The Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Support Center

Many adults and children have faced exactly the same diagnosis of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) that you've gotten and have been able to survive and thrive. The following guide is designed to help you and/or your ADHD child navigate your journey with the best information and resources that have helped other survivors when they faced the same challenge.  

TSC has scoured the Web to gather together links to the very best ADHD resources: articles, blogs, forums, and tools that can help you make better decisions and take action to overcome the range of physical, emotional, and other challenges that you and/or your child are facing now.

As you’ll see, we always welcome your ideas and suggestions to make this ADHD guide even more helpful to survivors and co-survivors like you.    

JUST FOUND OUT 

Survivors Say: Best Resources for ADHD

• National Institute of Mental Health: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder 
• MedlinePlus: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• Attention Deficit Disorder Association 

The Big Picture

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that becomes apparent in some children in the preschool and early school years. It is hard for these children to control their behavior and/or pay attention. What is much less well known is the probability that, of children who have ADHD, many will still have it as adults. Several studies done in recent years estimate that between 30 percent and 70 percent of children with ADHD continue to exhibit symptoms in the adult years.

To better understand the most common signs and symptoms of ADHD, be sure to visit:

National Institute of Mental Health: Symptoms

Your / Your Child's ADHD

Want to be sure you or your child were properly evaluated and diagnosed? This information from Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) is a good place to start:

CHADD: Diagnosis & Treatment

You may be wondering about treatment; here's an overview about what to expect:

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): The Treatment of ADHD

It's important to understand not only ADHD, but other problems that can be associated with it:

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): Disorders That Sometimes Accompany ADHD

Your World

When a child is diagnosed with ADHD -- or if you've just been diagnosed as an adult -- it's natural to experience a lot of emotions. It can help to talk to others who've been where you are:

WebMD.com: ADHD Online Community

Dailystrength.org: ADHD/ADD Support Group

If you're having problems figuring out how to cope with ADHD and how to help your child or the rest of your family cope, talking to a therapist (counselor) may be useful:

National Institute of Mental Health: The Family and the ADHD Child

ADHD Myths

• "ADHD is something only kids have."
• "ADHD isn't real."
• "ADHD children are overmedicated."

Information and Recommended Links for Survivors

• National Resource Center on ADHD: Diagnosis & Treatment
• National Institute of Mental Health: The Treatment of ADHD
• About.com: Living with ADD/ADHD

Types of Treatment

Psychotherapy

Typically, both adults and children will benefit from a combination of counseling (psychotherapy, or "talk therapy") -- usually behavioral therapy -- and medication:

National Institute of Mental Health: ADHD - Psychotherapy

National Insitute of Mental Health: Can Adults Have ADHD? (covers treatment for adults, including psychotherapy)

Medication

The most common type of medication used for treating ADHD is called a "stimulant." Although it may seem unusual to treat ADHD with a medication considered a stimulant, it actually has a calming effect on children with ADHD. ADHD medications often are prescribed for adults with ADHD, but not all of these medications are approved for adults. Antidepressants may be used in adults with ADHD as well:

Kidshealth.org: ADHD Medications

National Institute of Mental Health: ADHD Medications

Mayoclinic.com: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) Treatments & Drugs

Possible Treatment Side Effects

All drugs come with the risk of side effects:

ADHDNews: ADHD Drug Side Effects

WebMD.com: Tips to Reduce the Side Effects of ADHD Medications

New Therapies

Educating yourself about the newest ADHD research and up-and-coming treatment options could give you alternatives to discuss with your doctor if your or your child's current treatment plan isn't proving effective:

Psychcentral.com: ADHD News Articles

Holistic Treatments

Nutritional Therapy

Dietary supplements and making changes to your or your child's diet may be helpful:

Center for Science in the Public Interest: A Parent's Guide to Diet, ADHD, and Behavior (PDF)

National Resource Center on AD/HD: Complementary and Alternative Treatments

Neurofeedback

Neurofeedback helps the brain to track its own activity:

Attention Deficit Disorder Association: The Role of Neurofeedback in the Treatment of ADHD

Creating a Support Circle

• Set up your TSC survivor profile.
• Join support groups of other survivors or set up your own.
• Interact and provide updates on your TSC profile or in the TSC forums.

