Hi, it’s Riagain from Berkshire HorseWorks with one final blog! Ever since I was a child, I have struggled and battled with my ADHD. ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, a condition with symptoms including inattentiveness, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. There are arguments on both sides regarding the use of medication to mitigate the effects of ADHD. I personally do not use medication. People are very quick to label people with ADHD although they may have some other hyperactivity disorder. According to Web MD, in order to be correctly diagnosed with ADHD, one must have displayed symptoms in childhood. There are three types of ADHD: hyperactive-impulsive, inattentive, and a combination of both. I have the third, making it extremely hard for me to get even the most basic tasks done at times. While warning signs can be prevalent early on, the actual diagnosis comes later. My parents and I had suspicions about my ADHD from a young age, but I only received my diagnosis in my eighth grade year.
According to another article from childmind.org there are two neurochemicals that are important for attention focus, for the functioning of the prefrontal cortex region of the brain: dopamine and norepinephrine. Taking Adderall, Ritalin, or any other stimulant medicine helps to bring up the levels of these neurochemicals. Optimal levels of these neurochemicals can make brains focused, however too much can actually “stress out” the brain. Studies show that there’s an 80% chance of a response to the medicine. After years of therapy, I have discovered ways to keep my ADHD at bay, even if doing homework and other tasks takes me significantly longer than other children, as I can get distracted easily. I think that medication can be a viable tool to use, but ultimately it should be up to the child to decide on how to cope with their ADHD, as it is their life that is being affected. Remember, your life, your choice.
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