sleep again, I feel like the new medication Vyvanse is keeking me awake. When my doctor had started me on the Adderall a year, ago it didn't keep me awake. The Adderall seems to help me more, I can't tell much from the Vyvanse except it won't let me sleep.
Comment from: Alexandre, 25-34 Male (Patient)Published: May 13
I found out I have ADHD last year at age 29. History of my education shows that it is not because of my IQ, but I simply have no control of my attention span when in school. My test results showed that I do not have problem with others, but only have problems because of my attention rate. Since college, I have a hard time to control my mood swings. I compete with people who have looked down on me and most of the time I proved them wrong, but in the long run, the more I push myself harder the more I became self-destructive. After taking Ritalin, I got better at the beginning for about a month. The drug can only get me on my high brain wave control for a short time. My ability to multitask was worn out bits by bit. I do hope there will be more attention on our issues. Please put more effort on the research.
Comment from: ADHDgirl, 25-34 Female (Patient)Published: October 08
I was referred to the psychiatry department from my primary doctor. I went in for an initial intake consultation with a psychiatrist /social worker. He did a psychiatric assessment, a full evaluation and a series of tests or questions relating to my life, lifestyle, symptoms, etc. He recommended that I start a treatment plan which included medication and behavioral classes. I went the following week to a psychiatrist who did another assessment and asked more questions. I was relieved to know that I was finally going to get the help I needed. I was prescribed 5 mg Adderall, 2-3 times daily. So far so good. I was very impressed with the care I got in for ADHD.
Published: July 05
Through most of my life I had always felt being different from other children my age. I seem to be the one who is in trouble consistently. I was often the focal point of my father's wrath which I discovered was a form of emotional and mental abuse. I also had an uncanny ability to spot details other people often miss. It wasn't until 1993 when I met a person who changed my life. My friend recognized some of the symptoms of ADHD and urged me to get tested for it. In 1995 I was formally diagnosed with ADHD. After that key year questions which had bothered me through most of my life began to make sense.
Comment from: kararocks3889, 7-12 Female (Patient)Published: April 02
I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was in first grade. By the time high school came, the doctors told me that I outgrew this behavior.
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Anxiety is a feeling of apprehension and fear characterized by physical symptoms. Anxiety disorders are serious medical illnesses that affect approximately 19 million American adults.
Stress occurs when forces from the outside world impinge on the individual. Stress is a normal part of life. However, over-stress, can be harmful. There is now speculation, as well as some evidence, that points to the abnormal stress responses as being involved in causing various diseases or conditions.
Depression is an illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts and affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one feels about oneself, and the way one thinks about things. The principal types of depression are major depression, dysthymia, and bipolar disease (also called manic-depressive disease).
Suicide is the process of intentionally ending one's own life. Approximately 1 million people worldwide commit suicide each year, and 10 million to 20 million attempt suicide annually.
Bipolar disorder (or manic depression) is a mental illness characterized by depression, mania, and severe mood swings. Treatment may incorporate mood stabilizer medications, antidepressants, and psychotherapy.
Smoking is an addiction. More than 430,000 deaths occur each year in the U.S. from smoking related illnesses. Secondhand smoke or "passive smoke" also harm family members, coworkers, and others around smokers. There are a number of techniques available to assist people who want to quit smoking.
Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) has many symptoms, signs, and causes. Therapy is one treatment option for antisocial personality disorder. It is closely related to other personality disorders (PD), such as borderline personality disorder and narcissistic personality disorder.
Learning disabilities can cause an individual to have trouble learning and using skills such as reading, listening, writing, reading, speaking, reasoning, and performing mathematics. There is no cure for learning disabilities. Parents and teachers working together to properly diagnose learning disabilities can properly plan a course of education. For some, medication may be appropriate as complimentary treatment.
Alcohol is the most frequently used drug by American teenagers. Teens that drink are more likely to drive under the influence, have unprotected sex, and use other drugs, like marijuana, cocaine, and heroin. Symptoms of alcohol abuse in teens include lying, breaking curfew, becoming verbally or physically abusive toward others, making excuses, smelling like alcohol, having mood swings, and stealing.
Drugs commonly abused by teens include tobacco products, marijuana, cold medications, inhalants, depressants, stimulants, narcotics, hallucinogens, PCP, ketamine, Ecstasy, and anabolic steroids. Some of the symptoms and warning signs of teen drug abuse include reddened whites of eyes, paranoia, sleepiness, excessive happiness, seizures, memory loss, increased appetite, discolored fingertips, lips or teeth, and irritability. Treatment of drug addiction may involve a combination of medication, individual, and familial interventions.
ADHD afflicts approximately 3 percent to 5 percent of school-age children and an estimated 60 percent of those maintain the disorder into adulthood. Symptoms of adult ADHD include chronic lateness, anxiety, low self esteem, employment problems, difficulty controlling anger, impulsiveness, poor organization skills, procrastination, chronic boredom among others.
