Attention Deficit Disorder

Attention Deficit Disorder is a very common mental disorder; it is more common than we can imagine or fully know.  My theory for the reason it is so common involves the dietary changes that  have infiltrated over time, beginning with food dyes, artificial preservatives, artificial sweeteners, and extending to low fat diets and antibiotics and hormones used in the meat industry.  Attention deficit disorders can sap a person's self esteem and impact one's ability to function such that feelings of worthlessness take over.  Where worthless feelings exist depression and other mood disorders are not far behind.  Where other emotional issues exist, someone should be looking at whether there is an underlying attention deficit difficulty.  If you find that you have 15 of the following 20 items there's a good chance you have some degree of attention deficit and getting it checked out more thoroughly and instigating some natural interventions would be helpful.

1.      A sense of under-achievement, of not meeting your goal, or of “not getting my act together.”

2.      Difficulty getting organized.

3.      Chronic procrastination or trouble getting started.

4.      Many projects going on simultaneously; trouble following through.

5.      Tendency to say whatever comes into your head without thinking of what effects it may have or how appropriate it is.

6.      Frequently on the search for higher stimulation.

7.      An intolerance of boredom.

8.      Easily distracted, trouble focusing attention, tendency to drift off or day dream a lot; coupled with times of super focus (if the activity is of high interest to you.)

9.      Often creative, intuitive, and highly intelligent.

10.  Trouble sticking with rules, authority, going through channels or proper procedures.

11.  Impatient, low tolerance for frustration.

12.  Impulsive – spur of the moment decisions, changes plans quickly without much thought.

13.  Worries needlessly or endlessly.

14.  Feels insecure like the bottom is going to fall out of life all the time.

15.   Mood swings.

16.  Restlessness, lots of nervous energy.

17.  Tendency toward addictions of all kinds; uses substances to calm inner jitters.

18.  Chronically lacking in self-esteem.

19.  Inaccurate observations about yourself, e.g. “I’m just a screwup (a ditz, stupid…)”

20.  Family history of ADD, substance abuse, or mental illness.

(Taken from Driven to Distraction, by Edward m. Hallowell, M.D., and John J. Ratey, M.D.)