10 yr old has a question? - ADD / ADHD Message Board

Fuzzybrain · 10-24-2004, 05:23 PM

i'm Lloyd. I'm new and I just got diagnosed and I sometimes can't think and other times I'm really nervous and jumpy. What can I do to calm down?

(this isn't his real name, he wanted a "fake one" like everyone else.

ANy advice for the little guy?

Sincerely, Fuzzybrain

flintrock · 10-24-2004, 06:49 PM

Hi. Well, just remember you are not alone. I am an adult and I have the same problem. What I do when I feel jittery and nervous is take a deep breath.....and whatever I am trying to do like read, answer questions on a paper, I just try and concentrate on "one" thing.....and let the rest go. Because we are not able to concentrate on a lot of stuff at the same time. If you have a paper to do and it's 5 paragraphs long, cover up all but one paragraph and do that one. Then uncover one more...and do that one.....take things one step at a time........that's what I do!! Good luck!!!!!!

Z'sMom · 10-25-2004, 03:25 PM

Taking a yoga class is helpful...or a karate class. Anything that helps you learn breath control & self-focus and/or actualization.

Also, make doing homework, studying for tests as routine as possible. Keep all your study materials in a "homework survival kit", study in the same place, use timers & rewards to keep motivated. Break large tasks down into smaller, less intimidating ones. Burn off excess energy by taking a "jog" break when it gets to be too hard to control the fidgits.

Try to channel how you feel at the moment into the work you're doing. If you're resenting the amount of math homework, make it a "game" where you see how much you can do in 15 minutes and then try to "beat" your own "score". If a parent can help with homework, have them come up with creative ways for you to learn or study (writing on windows with dry erase markers, doing treasure hunts for spelling, making up silly stories with vocab words, etc.).

The more learning is focused on POSTIVES, the easier it will be to stay focused. Create multiple ways for the child to 'succeed' within an assignment.

kabuki713 · 10-25-2004, 05:27 PM

I think the one of the only ways I survived my childhood (and part of my adulthood) life with undiagnoised, severe ADHD was that wheh I was younger I got lots of exercise.

I didn't end up with huge amounts of candy and sweets including soda, I didn't plant too much in front of the tv, there weren't any video games in the house. I played outdoors much of the time regardless of the season. It made a huge difference.
Best of luck to you!