Insurance & Work Matters

Insurance Matters

Find out how havng ADHD can affect your insurance coverage:

National Resource Center on AD/HD: The Insurance System

Legal Matters

What are your (or your child's) legal rights as someone with ADHD? Learn more here:

National Resource Center on AD/HD: The Legal System

Health-care Providers Who Can Help

Psychiatrists, psychologists, pediatricians, family physicians, neurologists and clinical social workers can all diagnose ADHD, and all but social workers are permitted to prescribe drugs to treat it.

Resources to Find Doctors

• CHADD: Professional Directory
• National Resource Center on AD/HD: Hospital and University AD/HD Centers
  

The Emotional Rollercoaster

Living with ADHD, or with a child who has ADHD, does present challenges, but help and support are readily available:

WebMD.com: ADHD Online Community

Dailystrength.org: ADHD/ADD Support Group

National Resource Center on AD/HD: Parenting a Child with AD/HD

National Resource Center on AD/HD: AD/HD and Teens - Information for Parents

Books Survivors Recommend

• Driven To Distraction : Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder from Childhood Through Adulthood by Edward M. Hallowell and John J. Ratey
• Delivered from Distraction: Getting the Most out of Life with Attention Deficit Disorder by Edward M. Hallowell and John J. Ratey
• The Survival Guide for Kids With ADD or ADHD by John F. Taylor
• Taking Charge of ADHD: The Complete, Authoritative Guide for Parents (Revised Edition) by Russell A. Barkley

Dealing with ADHD: Information and Recommended Links for Co-Survivors        

How You Can Help

• Be patient and realistic; ADHD survivors often exhibit what seems to be irrational behavior. Try to adjust your expectations when possible.
• Let your ADHD survivor know you're there for them. Make sure they know they're not climbing this mountain by themselves.

What to Say    

• Offer support in dealing ADHD together. 
• Help educate others about ADHD.
• Reassure your survivor that they aren't crazy and that they will get better.
  

What Not to Say

• Don't use terminology or explanations about ADHD that your child won't understand.
• Don't be unrealistic in your expectations for an ADHD child.

How to Build a Support Network

• Set up your TSC co-survivor profile.
• Create a support group for your friend or family member.
• Interact and provide updates on your loved one's progress.

How to Help a Survivor Deal with Day-to-Day Challenges

• Preparing the School for Your Child with ADHD: National Resource Center on AD/HD: Educational Rights
• Tips on Returning to Work After ADHD Treatment: National Resource Center on AD/HD: Workplace Issues

After you or your child has reached recovery, it may be a good time to assess and share with others how you feel emotionally, mentally, and spiritually at this point in your journey. Getting a condition like ADHD under control can be a momentous task. By telling your story, you can not only put into perspective your thoughts and feelings but you can also provide hope to others who are going through a similar journey themselves.

Remission / Recovery / Recurrence

Unfortunately, with ADHD, there are no proven risk factors or causes, and you can't really prevent it in the first place. There may be a genetic connection to ADHD - where it's passed down from one generation to the next - but this isn't clear. To stay healthy and keep symptoms under control, keep in touch with your doctor about how you're doing, and if your treatment plan is still working for you. If not, it may be time to consider other treatment options.

For inspiring stories of ADHD survivors, check out this site:

The ADHD Partner Survey: Charting the ADHD Roller Coaster's Thrills and Spills  

Give Back

What helped you while you were dealing with the diagnosis, undergoing treatment, and realized you had gotten your symptoms under control? Take a look back at your journey and share with others what helped you and what you wished you would have known or done during your or your child's ADHD experience. You can create a TSC profile, reach out to other survivors, join support circles, or share your story by following the links at The Survivors Club. Check out some of the best charities for supporting ADHD research or offering support to survivors:

CHADD: Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder