What do you think of when you think of an ADHD expert? Do you think of a teacher? What about a doctor or a counselor? You will most likely be able to find ADHD experts in all of these fields.
Do you ever think of yourself, though?
Chances are you are a parent with a child with ADHD, or you are an adult trying to manage your own ADHD symptoms. More than likely, though, you do not tend to think of yourself as an ADHD expert. Why not, though?
Becoming something of an ADHD expert provides one of the best ways to help you manage your or your child’s ADHD symptoms. Still, becoming an ADHD expert sounds like a daunting task. After all, you don’t have the time or experience to train to be a doctor or counselor. You do, though, have the time and resources to educate yourself on the different facets of ADHD.
In this short blog, we provide you with just a few tools relating to the different aspects of ADHD so that you can become a little more of an ADHD expert. Ultimately, the more tools you have for ADHD, the more effective you can be at managing its symptoms.
Know Your Symptoms
Becoming an ADHD expert starts with knowing the key ADHD symptoms. If you think you or your child may have ADHD, what symptoms should you look for? Key symptoms include hyperactivity, an inability to focus, becoming easily distracted or overwhelmed, and impulsivity.
Becoming an ADHD expert on ADHD symptoms depends on having access to the best sources. The following are some great resources on knowing your ADHD symptoms:
- Adult ADHD: Is That Why I Can’t Concentrate?
- ADD & ADHD Symptoms & Types
- ADHD Symptoms: ADD Checklist for Children and Adults
Know How Diet and Exercise Affect ADHD Symptoms
The next step to becoming an ADHD expert involves understanding how diet and exercise affect ADHD symptoms. As humans, our environments and what we do and what we eat profoundly affect us. This is no less true when talking about ADHD symptoms.
Becoming an ADHD expert requires you to study up on diet and exercise. Refer to the following sources to help beef up your knowledge on ADHD and diet and exercise:
- ADHD and Exercise: 8 Real-World Tips That Will Help Your Kids
- Your diet affects ADHD: 6 simple diet tips to control ADHD symptoms
- Exercise: An Alternative ADHD Treatment
- Study: ADHD Diet Helps Reduce Symptoms
Know How Behavioral Management Can Help
Thirdly, in order to become a well-versed ADHD expert you need to learn steps to address the impact of ADHD symptoms. The first step you should look into involves behavioral management. Behavioral management can play a pivotal part in any ADHD management plan.
Look at the following resources to find out more:
- Ten ADHD Strategies You Need To Know
- A Pragmatic Parent's Guide to Behavior Therapy for ADHD
- Behavior Therapy for ADHD: 7 Steps to Better Discipline
Know What Natural Supplements Are Available
Moving on from behavioral management, the next area you need to cover while becoming an ADHD expert involves natural supplements. Natural supplements such as Omega-3 supplements provide a second stage step to addressing ADHD symptoms.
A lot of resources online and in person provide a lot of information on Omega-3s. Sometimes you might find it difficult sorting through all the noise. You can start, though, with getting a firm understanding on Omega-3s and other supplements through the following articles:
- 10 Top Food Categories and Supplements That Help ADHD Symptoms
- Top 5 Reasons Your Child Should Take Omega-3’s for ADD
- 6 Essential (and Often-Overlooked) Supplements for ADHD
Know About Prescription Medication and the Risks
Finally, becoming an ADHD expert requires some knowledge on prescription medication. You need to study up on when prescription medications can be useful. Also, you need to understand some of the drawbacks of prescription medication.
The following resources can help you get started on learning more about prescription medication:
- Are you treating ADHD with medicine? Here’s why you should consider it
- Drug Treatments for ADHD
- Which ADHD Medication Is Best? That Depends.
Help Manage ADHD Through Becoming an ADHD Expert
Effectively helping you or your child manage ADHD symptoms depends on you knowing as much as you can about ADHD in the first place. While it might not be practical for you to learn as much as a counselor or practitioner, you still need to start somewhere. Use the resources in this article to start your path to becoming a small-scale ADHD expert.