What is ADHD

• ADHD is a diagnosed condition that affects the chemicals in the brain.
  
• You can't see it, we often don't understand it and it can be very confusing.
  
• There are many theories about when, why or how people get it.
  
• We do know that it is genetic and that it really does exist.
  
• It is not caused by 'bad' parenting, teaching or handling and can be improved, managed and helped with training.

ADHD Support Group Harrow
Phone 020 8426 1719

OUR MISSION STATEMENT is to relieve families and sufferers of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. To enable us to do this we will work towards our group being welcoming, accessible and inclusive to all parents and carers. We will take active steps to encourage the participation of all sections of the community. The Support Group was set up in 1996 by a group of parents through the suggestion of Northwick Park Hospital. We aim to support the children and their parents or carers.

The support group is run by volunteers / parents and carers and relatives of children with ADHD. A project worker is employed to develop the group and support parents. We hold regular evening support meetings where parents / carers share experiences and have an opportunity to listen to guest speakers from the medical or educational profession. Topics also include alternative therapies and updated information on the latest research and treatments available.

Each Wednesday and Friday during term time, we run coffee mornings between 10.30am - 12pm with creche facilities, offering information and support to parents. A lending library is also available. Social events are held throughout the year and are great fun for everyone.

A 12 week 'Parenting your Child with ADHD' course is run termly, which looks at ways of building self esteem, effective communication, setting limits and dealing with feelings (theirs and ours) as well as ways of looking after ourselves. We are able to provide qualified babysitters to enable both parents / carers or single parents to attend. Six week 'Anger Management' courses also run throughout the year.

Funding has recently been granted to offer respite to parents / carers to provide care workers to look after children at the holiday playschemes within the borough of Harrow. Families will be assessed prior to this facility being offered.

ARE YOU AN ADULT STRUGGLING WITH ADHD OR SUSPECTED ADHD?

As a support group in Harrow, we are deeply concerned with what happens to our children when they are no longer under the care of CAMHS. Two of our members in particular feel passionate about the fact that ADHD does continue into adulthood, and therefore what help is around when that happens.

With this in mind, an informal group is now meeting at the Haven, 35 Pinner Green on the first Monday of each month from 8 - 10 pm. This group hopes to explore possibilities and to look at ways of helping each other. If you would like to know more, just turn up or contact Emma or Minoo on 020 8426 1719 or by email adultadhdharrow@yahoo.co.uk.

How does ADHD affect the sufferer?

How does it affect you?

Medication and alternatives

Interventions and strategies

Organisational skills

Impulsivity

Self esteem

Social and emotional

Tips for schools and teachers

Tips for relationships with parents

What of the future?


How Does ADHD Affect The Sufferer?

INSATIABLE
The world is not enough, no matter how much you give, they want more.
They can go on and on. Intrudes, interrogates, won't stop until they know all the details.

HYPERACTIVE
Restless, fidgety, always moving about.
Noisy and talkative.
Unable to settle to most activities.

ATTENTION DIFFICULTIES
Finds it hard to pay attention.
Forgets things and is disorganised
Has difficulty settling to tasks and getting started.
Poor short term memory.
Distant, dreamy.
Responds to one to one attention.

IMPULSIVENESS
Interrupts conversations.
Has difficulty taking turn.
Blurts out answers.
Acts without thinking.
'Explodes' often and seemingly without reason.

SOCIAL DIFFICULTIES
Acts 'silly' in front of others.
Reads others actions incorrectly, bossy.
Doesn't get invited to play or to parties, lack of friends.

HOW THEY FEEL
The brain is receiving all different messages, a bit like a television set when you continually point the remote control at it. It's difficult for them to tune into any one thing, they pick up a bit of everything but not enough to remember, recall or use the information efficiently. Someone had described this as "when I take my tablets I only hear one voice, if I don't take then I can hear twenty. "When they have 'tuned into something', maintaining that concentration is hard work so they shut out whatever else is going on around them. Adults are always telling them off, their peers reject them, they know they are not the same, as good as, as able or like the others. THEY FEEL REJECTED, UNLOVED, USELESS, STUPID, MISUNDERSTOOD, MISERABLE AND CONFUSED. These and many other feelings about themselves often lead to: LOW SELF ESTEEM.

SOME ASSOCIATED DIFFICULTIES
Dyslexia, dyspraxia, specific learning difficulties, emotional behaviour difficulties, poor presentation skills - very good at certain tasks, interests.

SOME MECHANISMS THEY MAY DEVELOP TO HELP THEM COPE
Subdued/elective mute ("what's the point")
Oppositional/argumentative (need to win at/achieve something)
Apparently unfeeling/uncaring (a bold exterior to cover the inner sensitive part)
A bully (meeting a need to be superior at something)
Troublesome ("I usually get told off for it anyway so I may as well have the fun of doing it")
Class clown (acceptance by peers, encouraged by peers and it beats letting on that "I don't understand what's going on")

ADHD WITHOUT THE HYPERACTIVITY
This is sometimes referred to as ADD Attention Deficit Disorder. Although ADHD is more common in boys than girls, probably because they are more disruptive and hyperactive, girl's symptoms often go unnoticed. Children with ADD appear to live in their own world.They don't have the apparent loudness, confidence or impulsiveness.They may appear overly sensitive, serious or sad. They appear sullen or sulky, day dream, cry often or easily. They isolate themselves, it's easier than trying to fit in. They can be compliant, submissive, shy, fearful and also stubborn. They may be overly anxious to please or overly considerate of another's feelings.

How does it affect you?

EXASPERATING, CHALLENGING. SELF-DOUBTFUL, EXHAUSTING,