This October, millions of people worldwide are observing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) Awareness Month, and its correlation to mental health. It’s a great time to learn more about this neurological disorder. Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common condition that affects children and adults. It’s characterized by problems with focus, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.

About 6.1 million children between 2 and 17 in the United States are estimated to have been diagnosed with ADHD. ADHD can be a challenge for those who have it and their loved ones. But there are treatments available that can help manage the symptoms. MindSet by Serene Health now offers Personalized repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (PrTMS)- a medication-free treatment for ADHD backed by science.

The symptoms of ADHD can vary from person to person. They may also change over time. In general, people with ADHD have trouble paying attention, controlling impulsive behaviors, and are overly active.

Symptoms of ADHD may include:

• Failing to pay close attention to details or making careless mistakes when doing schoolwork or other tasks

• Difficulty sustaining attention during tasks or leisure activities

• Appearing not to listen when spoken to directly

• Failing to follow through on instructions and failing to finish schoolwork or other tasks

• Difficulty organizing tasks and activities

• Avoiding or procrastinating on tasks that require sustained mental effort

• Frequently losing things needed for tasks or activities

• Being easily distracted by extraneous stimuli

• Being forgetful in daily activities

• Fidgeting or squirming when sitting for long periods of time

• Difficulty remaining seated when required

• Running or climbing excessively in situations where it’s inappropriate

• Blurting out responses before hearing the whole question

• Interrupting or intruding on others’ conversations or games

Children with symptoms of both inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity tend to be more disruptive and are more likely to have problems in school than those with only signs of inattention. However, it’s important to remember that everyone has moments of inattention and distraction from time to time. For someone with ADHD, these symptoms are much more severe and occur more often than for someone without the condition.

Most mental health conditions and disorders involve some degree of disrupted brain activity. This is usually in the form of dysregulated, dysfunctional, or imbalanced brainwave patterns. ADHD is no different. Researchers previously thought ADHD was caused by a head injury or brain damage. But now they know that it’s caused by chemical, structural, and connectivity differences in the brain.

All our thoughts and actions are controlled by communication between our brain cells or neurons. The different kinds of cells in your brain talk to each other and generate electrical pulses. These pulses create your spectrum of consciousness. When your brainwave patterns are not in sync, it can cause a kind of “dissonance” that makes your brain activity less clear, controlled, and efficient. Over-arousal (or hyperactivity) and under-arousal (inattentiveness) in certain areas of the brain are two symptoms that can affect people with ADHD.

Myth: ADHD is just laziness or bad behavior.

Fact: ADHD is a real neurological condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It’s not simply a case of being lazy or acting out. People with ADHD are often highly creative and intelligent. They just process information differently than others, making it difficult to focus on tasks or stay organized.

Myth: Only kids can have ADHD.

Fact: While it’s true that the vast majority of diagnoses are in children and adolescents, up to 60% of people with ADHD continue to experience symptoms into adulthood. Symptoms may look different in adults than in children – for example, an adult with ADHD may have trouble staying focused at work but be able to hyperfocus when working on a project they’re passionate about. According to Harvard Medical School, approximately 4.4% of adults in the United States had been diagnosed with ADHD as of 2003, but the numbers are rising.

Myth: Only boys can have ADHD.

Fact: Both boys and girls can have ADHD. In fact, recent research suggests that girls may be underdiagnosed because they are more likely to present with inattentive symptoms rather than the hyperactive/impulsive symptoms that are more commonly associated with boys. Scientists believe that genetic factors play a role in the development of ADHD, so it’s not surprising that the disorder affects both sexes equally.

Myth: People with ADHD are constantly bouncing off the walls.

Fact: ADHD can manifest in different ways, and not all people with ADHD are hyperactive. It’s important to remember that everyone experiences ADHD differently, and there is no one-size-fits-all definition of what it looks like.

If you know someone with ADHD, there are several ways you can offer support. One of the most important things you can do is to provide encouragement and understanding. It can be frustrating to deal with ADHD symptoms on a daily basis, and Individuals with ADHD often feel like they are not meeting expectations.

Reminding them of their strengths and reminding them that they can overcome obstacles can be incredibly supportive. You can make a real difference by offering understanding, structure, and encouragement. Lastly, it is important to educate yourself about ADHD so that you can be a better advocate for your friend or family member.

There is no one-size-fits-all treatment for ADHD, as the disorder can manifest in different ways in different people. However, several common treatments may help to improve symptoms, such as medication, therapy, and lifestyle changes. MindSet by Serene Health now offers a medication-free solution to people experiencing symptoms of ADHD. PrTMS is a non-invasive, drug-free treatment solution for ADHD that uses low-amplitude magnetic pulses to restore balance and harmony to the brainwave patterns that generate and perpetuate ADHD symptoms.

PrTMS uses pulses of magnetic energy to stimulate brain cell activity and help improve communication between neurons. Over the course of your treatment plan, this therapy gradually changes your brainwave patterns to alleviate symptoms. After just 20-30 PrTMS treatments, most people and children with ADHD experience significant symptom improvement. If you suspect that you or someone you know may have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), please don’t hesitate to contact us for more information about MindSet by Serene Health.

We also offer a wide variety of other behavioral health and mental health services and flexible appointments through our Telehealth platform, where you can speak to a therapist online from the location of your choice. Call us at 844-737-3638 or visit www.serenehealth.com to schedule an appointment.