Live your life to the fullest
Before Medication, First Try ADHD Self Help
December 1, 2010Search more topics here
After being diagnosed with ADHD, educating yourself with the knowledge about ADHD and gaining the support of your family and friends is crucial. Developing manageable solutions to your specific problems will help you through your challenges. While most people who are diagnosed with ADHD as adults have had issues with underachievement and low self-esteem throughout their life, diagnosis of the problem is the first step to finding a solution. Although a diagnosis of ADHD comes with its own list of symptoms, determining which symptoms you can use to your own advantage and which symptoms you need to learn to control will be your greatest accomplishment. Because most people who have ADHD are quite intelligent, its just learning how to use your creativity, passion and energy to encourage yourself to live a happier, healthier life.
Coping with ADHD can be difficult. However by learning ways to manage your symptoms you can become productive and get your symptoms under control. For adults who were never diagnosed when they were children, they have already learned to cope and compensate for some of their ADHD symptoms. However, adult life involves more stress, organization and responsibility, which may have been the reason for your diagnosis. Before using traditional medicine, prescriptions, and psychology, self-help can be the first step at understanding and managing your disorder. Self-help involves a regular pattern or routine to manage your time, relationships and work environments. For adults who have managed their symptoms since they were a youth, this may be less difficult. However, others may need additional support from family, friends and therapists. Here is how you can start to help yourself by managing your everyday life.
Exercise
Exercise regularly. By exercising you are
not only keeping your body healthy you are keeping your mind healthy. It works
off excess energy and aggression, two things that are more prevalent in people
with ADHD. By doing something constructive you sooth the mind and calm the nerves.
Eat Right
Deficiencies, indigestion and lack of
nutrition are three ways that can worsen the symptoms of ADHD. By eating a
healthy diet full of a wide variety of fruits and vegetables you not only get
your essential nutrition, you keep your vitamins and minerals balanced while
including antioxidants, antibacterial, antiviral and anti inflammatory foods.
Sleep
Fatigue of the body and the brain make it
harder for you to focus and concentrate. Getting 7-8 hours of sleep at night
will properly allow your body and brain rest to be able to handle stress,
tasks, work and exercise.
Time Management
Write down everything that is
important, that you need to remember, or that you need to do. Notes, calendars,
schedules and post its act as daily reminders of what you need to do and what
needs to get done. Give yourself deadlines to keep yourself on task. Alarms and
timers determine how much time you will allot to specific tasks. Once they go
off you know its time to move on. Avoid working for several hours on end. Take
regular breaks to keep your mind focused and alert. Avoid procrastinating by
doing things immediately. Don’t let things pile up. Prioritize time sensitive
items.
Work on Relationships
Make time for your friends,
family and partners. Schedule time to visit, meet or go out and make sure you
show up. Make conversation count. Be attentive to others when they speak and be
sure of what you will say before you respond.
Work Environment
Use whatever tools necessary to
stay on top of your work. Make
lists, color code, set reminders, use day planners, notes to self, files and
schedules will all keep your work life together. Get support from your work
environment. If you work in a group choose someone less creative and more
organized to counteract your creativity and keep you on task. Try to choose
work that is interesting and motivates you to work.
