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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that impacts approximately 11 million children and adults in the United States. Medical researchers aren’t really sure how ADHD develops. But it is understood to be an impairment to the balance of chemical messages sent to and from the brain.
People who have ADHD are often misunderstood. They can appear to be rude, and constantly interrupting others. They can seem attention-seeking (because they are) but not in a malicious or even conscious way. A person with ADHD can be impulsive, and even reckless at times. And they may struggle significantly with activities that require planning and organization.
But as much as ADHD presents symptoms that can be hard to live with, the condition can also be a strength. Did you know that some of the most successful entrepreneurs and CEOs have ADHD? Names you would recognize like Bill Gates, Walt Disney, actors, and comedians Jim Carrey and Howie Mandel. Richard Branson speaks often about ADHD as a superpower, and so does IKEA founder and Chairman Ingvar Kamprad.
Symptoms of ADHD can be similar to autism. But ADHD is not considered a spectrum disorder. As states legalize medical cannabis, the potential of cannabis for ADHD symptom management is gaining momentum. More states are adding ADHD to the list of qualifying health conditions. And more Americans are looking at cannabis as a potential natural therapy.
Researchers Suspect Certain Childhood Experiences May Cause ADHD
Some clinical studies have suggested that childhood trauma may be a precursor to developing ADHD. Adverse childhood experiences can be centered around physical or verbal abuse, divorce, or parents struggling with addiction. There may also be a higher prevalence of children who live at or below the poverty line. The cause of ADHD may be genetic, but it can also be triggered by adverse events.
Cortisol is the stress hormone. When the human body experiences circumstantial stress, chemical signals are sent to release more cortisol. This hormone provides a boost of energy, and muscle strength. Respiration and blood pressure increases. It is the body’s natural fight or flight mechanism. But it is only designed to work occasionally, when we need to run to catch a bus, for example.
Chronic stress is not just a problem for adults. Children are prone to showing physical and emotional impairments as a result of stress. And during the developmental years leading up to puberty, stress hormones can impact the natural development of brain chemistry. The result (some studies believe) is a higher than average correlation between traumatic childhood events and diagnosis of ADHD.
Other causes of ADHD may include brain injury, exposure to environmental contaminants like lead, premature delivery, and low birth rate. Children born to mothers who abused alcohol or tobacco during pregnancy may also have a higher risk of developing ADHD.
What Are The Common Symptoms of ADHD?
Children with ADHD exhibit different behaviors. It can include acting out, or destructiveness, disagreeable moods, or yelling. The medical community in the past twenty years has learned more about ADHD as a health condition. And how to diagnose it earlier to provide therapies and support.
Many adults over the age of forty, however, may never have been diagnosed. But they know that they experience fluctuating states of energy and anxiety. Other people can mistake someone with ADHD as an extrovert, with gregarious personality traits. When in fact, the person can be struggling with significant emotional highs and bouts of mania.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is different but often confused with Bipolar Affective Disorder. While people diagnosed with bipolar have episodes of mania and high-energy, they also have very deep depressive and lethargic states. This is not common for a child or adult with ADHD. However, both bipolar disorder and ADHD share the symptoms of impulsive actions or decision making.
Some of the common symptoms of ADHD include:
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Trouble sitting still
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Excessive talking
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Problems with organizing details, schedules, or tasks
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Frequently interrupts other people conversationally
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Higher energy levels
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Making careless or frequent mistakes
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Problems focusing for longer durations on tasks
Telling someone with clinical anxiety or ADHD to ‘calm down’ is ineffective. In fact, it may cause the individual to experience worse symptoms. If someone with ADHD could self regulate, they would. It’s a question of variable brain chemistry, social or circumstantial triggers that prompt symptoms of the disorder.
Studies Suggest Cannabis Can Therapeutically Address ADHD Symptoms
The first therapeutic approach for people with ADHD is a combination of psychotherapy and pharmacology. Pills and cognitive behavioral therapy are often used to normalize symptoms for patients. Prescription medications like Ritalin for example, have been used since 1961 as a first-line therapeutic approach. Adderall is another drug commonly prescribed for ADHD.
As with all prescription medications, patients have to weigh the benefits and the risks. For many psychotropic medications, there can be side-effects. Some of the side-effects for Adderall include digestive upset, insomnia, dry mouth, headaches, and nervousness. And that doesn’t work for people who want to feel less nervous, and agitated.
Some patients have found that a low THC dose of cannabis can help reduce anxiety. That in turn, can improve focus and help the individual function at a more baseline energy level. For other people with ADHD, cannabis can increase paranoia and anxiety. That is why it is important to talk to your physician and your dispensary about strains that are best for lowering anxiety and providing relaxation.
What Kind of Cannabis Strains May be Best for Individuals with ADHD?
Many people think that all cannabis strains are the same. But an experienced toker knows that each strain has unique psychoactive properties. Some strains can promote drowsiness, and be physically and emotionally sedative. While potent Sativas can create a sense of uplifting energy, and creative thinking.
Someone who has been diagnosed with ADHD is more likely to want a calming strain of cannabis. But not necessarily sedative. If you have a busy day ahead of you, feeling sluggish or less alert isn’t an option. But there are strains that can provide significant anxiety relief. You may have to do a little online research to find your best options.
The key strain characteristics that best suit people with ADHD include:
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Happy
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Relaxed
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Creative
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Focused
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Uplifted
When you are evaluating some of the strain profiles, you will want to avoid marijuana known for causing energetic effects, or talkative. Adding more fuel to a supernova of energy (and talkativeness) would be contradictory to helping with focus and attentiveness. Two areas that (with the right strain of weed) people with ADHD can find symptom relief.
Try to avoid any strains that indicate a high probability of giggles (unless you are okay with getting goofy). Not everyone is a fan of the ‘perma smile’ effect. Or finding the office goldfish funny, for no apparent reason.
Some popular strains to address ADHD symptoms include:
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Pink Hawaiian
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Doug’s Varin
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Sinai
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Afghan Cow
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K1
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Afghanica
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Full Moon
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Citrus Sunshine Haze
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Candy Apple
If you are considering daytime use, ask your local dispensary about a lower-potency Sativa. If available in your state, edibles may be the best solution to extend the psychoactive effects of relaxation, calmness, and focus. Edibles can take between 1-2 hours before any changes are noticeable. However, as the body metabolizes the edible, it can last up to eight hours.
A low THC potency edible or tincture for daytime use may help people with ADHD take it down a few notches. To the point where they may not experience moderate to severe anxiety. A good Sativa strain is suggested for daytime use. But at the end of the day, a stronger potency Indica strain may be used to gently ‘come down’ from the day and provide better quality sleep.
Bio: Bio: Lori Reese is from Toronto, Canada, and a passionate advocate for patients with rare and chronic diseases, and access to alternative medicine. She has a background in pharmaceutical and health regulation in Canada and the United States. Lori is the Content Marketing Manager for MarijuanaDoctors.com, America’s leading medical cannabis online resource since 2010.