ADD, sometimes referred to as attention deficit disorder, is a chronic disorder that affects millions of people per year. It is diagnosed in children 15 years of age and younger if they have six inattention symptoms. Older teens are diagnosed if they only present five inattention symptoms. At Cady Wellness Institute in Newburgh, IN, we understand the importance of treating ADD. That’s why we’re looking at the most common ADD symptoms.

What Are the Symptoms of ADD? 

There are a number of symptoms that may indicate someone has ADD, but it’s important to note that not everyone with the condition will experience all of them. Some common symptoms include: 

• Difficulty paying attention
• Difficulty concentrating on boring tasks
• Being easily distractible
• Being impulsive or acting on impulse
• Struggling to think things through
• Being hyperactive or always on the go
• Having difficulty sitting still
• Struggling to remain calm
• Being disorganized
• Having a hard time keeping track of things
• Experiencing mood swings
• Feeling easily frustrated
• Acting without thinking of the consequences
• Fidgeting or squirming when seated
• Having trouble staying quiet when it’s needed

When Is ADD Usually Diagnosed? 

Most cases of ADD are diagnosed during childhood. However, there are cases where adults may not be aware that they have the condition until later in life. For a child who is no more than 15 years of age, there must be at least six symptoms of inattentiveness for no fewer than six consecutive months.

What Are the Most Common ADD Symptoms in Children? 

One of the most common ADD symptoms in children is the inability to wait one’s turn. If your child tries to cut in line at school on a regular basis, they may suffer from ADD. Another symptom that usually presents in children is acting without thinking. This may take the form of impulsively jumping out of a tree or chasing a squirrel without looking in both directions for oncoming traffic. Children with ADD are also likely to talk excessively, interrupt incessantly, and fidget.

How Is ADD Treated? 

There are several techniques that may be implemented for ADD treatment. Among the treatment options available are making changes to your diet, making changes to your environment, taking supplements, and taking medications. Many people with ADD also benefit greatly from balancing their neurotransmitters and getting coaching.

What Foods Are Good for People With ADD? 

There is limited data on ADD diets, but it seems that eating brain foods is good for our condition. It is a good idea to try to eat a high-protein diet. It is a particularly good idea to eat plenty of protein in the morning and after school to help you focus. In addition to making sure you eat plenty of protein, you should also aim to get a good amount of complex carbs in your diet. Great sources of complex carbs include:

• Kiwi
• Grapefruit
• Oranges
• Pears
• Apples
• Whole wheat bread
• Potatoes

Finally, you should make a point to get plenty of omega-3 fatty acids in your diet. Great sources of these essential fatty acids include salmon, pollock, and tuna. However, if you’re not a seafood lover, don’t head for the supplement aisle just yet. You may be able to get enough omega-3 fatty acids in your diet by cooking with canola or olive oil and indulging in high-protein snacks like Brazil nuts and walnuts.

What Foods Are Bad for People With ADD? 

People with ADD may find that they focus better by minimizing their consumption of simple carbs. For example, people with ADD should try to not eat candy, corn syrup, honey, or sugar. Also, products made from white flour, like most pasta and bread, white rice, and skinless potatoes should be eaten only in moderation.

Note, if you’re not sure whether a food is affecting your attentiveness, you can use the elimination diet to tell. Take notes on your symptoms for a week. Then, eliminate a suspected trigger food from your diet. Continue to take notes on your symptoms for a week. Then, compare your notes. If your symptoms improve, do your best to not eat the confirmed trigger food in the future.

Do Food Additives Trigger ADD? 

It has been well over four decades since an allergist first theorized that food additives were affecting attentiveness in some children. A lot of research has been conducted on how food additives affect the attentiveness of children. Perhaps not surprisingly, several food additives affect the attentiveness of some children, including:

• Artificial red coloring
• Artificial yellow coloring
• Aspartame
• Monosodium gultamate (MSG)
• Sodium benzoate

What Supplements Could Someone With ADD Benefit From? 

If you don’t eat a balanced diet due to forgetting to eat, having texture issues with foods, or other reasons, you can benefit from taking a complete vitamin and mineral supplement every day. To help you remember to take your dietary supplement, set a daily alarm on your phone for breakfast time with the reminder to take your supplement. Evidence suggests supplements are most effective when taken on a full stomach.

Even if you eat a fairly balanced diet, you may still benefit from taking an omega-3 supplement. Omega-3s are great for your brain and may make your medication more effective. Omega-3 supplements are a great option for people who don’t want to eat fat-dense foods, like nuts, oils, and fatty cuts of fish.

Should I Take a Caffeine Supplement if I Have ADD?

There is probably no need to take a caffeine pill if you have ADD. A single pill contains 200 mg of caffeine, and that may be such a large dose taken so quickly that you may experience negative side effects. For example, people who consume an excessive amount of caffeine can experience such symptoms as nausea, diarrhea, anxiety, hypertension, heart palpitations.

Nevertheless, you may want to consider some caffeine throughout the day. Study results show that moderate amounts of caffeine may help people with ADHD focus. You may benefit from drinking a cup of black tea or coffee right before work to help you start the day off focusing. Alternatively, you may want to have a caffeinated beverage in the afternoon if you have important meetings scheduled.

What Environmental Changes May Improve ADD Symptoms? 

One of the best things to do for your attentiveness is to get enough sleep. We know it’s hard to sleep with your mind racing in dozens of directions at once. However, restorative sleep is crucial if you want a fighting chance to focus and manage your mood during the day. One way you can get better sleep is to take a melatonin supplement before you go to bed every night. Just make sure that you have at least nine hours to dedicate to sleep.

If you have a child with ADD, a sleep routine may be incredibly beneficial. Sleep routines should last between half an hour and a full hour and occur at the same time every night. It doesn’t matter whether your child has school, summer camp, or religious services to attend in the morning or not. Maybe you want to give your child a warm bath while you read or sing to her. Maybe you want to talk about your child’s day. Regardless, routine will help.

What Else Can I Do to Improve My Symptoms? 

You can also improve your symptoms by making a point to exercise every day. You may notice significant symptom improvements if you exercise for an hour per day. However, you should be aware that you don’t have to exercise for 60 minutes in a row to benefit. For example, you can get in three 20-minute workout sessions and notice that your mood, memory, and attentiveness improve. You can also get two 30-minute workout sessions per day.

Take Action Now if You’ve Noticed ADD Symptoms in Yourself or a Loved One

If you believe you or a loved one suffers from ADD, help is available. Among the most common ADD symptoms are disorganization, difficulty sitting still, mood swings and extreme frustration, distractability, and impulsivity. In children, ADD can be seen in such behaviors as trying to cut in line, interrupting, fidgeting, especially when it’s quiet, and talking excessively.

ADD doesn’t have to rule your life. There are several treatment options that may benefit you, including dietary changes, medications, supplementation, and environmental changes. If you think you or a loved one suffers from ADD, don’t delay. Contact us today at Cady Wellness Institute in Newburgh, IN to schedule an initial consultation.