ADHD Awareness Week, September 17-23
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CONTACT: ALISON DICKMAN AT (215) 884-6499
ADDA'S AWARENESS CAMPAIGN PUTS FOCUS ON ADULTS LIVING WITH AD/HD
MOUNT LAUREL, NJ - Life can be stressful for the 8 million American
adults living with
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD), a condition which
often leads to depression,
anxiety and relationship problems if left untreated. Unfortunately,
more people associate AD/HD
with children than they do adults.
This is why the Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA) is
dedicated to shedding light on
AD/HD and the effect it has on adults.
In order to increase understanding of the disorder and provide hope to
people with AD/HD,
ADDA is marking the third annual AD/HD Awareness Week (September
17-23) by providing
education, resources and support to those affected by AD/HD and the
professionals who work
with them.
September and October Conferences and Teleclasses Offer New Insight
ADDA is holding a Focus Fair in Chicago at Wheaton College on Sept. 16
for individuals with
AD/HD, family members, educators, treatment professionals and coaches.
Attendees will learn
strategies for dealing with everyday challenges in workshops focusing
on AD/HD parents raising
AD/HD kids; AD/HD and substance abuse, and workplace issues.
The regional conferences on Oct. 20 at Penn State Great Valley in
Philadelphia, Pa and Oct. 21 at the NYC Seminar and Conference Center
in New York City, N.Y. will offer additional
educational and networking opportunities for adults with AD/HD,
parents with AD/HD children,
educators, medical and mental health professionals, other AD/HD
professionals and interested
members of the general public.
ADDA also hopes to educate a much larger audience about AD/HD through
a series of teleclasses
- interactive courses offered by AD/HD experts over the telephone -
focusing on Workplace
Issues, Home/Family Life, Skills and Tools for Life and AD/HD
Treatment Advances.
Teleclasses are free during Awareness Week. Registration is available
at www.add.org.
Dispelling Myths Strengthens Understanding
According to ADDA President Linda Anderson, MA, MCC, one of the best
ways to begin
understanding AD/HD it by dispelling the myths surrounding the
disorder.
Some common myths about AD/HD include:
Myth: AD/HD is a childhood disorder that children outgrow.
FACT: It is believed that over 70 percent of children diagnosed as
having AD/HD will continue
to manifest it in adulthood. If untreated, individuals with AD/HD may
develop secondary
problems like depression, anxiety and substance abuse, but if they are
properly treated, they can
live productive lives.
Myth: If you are an intelligent or successful person, you cannot have
AD/HD.
FACT: AD/HD has nothing to do with intelligence or success. AD/HD is a
developmental and
behavioral disorder characterized by poor concentration,
distractibility, hyperactivity, and
impulsiveness. People with AD/HD can develop ways to control their
attention and minimize
their disruptive behaviors by recognizing their weaknesses and
learning new skills.
Myth: Adults with AD/HD cannot hold down a job.
FACT: Many adults with AD/HD are not only able to hold down a job, but
are able to succeed in
highly competitive industries. There are many successful corporate
executives, business owners,
scientists, athletes, actors, and practitioners in just about every
industry who are able to manage
their AD/HD and enjoy great careers. Employers can support AD/HD
employees in problem
areas by assisting with organization, prioritization and long-term
planning skills.
Myth: Unless a person is hyperactive, they don't have ADD.
FACT: Many times, ADD has a hyperactive component where the person has
trouble sitting still
for long periods of time and acts impulsively. However, there is also
an inattentive form of ADD,
with symptoms including being easily distracted, a propensity to
daydream, and inability to get
organized.
Myth: There is nothing that can be done to treat adults with AD/HD.
FACT: There are a variety of things that adults can do to effectively
manage their AD/HD. While
some adults opt for medication, others choose to enlist the help of
specially trained life coaches or
psychologists who are experienced in dealing with AD/HD clients.
Organizations like ADDA are
instrumental in providing the necessary education, resources and
support to those affected by
AD/HD so they can live productive and meaningful lives.
"So many adults with AD/HD go undiagnosed and therefore do not receive
necessary treatment,"
Anderson says. "That's why Awareness Week is such a great opportunity
to educate people about
AD/HD, so we can bring hope to them and empower them to seek help and
take charge of their
own lives."
Symptoms of AD/HD can include:
· Difficulty paying attention to tasks and completing projects
· Failure to follow instructions carefully and completely
· Losing or forgetting important things; chronic lateness
· Habitually fidgeting with hands or feet; squirming
· Chronic boredom and restlessness
· Talking excessively and frequently interrupting others
For more information on ADDA or the upcoming events, visit www.add.org
or call (484) 945-
2101.
About ADDA: The Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA) is a
nonprofit organization
established in 1989 to provide information, resources and networking
to adults with AD/HD and
to the professionals who work with them. In doing so, ADDA generates
hope, awareness,
empowerment and connections worldwide in the field of AD/HD. Bringing
together scientific
perspectives and the human experience, the information and resources
provided to individuals
and families affected by AD/HD and professionals in the field focuses
on diagnoses, treatments,
strategies and techniques for helping adults with AD/HD lead better
lives. For more information
visit: www.add.org.
Editor's Note: To schedule an interview or to attend the Focus Fair or
regional
conferences, please contact Alison Dickman at (215) 884-6499.