Taken from Dr. Daniel Amen

Core symptoms Short attention span for routine tasks, dis-tractibility, organizational problems, difficulty with follow through and poor internal supervision. However, the short attention span is not for everything, most often they can pay attention to things that are new, novel, highly stimulating, interesting, or frightening. Sensibility to taste is another common problem many add clients will only eat foods with a certain taste or texture, clients complain they have a terrible time finding foods their kids will eat. (Note - It's possible to have more than one of these types of ADD. For example, a common combination is over focused, limbic, and anxious types.) Type 1 Classic - Hyperactive, restless, impulsive, disorganized, dis-tractible, trouble concentrating Personal note: type one babies are colicky, highly active, hard to sooth and hold (they are very wigg ...

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“Let’s Have a Problem”

Many people with ADHD pick on others to get a rise out of them, to get them upset, to make them crazy. Family members of my patients say, “I’m tired of fighting with my brother (sister, mother, son). He (she) always has to have a problem.” There is a reason why people with ADHD play this game: When the ADHD brain doesn’t have enough stimulation, it looks for ways to increase its activity. Being angry or negative has an immediate stimulating effect on the brain. When you get upset, your body produces increased amounts of adrenaline, raising the heart rate and brain activity.

“I Bet I Can Get You to Yell at Me”

Many with ADHD are masters at getting others to scream and yell. Such behaviors give an adrenaline rush to the individual with ADHD, but they may lead to serious consequences, such as divorce, fights at school, or being fired from a ...

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Q: Why does my child argue with me when I tell them something?

A: Most times, a child will argue when they don’t know how to solve their own problems, and they feel helpless. They will use aggression, disrespect, verbal and physical abuse, and/or obnoxious behavior to solve a problem and get control. Most times, the parents get drawn in. Yelling or screaming is a parent’s way of saying “I can’t handle this” – “No one is in control”

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Key things to do

Short circuit the outbursts – If you are in the store, or in the car, wherever, stop where you are (in a vehicle pull over to the side of the road). Then say, “Until you can stop and talk to me calmly, we are not moving.”

Disconnect – You don’t have to attend every argument your invited to: Walk away and tell your child “I am not going to talk to you right now”.

Short term consequences – “I’m taking yo ...

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