File Photo of a model brain

By Sam Bennison

To Your Health

October is ADHD awareness month

Oct 8, 2024 | 5:05 PM

PRINCE GEORGE— Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a developmental disorder that causes inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity and emotional dysregulation but contrary to popular belief its not because their brains can’t focus.

Judy Mitchell of JWM Counselling does ADHD life coaching and was also recently diagnosed. Her advice when it comes to combating ADHD is too break up tasks into bite sized components.

“If they’re going, I need to clean my house. No, you don’t,” says Judy Mitchell. “You need to clean your bathroom sink. That’s where you can start. If you need to do the dishes, you’ve got two days worth of dishes, do the forks. Because if we can get it started with something small, we can keep going.

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If you’re a parent who has a child with ADHD you can support them best by learning, listening and understanding.

“Your child is not trying to deliberately frustrate you, they’re overwhelmed. They are emotionally dysregulated, meaning their their emotions are all over the map,” explains Mitchell.

While people with ADHD are prone to not follow routines it’s helpful to provide your child with some especially right after school.

“The first thing they need to do is have something to eat when they come home. Then they need to disconnect because they have been so stimulated, often overstimulated in school.They need downtime. That could be a nap, that could be reading a book, that could be video games. Whatever will bring them down,” adds Mitchell.

If you need extra supports ADHD life coaching is available in Prince George.

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Email: sam.bennison@pattisonmedia.com