Compulsive gambling is a disorder that affects millions in the U.S. Symptoms and signs include a preoccupation with gambling, lying to family or loved ones to hide gambling, committing crimes to finance gambling, and risking importance relationships and employment due to gambling. Treatment may incorporate participation in Gamblers' Anonymous, psychotherapy, and medications like carbamazepine, topiramate, lithium, naltrexone, antidepressants, clomipramine, and fluvoxamine.
Childhood depression can interfere with social activities, interests, schoolwork and family life. Symptoms and signs include anger, social withdrawal, vocal outbursts, fatigue, physical complaints, and thoughts of suicide. Treatment may involve psychotherapy and medication.
About 5 million children and adolescents in the U.S. suffer from a serious mental illness such as eating disorders, anxiety disorders, disruptive behavior disorders, pervasive development disorders, elimination disorders, learning disorders, schizophrenia, tic disorders, and mood disorders. Symptoms of mental illness include frequent outbursts of anger, hyperactivity, fear of gaining weight, excessive worrying, frequent temper tantrums, and hearing voices that aren't there. Treatment may involve medication, psychotherapy, and creative therapies.
Mental illness is any disease or condition affecting the brain that influence the way a person thinks, feels, behaves, and/or relates to others. Mental illness is caused by heredity, biology, psychological trauma and environmental stressors.
Asperger syndrome (AS, Asperger's syndrome) is an autism spectrum disorder. Asperger syndrome is characterized by a degree of impairment in language and communication skills, and repetitive or restrictive thoughts or behaviors. The most common symptom of Asperger syndrome is the obsessive interest in a single object or topic. Other conditions that may co-exist with Asperger syndrome include: ADHD, tic disorders, depression, anxiety disorders, and OCD. Diagnosis of Asperger syndrome is complicated, and treatment is generally directed toward minimizing the symptoms of the syndrome and behavioral and educational interventions.
Mental health is an optimal way of thinking, relating to others, and feeling. All of the diagnosable mental disorders fall under the umbrella of mental illness. Depression, anxiety, and substance-abuse disorders are common types of mental illness. Symptoms and signs of mental illness include irritability, moodiness, insomnia, headaches, and sadness. Treatment may involve psychotherapy and medication.
Bipolar disorder, or manic-depressive illness, is a disorder that causes unusual and extreme mood changes. Symptoms of bipolar disorder in children and teens include having trouble concentrating, behaving in risky ways and losing interest in activities they once enjoyed. Treatment for bipolar disorder in children and teenagers incorporates psychotherapy and medications.
Teenagers recognize that they are developmentally between child and adult. Teen health prevention includes maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, preventing injuries and screening annually for potential health conditions that could adversely affect teenage health.
Children's health is focused on the well-being of children from conception through adolescence. There are many aspects of children's health, including growth and development, illnesses, injuries, behavior, mental illness, family health and community health.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can be challenging for a parent or caregiver with a child with this disorder. There are steps, routines, and help for parents and caregivers of children with ADHD to help guide the family toward a productive and healthy life.
Children's health, or pediatrics,
focuses on the well-being of children from conception through adolescence. It is
vitally concerned with all aspects of children's growth and development and with
the unique opportunity that each child has to achieve their full potential as a
healthy adult.
Children's health was once a part of adult medicine. It
emerged in the 19th and early 20th century as a medical specialty because of the
gradual awareness that the health problems of children are different from those
of grown-ups. It was also recognized that a child's response to illness,
medications, and the environment depends upon the age of the child.
There are many aspects to children's health. Any organization of these aspects of
child health is necessarily arbitrary. For example, the topics could be
presented in alphabetical order. However, it seems most logical to start at the
beginning -- with the factors that d...
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I am an elementary school teacher. About 5 years ago I was researching ADHD in order to understand one of my students. Upon reading about ADD and the different areas it can impact. I realized that the symptoms completely described me. I talked with my doctor. My family (parents, husband, and myself) filled out a questionnaire which revealed a strong possibility of ADD. My sister has also since been diagnosed. Medication made all the difference in the world. Imagine sitting in a room when the power goes out. The room may have been very noisy, but until the power went out you never really noticed how loud it really was until everything stopped and went silent. That's what meds did to my brain; it makes the "noise" stop and keeps me from straining to "listen" to just one thing among an ocean of "noise" that I cannot sort out without a great deal of focus and energy. I still struggle with organization and have to stick closely to routines to manage my daily life. I also can still find myself hyperfocusing. Reading, and especially playing video games or browsing on the computer. Those things can give immediate, addicting feedback. In a way, these activities provide a type of external, but artificial "organizer" for someone who does not generate internal organization very well. However, it is so much easier when I am consistent with medication.
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