Expert: Norm Bishop - 3/30/2010

Question
hello,
First of all i request to read my lengthy question and reply to my problem.
I am 22 year old from india. Since in india there is lack of awareness about ADD, it took me time to notice that i could be one with ADHD. In past my lack of attention was always believed to be due to lack of concentration or lack of interest.

i have lot of symptoms of ADD. I visited lots of site and did online test here http://counsellingresource.com/quizzes/adhd/index.html with result of 100. I know Online test are not reliable but i just did it for getting quick review of my situation. Apart from symptoms mention on test or most of sites, i will like to discuss some specific problems with me
1.While writing, i mostly tend to eat words. Even when i write a small paragraph i always miss one or more words. I notice the mistake only if I re-read the paragraph and if i don't Re-read it then mistake goes with out notice. So it most of times changes whole meaning of the sentence and sometimes sentence meaning gets funny. It happens most of the time. If such incidents doesn't happen then it always come as pleasant Shock to me
2. One of the biggest problem i am facing right now is the way i am making wrong decisions. When i take decision, i know i am taking right decision but with in 2-3 days i lost interest and like move to other things. My whole childhood is example of that, i have changed at least 10-15 different sports. Each time thinking i will do thing whole my life and lose interest within few days and then next sport. Even now, at 22 age, i am making same mistake. I join Reading room for studies and left it after 2 days. I join Gym and left it after 15-20 days. Even i thinking of changing of career, since i am bored with current one.
3. Even in office i easily make silly mistakes and i only realize them when my employers client call to compliant about of my mistakes. Mistakes are like Wrong party name or wrong amount or wrong details
4. I can't sit still .My body is always in motion, while studying or doing some thinking. I mean my body is motion when i am siting, always moving ahead and back.
5. As i mention earlier i have all symptoms like easily distracted, all day dreaming, lack of  concentration, like to doing thing which is easy,etc etc

sorry for lengthly question. i hope you do reply. I am really disturbed since my parent are not financially good and they are thinking my habit of changing career is just excuse for not to work or lack of concentration. I am some opinion before i went for professional."

Answer
In the United States only a board certified Physician or Psychologist can make the diagnosis of ADHD.  Therefore, I cannot diagnose you through this question.  I can tell you that you have described a great number of Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder/Inattentive Type symptoms.  I would suspect that you have correctly diagnosed yourself.  

There are some ways to treat ADHD.  The most common treatment has to come from a Medical Doctor.  That would be a prescription for a stimulant drug like Ritalin.  These drugs are effective in about 50% of the cases for which they are prescribed, effective in that they make it much better for you to stay focused and concentrate on one thing at a time.  They do have side effects; like problems sleeping, weight loss, etc.  

The other treatments are not as consistent, but can be done by you.  The greatest factor, according to recent research, in the cause of ADHD seems to be sleep, more specifically, lack of deep sleep referred to as Rapid Eye Movement (REM).  When people don't sleep 8 hours, of which a significant portion is deep REM sleep, their brain doesn't function as a normal brain during waking hours.  If you snore, trash about the bed, kick your legs, etc., or don't sleep at least 8 hours per night this would be the place to start.  Also if you don't sleep normal night hours, like stay awake all night and sleep during the day, or sleep irregular times, that also could be a contributing factor.

Diet can also have an effect.  You should reduce or eliminate processed sugars.  Corn Syrup or High Fructose Corn Syrup is the biggest of the culprits.  Avoid the white sugars found in markets, and use honey, maple syrup or pure cane sugar (stevia works too).  There is a small portion of the population that reacts to processed wheat the same way...if sugar control and sleep aren't the problem then I would think about this...but in general avoid boxed, canned, or frozen pre-prepared foods.

Look on line for more ADHD information.  www.chaad.org and www.add.org are good places to start.

Norm