15 fun hobbies to make you more effective in your ADHD assessment NHS Scotland - Classified Teachers (2023)

FAQs

What hobbies are good for ADHD? ›

ADHD can be treated using medication or therapy, but a combination of both is often best. Treatment is usually arranged by a specialist, such as a paediatrician or psychiatrist, although the condition may be monitored by your GP.

Treatment. Standard treatments for ADHD in adults typically involve medication, education, skills training and psychological counseling. A combination of these is often the most effective treatment. These treatments can help manage many symptoms of ADHD , but they don't cure it.

Thousands of NHS ADHD patients are waiting up to seven years for an initial assessment, with no access to support in the meantime.

Foods rich in protein — lean beef, pork, poultry, fish, eggs, beans, nuts, soy, and low-fat dairy products — can have beneficial effects on ADHD symptoms. Protein-rich foods are used by the body to make neurotransmitters, the chemicals released by brain cells to communicate with each other.

ADHD is listed as a mental health disability in the Mental Health Act (1990).

The Five Motivators

an interest-based nervous system (motivated by what's compelling enough to get activated). He refers to the five motivating factors with the acronym INCUP: interest, novelty, challenge, urgency and passion.

What are 4 pointers to support someone with ADHD? ›

Whether they take medication or not, your child may benefit from these five natural remedies for ADHD: proper nutrition, brain-boosting supplements, physical exercise, adequate sleep, and limited screen time.

High-risk activities — driving fast, motorcycle riding, and waterskiing — motivate ADHD brains to focus. Some extreme activities, like daring ski jumps, sky-diving, or taking fast-acting street drugs, elicit a dopamine spike, the brain's most intense reward.

The effects of caffeine consumption on ADHD remain largely anecdotal. The stimulant calms some people, while increasing anxiety in others. However, many parents and adults with ADHD, (and some studies) report light to moderate caffeine use as a way to help boost focus and concentration.

“A person with ADHD must show that the ADHD symptoms substantially limit one or more major life activities, such as thinking, working, seeing, breathing, [or] walking,” he adds. The level of accommodations or benefits a person with ADHD may receive ranges depending on the severity of a person's ADHD.

You can do this by using the NHS e-Referral Service (the information comes up in a drop down menu called 'Services Near You') or by checking hospital websites – many update their waiting times at least weekly and it can be a good way to see which hospital has the capacity to see you sooner.

The current wait time for an undiagnosed adult to see a psychiatrist for ADHD after being referred from a GP on the NHS. 90 days.

Our current wait time for Adult ADHD is approximately 6 months* between initial assessment and the start of titration. We are aware of concerns that some patients are being provided titration by their consultant, and therefore do not have to wait to commence treatment with our titration service.

What are 5 foods to avoid ADHD? ›

Some of the common foods that can cause ADHD reactions include milk, chocolate, soy, wheat, eggs, beans, corn, tomatoes, grapes, and oranges. If you suspect a food sensitivity may be contributing to your child's ADHD symptoms, talk to your ADHD dietitian or doctor about trying an elimination diet.

People with ADD/ADHD tend to have low levels of dopamine, so it's a good idea to eat foods that tend to increase dopamine such as beef, poultry, fish, eggs, seeds (pumpkin and sesame), nuts (almonds and walnuts), cheese, protein powders, and green tea.

Kids with ADHD are also advised to consume foods rich in zinc and magnesium. Both of these minerals are essential in bettering ADHD symptoms. Bananas are another great source of zinc and magnesium. They are also a great evening snack.

ADHD is not on the autism spectrum, but they have some of the same symptoms. And having one of these conditions increases the chances of having the other. Experts have changed the way they think about how autism and ADHD are related.

The global consensus estimate accepted by NICE is that ADHD affects around 5% of school aged children and this means that approximately 37,000 pupils in Scotland experience difficulties as a result of the disorder.

Adults with severe ADHD symptoms may be able to receive Social Security Disability (SSD) payments. If you feel that the disorder has prevented you from keeping a job or working in any capacity because of the severity of your symptoms, you may be eligible.

