ADHD, short for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is a common neurodevelopmental condition estimated to affect around 9% of children and 4% of adults worldwide.
If you or a loved one have ADHD, this post will cover what causes it, typical symptoms, and most importantly – proven solutions.
What Causes ADHD?
- Genetics – ADHD strongly runs in families. Differences in genes affecting dopamine and norepinephrine are often present.
- Brain anatomy – Slight anatomical differences in the prefrontal cortex, cerebellum, and other areas are frequently seen.
- Low dopamine/norepinephrine – These important neurotransmitters aid focus, attention, motivation, and impulse control.
- Sensory processing – Many with ADHD have challenges filtering sensory stimuli like sound, light, or touch.
- Sleep disturbances – ADHD and sleep issues often co-occur and exacerbate each other.
In essence, ADHD arises from differences in how the brain is wired and interconnected combined with chemical messaging imbalances.
Common ADHD Symptoms
- Difficulty paying attention and staying focused
- Forgetfulness and disorganization
- Restlessness and fidgeting
- Impulsiveness and emotional reactivity
- Hyperactivity and constant motion
- Problems following multi-step directions
- Easily distracted by sights, sounds, thoughts
- Messy, careless mistakes despite knowledge
- Trouble starting or completing tasks
- Daydreaming and difficulty staying on task
Traditional ADHD Treatments
ADHD is frequently treated with a combination of medication, therapy, and lifestyle changes with varying degrees of success.
- Stimulant medications like Adderall or Ritalin help increase dopamine.
- Non-stimulants like Strattera or Intuniv regulate norepinephrine.
- Therapy provides organizational skills training and coping mechanisms.
- Exercise, diet changes, routined schedules, and sleep hygiene may also help.
For many, the right combination of these approaches can be life-changing. However, some experience incomplete relief of symptoms or undesirable side effects.
The Feel Good Solution
An emerging treatment option is targeted sensory-motor exercises and activities. Here’s why this can succeed where others fall short:
- ADHD involves underdeveloped pathways between mind and body. Movement stimulates and reshapes these connections.
- Sequenced physical motions and spatial exercises build missing foundational skills.
- Proprioceptive input and balance challenges train sensory filtering and processing.
- Cross-lateral movements enhance communication between brain hemispheres.
- Mimicking key developmental stages promotes maturation and integration.
- Gains in motor control and body awareness translate to emotional and cognitive benefits.
The Feel Good Program takes a back-to-basics, bottom-up approach using movement to reshape neural networks and connectivity. Developed over years of research and testing with leading neuroscientists, it gets to the root physiological cause of ADHD.
If other options have not provided full relief for you or a loved one, consider exploring the Feel Good Program. By aligning your mind and body, you can finally feel focused, coordinated, calm and in control.