Blog
“5 Reasons Why You Should Commit Your Goals to Writing“ by Michael Hyatt
The author gives 5 reasons why it's important to commit your goals to writing. This is true for everyone, but especially true for adults with ADHD. In the ADHD world there is a maxim, "If it isn't on the list, it doesn't exist!"
Article from CHADD.org's "ADHD Weekly" Published January 16, 2020
This article is an important reminder that if you're planning a winter getaway or summer vacation to another country and you take medication for ADHD, make sure you confirm it is legal there and have the correct documentation.
Is that brain fog really adult ADHD?
Published in the Harvard Health Letter: November, 2018
Many of the people that I work with use the term "brain fog" that is mentioned in this article. The article talks about how forgetfulness, disorganization, procrastination, etc. may actually be attributable to the "brain fog" of ADHD.
What happened when I tried the U.S. Army’s tactic to fall asleep in two minutes
Posted on FastCompany.com, article by Michael Grothaus
Insomnia can be a coexisting condition for many, if not all, of the conditions I treat. ADHD, depression, and anxiety can all lead to sleepless nights. While there is a lot of research behind consistently using good "sleep hygiene," the approach in this article is reportedly effective as well. As long as you give yourself 6 weeks of time to practice every night.
Think a few sleepless nights isn't a big deal?
This article cites studies saying that "the average worker loses the equivalent of 11 days of productivity every year due to sleep issues" and "poor sleep cost US businesses a staggering $411 billion in lost productivity every year."
Is Screen Time Causing ADHD?
To Your Health, by Editorial Staff
July, 2018 (Vol. 12, Issue 07)
This is a brief article about a study looking at ADHD and screen time. Spoiler alert: it does not prove screen time is causing ADHD. At least that's not what this article says. There is a correlation between their sample and symptoms of ADHD. However, 1) as they mention, showing symptoms of ADHD is not the same as being diagnosed. And 2) correlation is not the same as causation. For example, it could be that children with ADHD-like symptoms sought out more screen time as opposed to the screen time causing their symptoms.
By Study International Staff | September 27, 2018 | www.studyinternational.com
This article talks about research that suggests scientists may have identified a neurological component to procrastination. According to the article, a larger than average amygdala may contribute to higher anxiety and therefore hesitation. Another region (the dorsal interior cingulate cortex) usually helps us block out competing emotions, but the connections between this region and the amygdala were found to be poorer than with non-procrastinators. I.e., our brains get "overwhelmed with conflicting emotions and struggling to prioritize the task at hand."Tim Pychyl, a researcher and expert on procrastination, says in the article that mindfulness meditation may be part of the answer because "research has already shown that mindfulness meditation is related to amygdala shrinkage, expansion of the prefrontal cortex, and a weakening of the connection between these 2 areas."
Read the full article here.
"Shire wins U.S. approval for long-acting ADHD drug" by Natalie Grover, Ben Hirschler of ReutersShire received approval for a new long-acting medication named Mydayis. It is the same as Adderall XR (i.e., amphetamine & dextroamphetamine mixed salts) but should last 16 hours, compared to Adderall XR's 12 hours. Read more here.
Poor Sleep May Make You Prone to ColdsBBC Health onlineContinuing on the last post's theme of sleep and things-that-were-obvious-but-now-verified-by-science, I'm posting this article about the effect of inadequate sleep on the immune system. Inadequate sleep can be caused by many things, including poor impulse control, poor time management, depression, anxiety, and physical conditions such as sleep apnea.The lead researcher, Dr Aric Prather, is quoted saying "Short sleep was more important than any other factor in predicting subjects' likelihood of catching cold. It didn't matter how old people were, their stress levels, their race, education or income. It didn't matter if they were a smoker. With all those things taken into account, statistically sleep still carried the day."Inadequate sleep also makes us more vulnerable to emotions such as anger, anxiety, and sadness and impairs our concentration. Click here to read more.
Why Drinking Coffee Can Give You Jet Lag – and Help You Get Over ItPublished by The GuardianMany people with ADHD have trouble getting to bed on time. This can happen for a variety of reasons including difficulty disengaging from something enjoyable (video games, "binge watching" TV shows and movies, reading, etc.), a lack of awareness of the passage of time, a coexisting condition such as "Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder," to name a few. But people will often self-medicate with caffeine, compounding the above problems.While it's obvious that caffeine before bed isn't a good idea, a recent study helps us understand exactly why that is. The article explains, "Caffeine resets the clock by delaying a rise in the level of melatonin, the body’s chief sleep hormone. Fluctuating levels of melatonin help determine the natural time to go to sleep and wake up."In addition to issues like oversleeping the next day or getting inadequate sleep, "Disruption of the body clock, for instance by working shifts or jet lag, is known to increase the risk of various cancers, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s."Click here to read more.
"How do I … deal with seasonal affective disorder?"By Phil MaynardFrom TheGuardian.comGiven the upcoming end of daylight savings time this Sunday in the United States, I thought this article would be useful and timely. The article mentions a few tips for coping and also links to another article (http://www.theguardian.com/society/2005/nov/17/health.lifeandhealth3) that provides a more complete list of treatment options, including CBT.As with any disorder, the earlier you intervene, the better off you will be. The symptoms can affect your motivation so as they become more severe it becomes progressively more difficult to apply many of the treatment recommendations.Adults with ADHD also tend to have difficulty maintaining a regular sleep schedule, so when the clock "falls back" Sunday, it's extra important to use good sleep hygiene to stay on track.
