Manging Stress With ADHD

When you have an ADHD diagnosis in the family – it can be stressful.

Learning to manage family stress with an ADHD diagnosis can be difficult. Medication can be extremely exhausting to adjust to and keep up with. Even finding the right medication can be frustrating.

Going back and forth to doctor’s appointments, adjusting dosages, and switching medications can be overwhelming.

Unfortunately, there is no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to managing this diagnosis.

Whether it’s you, your child, or multiple family members, unmanaged ADHD can cause frustration, exhaustion, and overwhelm within the family.

Of course, you should always speak with a licensed professional when you’re managing an ADHD diagnosis. Whole Family Neurofeedback has supported families for years with managing stress associated with ADHD (and other diagnoses).

Today we’re going to talk about how neurofeedback can help you manage that stress. 

ADHD — one of the most common conditions

First, let’s talk a little bit about ADHD. Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, commonly known as ADHD, is one of the most common mental disorders in children and youth. Many adults have it, too, but go undiagnosed. It’s estimated that 8 million adults (or 5% of Americans) have ADHD.¹

Although boys are more than twice as likely to be diagnosed than girls, many girls and women are not diagnosed because symptoms are overlooked.1,2

Typically, symptoms in females tend to be more subtle. ^1,2 This can make things difficult if you’re a mom with undiagnosed ADHD, or parent to a daughter with inattentive symptoms and no diagnosis.

Research shows us that ADHD is often genetic.^1,3

There are other factors that can lead to ADHD, too, such as:

• Head injuries
• Exposure to environmental toxins
• Pregnancy complications 
• Premature birth, low birth weight, drug/alcohol use

Now, let’s talk about some of the symptoms in kids, and the difference between ADHD in boys and girls.

ADHD in kids

As you know, boys are much more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than girls. It’s just easier to spot it with boys because they tend to have more of the hyperactivity part of ADHD, where girls tend to be more inattentive, anxious, depressed, and have low self-esteem.^1,2

If your daughter seems to always be daydreaming to the point of being inattentive, this could be an ADHD symptom. It’s also important to note that hyperfocus can be a symptom. If you think your child has ADHD, it’s important to talk to a licensed professional about it.

Even when your child is diagnosed, ADHD can still be extremely tricky (and frustrating) to manage. Kids have a harder time taking medication, adjusting to medication, and going back and forth to doctor’s visits. 

Adjusting to medication might be the most difficult aspect for kids – it takes weeks for the body to adjust. As one of the most common conditions in children, teens, and many adults, it’s no wonder that it’s a contributing factor to family stress and dysfunction.

Whole Family Neurofeedback understands that when one person is stressed within the family – it affects everyone. We’re dedicated to providing you with long-lasting, beneficial, and healthy management of family stress. 

Neurofeedback is a great tool that can help you manage stress, overwhelm, and anxiety when you have a family member with ADHD.

Neurofeedback helps manage family stress with ADHD

Neurofeedback helps promote an overall healthy lifestyle and helps train your brain to be more fit. Neurofeedback has been widely used by families dealing with an ADHD diagnosis.

If you’re here you’ve tried:

• Different medications
• Made diet changes
• Used checklists and other memory aids…..

And while you’re figuring out what works best for you and your family, you need help managing the stress that comes with all of this.

There have been numerous and ongoing studies with evidence supporting neurofeedback as a positive tool for people with ADHD and their families.^4,5,6,7,8

According to one study published in a National Library of Medicine online journal article, neurofeedback “integrates well” with standard treatment methods.”⁵

Whole Family Neurofeedback has worked with many families to achieve:

• Greater success with homework
• A calm, happier home life
• Improved self-regulation skills
• Increased ability to organize and complete tasks 

We love providing education to people because we know that there is no “one size fits all” approach to managing family stress with ADHD.

It’s understandable to be skeptical.

It might feel impossible that you could achieve better homework results with your child. 

It might feel impossible that you could create a calmer, happier home.

Neurofeedback is not a magic solution but we do know that with consistent use, your brain will be more fit and many people report an overall improvement in quality of life.

Let’s talk about how.

How NeurOptimal® neurofeedback can help

Now, you might be wondering, what exactly is neurofeedback? 

At Whole Family Neurofeedback we use NeurOptimal® non-linear neurofeedback because it’s the most advanced system on the market and it can be done at home. This gives people the convenience and flexibility they need – no running around to extra appointments.

Designated as a general wellness product by the FDA, NeurOptimal® is a system that uses sensors to connect to your head and ears to monitor your brain patterns while you listen to music. 

The device pauses briefly when it detects any turbulence. The paused music alerts your brain back to the present. When your brain is present, it learns to correct itself. This simple self-correction helps your brain tap into its ability to change and adapt.⁹

This means more resilience and adaptability. 

Utilizing the brain’s ability to self-correct can help you:

• Manage stress better
• Become flexible and resilient – which makes what you’re dealing with easier
• Enhance learning capacity 

NeurOptimal® comes highly recommended by therapists because it’s the easiest and most efficient way to teach the brain how to self-correct. 

Unlike linear neurofeedback, you don’t even need a medical diagnosis to get started.

Sessions are done at home, they’re just a little over 30 minutes, and they don’t require you to do anything other than listen to music or watch a movie.

As a mother to a daughter with ADHD myself, Neuroptimal® Neurofeedback has changed our lives. After 10 sessions, I noticed a shift in her attention span. Little things no longer set her off. She could study and do homework for hours without struggling with her focus. It was amazing to witness.

Everyone’s journey with ADHD is different. Neurofeedback is great for the whole family because the system personalizes the results by giving your brain information about itself. Once the brain has this information, it can self-correct. 

If you’re looking for more information about NeurOptimal® Neurofeedback, if you want to connect with other parents, or learn how to manage family stress with ADHD:

Join our Facebook group: Neurofeedback moms (Dads are welcome, too!)

It’s a great space to lean into a community of parents who have similar experiences and want to support one another. 

You’ll also get:

• Research-based information to help you make the best decisions for your family
• Live sessions with experts in the therapeutic, neurofeedback and parenting fields
• Lifetime access to all live recordings– watch at your convenience!

Go ahead and join Neurofeedback moms, we’re excited to connect with you inside of the group!

References

1. Evaluation of the coexistence of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and anxiety disorder symptoms. Erogu & Lus. 2022.
2. Gender-Related Clinical Characteristics in Children and Adolescents with ADHD. Rossi, et al. 2021.
3. Sustained effects of neurofeedback in ADHD: a systematic review.  Doren, et al. 2019.
4. Evidence for Efficacy of Neurofeedback in ADHD? Arns & Strehl. 2019. 
5. Experiences of neurofeedback therapists in treating attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Oliveira, et al. 2022.
6. Clinical and Experimental Factors Influencing the Efficacy of Neurofeedback in ADHD. Bussalb, et al. 2019.
7. The Effects of QEEG-Informed Neurofeedback in ADHD: An Open-Label Pilot Study. Arns, et al. 2012.
8. Surface electroencephalographic neurofeedback improves sustained attention in ADHD. Chiu, et al. 2022.
9. Neuroplasticity: How To Rewire Your Brain. Whole Family Neurofeedback. 2022.

Disclaimer: This site contains information on general health and wellness topics. Please note that Neuroptimal® has been designated a general wellness product by the FDA. The information on this site or in any linked materials should not be construed as medical advice. The information in this article is not intended to replace any recommendations by your physician.

The post How To Manage Family Stress When Someone You Love Has ADHD appeared first on Whole Family Neurofeedback.