“I've been having trouble concentrating on my job for a while. I tried a friend's medication called Ritalin to study for a midterm, and it worked perfectly. I wonder if I have ADD?"-J.L.
"Trouble concentrating" is a very common fear among college students. They are mostly related to a large number of issues, only one of which is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD).
Most frequently, factors such as not enough sleep, exercise, diet, or recreational drug or alcohol use, depression, stress, or anxiety can lead to trouble concentrating. Less frequently, medical conditions like goiter or hyperthyroidism can cause similar problems.
ADHD/ADD is a neuropsychiatric mental disorder, thought to occur from an inherited problem with brain "hardwiring." Clinically speaking, ADHD/ADD is characterized by distractibility, lack of concentration, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. These behavioral deficits cause troubles that are performance-based, rather than skill-based.
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Individuals with ADHD/ADD are of at least typical, if not above-average intellect, and definitely possess their fair share of abilities and talents.
Unless diagnosed and cured early on, though, most have to fight hard during elementary school, and up to thirty-five percent are unable to finish high school.
ADHD/ADD is a persistent, life-long disorder, frequently appearing initially early in childhood. It may influence as many as 3 to 5 percent of Americans and 1 to 3 percent of college students.
ADHD/ADD can be hard to diagnose, and many health experts feel that it is over-diagnosed in extremely active, slow-learning boys and under-diagnosed in careless but quiet girls.
A high proportion of people with ADHD/ADD also have a learning disorder, and total neuropsychological or educational-psychological appraisal should be considered for any person diagnosed with ADHD/ADD.
Stimulant drugs (e.g. Ritalin, Adderall, and Dexedrine) remain as the chief therapy for ADD. They are believed to reduce neurologic "white noise" from opposing centers of the brain, facilitating focus and concentration on primary tasks.
They are now widely available in a multiplicity of short- and long-acting preparations. Several are being marketed directly to consumers, on television, and in top magazines, with sometimes baffling results.
All of these drugs are controlled substances. Their effectiveness is in no way diagnostic of ADD. They very efficiently counter fatigue and aid focus whether you have ADHD/ADD or not. Stimulants are used customarily in the military, for instance, on extended missions.
All of these drugs are controlled substances. Their effectiveness is in no way diagnostic of ADD. They very efficiently counter fatigue and aid focus whether you have ADHD/ADD or not. Stimulants are used customarily in the military, for instance, on extended missions.
On school campuses, they are often traded among friends as "study aids." In fact, at Bowdoin, almost 1 in 5 students surveyed has reported doing so during the preceding year. The shorter-acting stimulants are also commonly abused for recreational purposes.
Abdominal pain, headache, insomnia, appetite suppression, and nervous tics are all common side-effect of stimulants. Taken per orem, in prescribed doses, stimulants are relatively safe and effective drugs.
Seldom, in individuals with predispositions to convulsion disorders or heart problems, they can be hazardous, even fatal. This is particularly true when they are ground up and snorted.
Many "natural" health products have also been promoted to manage symptoms of ADHD/ADD, together with essential fatty acids, DMAE, phosphatidylserine, ginkgo, and Ephedra.
None have been technically proven to be effective. And keep in mind: "natural" does not at all mean harmless.
So, if your trouble concentrating is only recently, it's not likely that ADHD/ADD is the reason.
Ritalin as a medication might help you get through a lengthy night of studying or paper-writing, but that doesn't simply mean you have ADHD/ADD.
It should depart without saying that taking somebody else's prescription medication is not a good plan, above all when the drugs are a controlled substance.
Come into the Health Center for proper assessment or see a medical doctor for your own safety
Here is a link to a superb article on how to improve concentration on this very topic: http://lackofconcentration.org.
