The Importance Of Raising ADHD Awareness
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, better known as ADHD, can have a tremendous impact on your life, as well as on the lives of your beloved ones. For a while now, October has been ADHD Awareness Month, a time to acknowledge and celebrate the progress and the efforts made in ADHD education. This is the time to become more aware of the importance of early diagnosis, in order to alleviate the struggle of so many children and adults suffering from this condition.
According to some of the latest estimates, there are over 10 million ADHD sufferers in the U.S. alone. Furthermore, ADHD is one of the most frequent childhood disorders.
Even though prevalence studies show the extent of the ADHD problem, there is a lot of misinformation on the internet and in mainstream media. Many people live their lives without being diagnosed. They have to put up with tremendous problems triggered by their ADHD symptoms.
ADHD Awareness Objectives
- To educate people about this condition
- To make people understand that this disorder is as real as any other disease or medical condition
- To reinforce the fact that there are effective treatments for ADHD
- To explain the different treatment options
ADHD Myths & Misconceptions
Perhaps the biggest misconception of all is that ADHD is not a real disorder. The truth is that ADHD is extremely well-documented from a neurological point of view. There’s undeniable evidence that the brain of ADHD sufferers develops and functions in a different manner, by comparison with the brains of healthy individuals. Thanks to the wealth of ADHD-related research studies, the condition is now recognized as legitimate by all major health bodies and organizations within the U.S. Sufferers aren’t responsible for their symptoms, but they ought to learn how to manage them properly.
Another commonly encountered myth is that ADHD is the result of poor parenting. In fact, this disorder strikes children and adults from all walks of life. You can be the best parent of all and still have a child with ADHD. Nonetheless, good parenting is important, as it can provide the child with better tools to manage the symptoms and live a relatively normal life. Apparently, ADHD runs in families, so you’d better be aware of the strong genetic link that exists.
Last but not least, there’s a misconception that anyone can be diagnosed with ADHD, based on an array of behaviors all of us might exhibit under specific circumstances. This is entirely wrong. Such symptoms are only the first step of diagnosing ADHD.
A Disorder Of Many Faces
Most sufferers need to live with ADHD for their entire lives. You may be the youngest kid on the block of the oldest person in your village and still suffer from ADHD. Nevertheless, different individuals may experience different symptoms. While hyperactivity and impulsivity are the most common ones, for some people, the main symptom could be the inability to focus.
While many individuals experience only mild and easily controllable symptoms, there are some who have to put up with disruptive effects and co-occurring disorders such as autism, learning problems, anxiety, and depression.
AuraMD’s highest priority is your mental and behavioral well-being. In fact, an investment in your mental and behavioral health and well-being is as important as treating any other health condition in your body. Contact us or call us today for more information.