How Nutrition Affects Our Mental Health

ADHD children have trouble in school with reading, handwriting and paying attention to what is important. They constantly fidget and squirm and can't express their thoughts into words. Detecting ADHD is a complicated matter since there are no blood tests or evident genetic tests to confirm this syndrome.

An older study conducted by Dr. Brian Reichow, adjunct professor at Yale University School of Medicine, and his colleagues discovered similar findings, “Methylphenidate, [a psychostimulant medication, was] effective for treating ADHD symptoms in children.”

ADHD affects eight to ten percent of school aged children and - even though specialists cannot figure out why - boys are three times more likely than girls to be diagnosed (Kingsley, MD). Teachers are normally the first to see a difference since they can compare that child to other children in the class. Michigan State University states that sixty percent of children that are diagnosed with ADHD are one of the youngest in their class. They stand out more considering that they’re not as mature as their classmates. “Many ADHD diagnoses may be driven by teachers' perceptions of poor behavior among the youngest children in a kindergarten classroom," Paddock states. "But these 'symptoms' may merely reflect emotional or intellectual immaturity among the youngest students." (Paddock)

It is estimated that between 3 and 12 percent of the population has to deal with conditions known as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). This equals approximately 3 million children in the United States alone. Both of these disorders (ADD and ADHD) exhibit the same traits leading them to be lumped together. Children affected by ADD or ADHD have behavior and emotional problems. Trouble concentrating on simple tasks, a short attention span, failing to give attention to details, and disruptive behavior are a few of the problems resulting from

A medication commonly used to treat ADHD is Adderall, and Adderall is a drug used to increase a person’s ability to pay attention, stay focused on an activity, and control behavior problems. Adderall changes the certain natural substance of Amphetamine, a stimulant, in a person’s brain. (WEBMD) Since this drug is a stimulant of the brain it has become very common and popular for those who are not diagnosed

To add to that, the research that has been conducted on the disorder has led to a variety of effective treatments. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) (2014) the most widely used medication is a stimulant. There is a wide variety of stimulants available for ADHD subjects. Although, with these stimulants come side effects including sleep problems, decreased appetite, anxiety and other diverse uncommon side effects (NIMH, 2014). Stimulants tend to calm children with ADHD. However, these medications can be detrimental to the patient in many ways. Certain medications have been subject to abuse, including Adderall and Ritalin. These medications are in some cases abused by patients who are over diagnosed. Since these patients do not have the disorder they can feel the side effects and use the drug to achieve a certain kind of high. When using these drugs for non-medical purposes they can seem to replicate the effects of cocaine

People with ADHD are commonly diagnosed with the disorder by a doctor and subsequently supplied with the treatment options of Ritalin or Adderall. But, the reality is, sometimes people can get a

Medication may be a valuable part of ADHD treatment. There are several different types of medications may be used to treat ADHD. Stimulants are the most widely used treatments. However non stimulants has fewer side effects than stimulants and can last up to 24 hours. Medications can affect children differently, one child may respond well with little to no medication, another may have to have a high dosage of medication. When deciding the best treatment option for your child, the doctor may try different options, it is important to work with your child’s doctor to find a treatment that works best for your

     If the term “Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder”(ADHD) is mentioned, the first thing that comes to many people’s minds is a drug called Methylphenidate, commonly referred to as “Ritalin”. Most people know Ritalin is prescribed for ADHD, and they most likely know at least one person who is currently taking it. However, in the 1960s, Ritalin and many other amphetamines were recognized as abusive substances, so many new controls were introduced to more closely monitor the prescribing of these drugs. Despite these new restrictions, the abuse and over-prescribing of Ritalin has re-emerged from the shadows.

Effective treatment for ADHD include stimulant medications such as Ritalin and Adderall. These medications shows effectiveness in improving attention span of children ADHD. Powers et al (2008) stated that stimulants used as treatment affect brain regions involved in executive functioning, increasing frontal activation, and enhancing inhibitory control. Stimulants can improve neurocognitive function that will enhance readiness and improve academic skills. Increased productivity, decreased disruptive behaviors, and reduce symptoms of ADHD (Powers et al., 2008).

1. Stimulants are the most commonly prescribed medications for ADHD. This class of drugs called central nervous system (CNS) stimulant medications. They work by increasing the amounts of the hormones called dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain.

Children and young adults who are diagnosed with ADHD/ADD are sometimes prescribed Ritalin, Mehylin, Metadate, or Adderall to name a few. These medications are stimulant and non-stimulant based to help counteract the ADHD/ADD itself. When a medicine is stimulant based, it is made to focus on the dopamine production in the neurotransmitters particularly in the prefrontal cortex of the brain.

Not using a stimulant like Ritalin has negative consequences for children with ADHD. Although they may be bright intellectually, many children with ADD or ADHD lag behind their peers developmentally by as much as 30 percent in certain areas, according to research by Dr. Russell Barkley. One symptom of ADHD is poor concentration. This can mean that a student has difficulty listening in class and a tendency to daydream. A student with ADHD also might space out and miss lecture content or homework assignments. Lack of attention, making careless mistakes on work, lack of awareness of time and grades, and not knowing if passing or failing class are all side effects of having ADHD (Zeigler Dendy). Another obstacle students with ADHD face is impulsivity. This includes rushing through work, not double checking work, not reading directions, and taking short cuts in written work. According to Kristen Caven from ADDitude Magazine, “Children with ADHD act before they think,

Stimulants medication has been used for over 60 years to aid in ADHD symptoms. Some types of stimulants clinically used today are methylphenidate, dextroamphetamine, and mixed-salts amphetamine. According to Practice Parameter for the Use of Stimulant Medications in the Treatment of Children, Adolescents, and Adults, “Stimulants are among the most effective psychotropic medications in clinical use today”. The beneficial effects were discovered in 1937 when it was proven to improve academic performance and on-task behaviors in classrooms (Practice Parameter…).

When talking about mental disorders, treatment is almost always paramount to the diagnosis and in most cases it is vital to the person’s recovery or long term mental health. The Center for European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry states that “Methylphenidate (MPH) is the most commonly prescribed stimulant for children with ADHD,” and although this is the treatment strategy that worked for me, it does not work for everyone due the wide range of side effects and is not the only option. Exercise, adequate sleep, a