ADD/ADHD: Do You Really Know the Facts?

ADD/ADHD---Is not just a childhood disorder. It persists into adulthood and many adults do not know they have it and by the time they do find out if ever, so much has been lost and they have had to deal with so much guilt and ridicule. It begins in childhood and has many symptoms which can be misunderstood for other conditions or just a 'bad attitude' or a behavioral problem in childhood. ADD/ADHD is not a behavioral issue, it is neurological and can be misunderstood as a behavioral issue by those who do not understand this condition. Nearly 10% of the population has it, that means as high as 9 on my Linked-In account have it. As many as 1 in 4 families in the church are dealing with mental illness (pastors listen up here, these people are hurting and need people who understand) and ADD/ADHD may be one of those conditions. It is not just the hyper boy in class who cannot sit still and get's in trouble regularly for outbursts, excessive talking and fooling around. And of course not doing his homework! (there is a neurological reason why he does not do it, more will follow in a later post). It manifests itself with many different symptoms and if left diagnosed and untreated it can have severe consequences down the road including depression, substance abuse through self-medicating, and even suicidal ideation, psychosis, and trouble with the Law. It can manifest itself as ODD and various statistics reveal that anywhere from 20-75% of the prison population has ADD/ADHD. I see the mean to be perhaps 30-40%. Imagine if this neurological condition was caught and treated early. Think of the lives spared? Become informed, ADD/ADHD is not just a childhood condition, nor is it a condition of which to just joke about the wired up child. It can greatly impair, spin a child OR adult out of control into an utter hopeless depression and send parents into a whirlwind. However these people are also very gifted, willing to please, and themselves don't understand why they're "different" or don't understand what's "wrong with me", they just need to have their condition understood in the home, school, office and even by medical professionals who are not up to speed on advancements in neurological technological advancements for the ADD/ADHD brain. Along with advancement in technology is advancement in pharmaceuticals which now brings many options for treating this condition, as well as solid therapy, coaching and a continued understanding of man himself (conditions like this are the result of the Fall, much like the man born blind whom Jesus came to heal) in relation to an all-loving yet holy God of grace manifest in Jesus Christ. Enough for now, much more will be following. This is posted here to bring Community Awareness, Support and Advocacy for the most common condition treated in mental health, ADD/ADHD. Grace and peace.