This is where understanding what motivates you and your ADHD brain comes in handy because you can leverage the 4 pillars of motivation: novelty, interest, competition, and pressure, to get yourself into action.

They are what I call the 5 C's of ADHD parenting: self-Control, Compassion, Collaboration, Consistency and Celebration.

Sugar and ADHD are a poor combination. Sugar causes a release of dopamine in the brain similar to stimulant drugs. Even children without ADHD can become fidgety and inattentive after ingesting sugar. For children with ADHD, sugar can further disrupt an already dysregulated brain.

“Self-medicating” with argument is a prime example. Many people with ADHD are, if anything, argument-averse. And certainly, you needn't have ADHD to be an argumentative son of a gun. Yet, some individuals with ADHD do habitually bait others into heated disagreements.

What are the best ADHD distractions? ›

Make use of healthy distractions (stress balls)

Sometimes being able to focus excessive energy mid-task can keep your mind from wandering. Fidget gadgets, stress balls, and even chewing gum can sometimes give your brain a harmless outlet that doesn't take you away from your overall goal.

Kids with ADHD often have behavior problems. They get angry quickly, throw tantrums, and refuse to do things they don't want to do. These kids aren't trying to be bad. The problem is that ADHD can make it hard for them to do things they find difficult or boring.

Answer: Using caffeine, either in a drink or in an over-the-counter preparation, is not recommended by medical experts as a treatment for ADHD. Although some studies have shown that caffeine may improve concentration in adults with ADHD, it is not as effective as medication.

Fruit Smoothies to Boost Brain Function

Vitamin C and folate, in particular, play a direct role in helping brain function, says Lemond. Orange juice, oranges, and strawberries are all good sources of vitamin C, and they're all smoothie-friendly. For folate, try adding mango, spinach, and avocado.

These may include hyperfocus, resilience, creativity, conversational skills, spontaneity, and abundant energy. Many people view these benefits as “superpowers” because those with ADHD can hone them to their advantage.

While people with neurotypical brains can easily have and sustain a hobby, some adults with ADHD may struggle. They might easily lose interest in the activity or impulsively decide to try another one.

ADHD brains overflow with creativity, passion, and excitement — especially for new experiences. They seek out stimulation and then hyperfocus on the source when they find it. One end result: For adults with ADHD, hobbies often accelerate from interests into obsessions in T-minus one week.

Sugar and other high carb foods boost dopamine levels in the brain, leading us to crave them more often when dopamine levels are low. Since kids with ADHD have chronically low levels of dopamine, they are more likely than other kids to crave and eat sugary or carbohydrate-heavy foods.

When starting a hobby, our ADHD brain tends to release "dopamine," a happy hormone. However, these hormones don't last long enough for us to continue mastering our craft. Once the reward centers in our brains are no longer feeling activated by the activity, the dopamine wears off and we start to lose interest.

How do you keep someone with ADHD entertained? ›

Feeling restless and needing to stay active

That need to always be busy and doing something is the adult equivalent of hyperactivity that is common in kids with ADHD.

If, on the other hand, an individual with ADHD loses interest in an activity, his nervous system disengages, in search of something more interesting. Sometimes this disengagement is so abrupt as to induce sudden extreme drowsiness, even to the point of falling asleep.

The five gifts of ADHD include creativity, emotional sensitivity, exuberance, interpersonal empathy, and being nature-smart (The Gift of Adult ADD, 2008).

Some of the common foods that can cause ADHD reactions include milk, chocolate, soy, wheat, eggs, beans, corn, tomatoes, grapes, and oranges. If you suspect a food sensitivity may be contributing to your child's ADHD symptoms, talk to your ADHD dietitian or doctor about trying an elimination diet.

Getting enough sleep, exercising, listening to music, meditating, and spending time in the sun can all boost dopamine levels. Overall, a balanced diet and lifestyle can go a long way in increasing your body's natural production of dopamine and helping your brain function at its best.

Eat Nutritious Food

Experts say that whatever is good for the brain is likely to be good for ADHD. You may want to eat: A high-protein diet. Beans, cheese, eggs, meat, and nuts can be good sources of protein.