Aahana (name changed on request), 16 years old, is a high-school student in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis-Wisconsin) who came to the United States as a child. She has an older sibling who has been a straight A student and is now in medical school. However, Aahana has always struggled with her performance in school. She has been shamed by her family and Indian-origin peers who have excelled in school. Her poor performance was always attributed to her laziness and a lack of applying herself.
In addition, Ahana has always been compared to her elder sister who is an overachiever. Both her parents are tenured university professors and quite successful in their fields. She has always felt worthless until this past month when she was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and now she is all confused. She approached us for more insights into her condition.
Question: What is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)?
Dr. Sharma: Aahana, it is not unusual for children and adolescents to feel anxious or inattentive. It is also normal for children to have trouble focusing and behaving. However, children with ADHD do not grow out of this pattern and it is considered a neuro-developmental disorder. However, I do not like the word “disorder” and would rather use the word “human condition.”
A child, a teen, or even an adult with this human condition may dream a lot, forget or lose things a lot, fidget a lot, talk too much, make careless mistakes, have a difficult time resisting temptations, have difficulty socializing, and so on. It is often undiagnosed.
Question: What causes ADHD?
Dr. Sharma: The causes of ADHD are unknown. However, there are certain risk factors such as genetics, injury to the brain, use of alcohol or drugs during pregnancy by the mother, premature delivery, low birth weight, and exposure to environmental toxins such as lead. More research is underway on this human condition.
Question: Am I inferior to my peers and my sister because of this condition?
Dr. Sharma: Absolutely not! Aahana, you have to understand that all human beings are different and are endowed with differing capabilities. There is a “Model Minority” myth in the United States about us Indian immigrants – that all of us are high achievers and if we do not live up to that standard, we are inferior or failures. This is a totally erroneous concept. There is nothing to be ashamed about this condition.
Just like all humans on this planet, we are all shades of different colors with each one of us having our own unique talents, aptitudes, and abilities. So, no one person should be compared to another person. Nor should we feel inferior or superior to anyone. We all have an important role to play in this universe.
Question: How can I manage this condition?
Dr. Sharma: It is very important for teens with this condition to develop healthy lifestyles and take medication and behavioral therapy as prescribed by the treating healthcare provider. I will not talk about the medical measures and leave that to the healthcare professionals.
In a healthy lifestyle, the first thing is healthy eating. This should include eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, eating in moderation, following the MyPlate plan as recommended by the United States Department of Agriculture, avoiding sugar-sweetened beverages and sugary foods as they add to hyperactivity, and drinking plenty of water.
The next aspect of a healthy lifestyle is regular physical activity which should aim at building flexibility, strength, and endurance as appropriate to one’s age. The next aspect is limiting screen time from TVs, computers, phones, video games, and so on. Finally, 8-10 hours of sleep every night is essential to all teens particularly in this condition.
Question: Is there any way based on Indian Philosophy to help this condition?
Dr. Sharma: Indian philosophy has given the techniques of yoga and meditation to the world. These techniques can be very helpful for teens with this condition. Meditation is a great way to calm the mind and develop focus. You can meditate on your breath – just observe your own inhalation and exhalation without any exertion. You can meditate on a syllable such as “Aum” by internal silent repetition. You can just calmly observe your thoughts and feelings in any given moment without judging them. Besides these, there are other ways of increasing concentration and calming the mind which you can learn with the help of a trained teacher.
Question: How can my family and friends help me?
Dr. Sharma: The role of family and friends is crucial. Your parents have an important role to play and should not push you to be an overachiever. You can share this column with them and ask for their unconditional love and understanding. If you wish you could choose to be open about your condition with your friends if you believe them to be supportive. Some people with this condition like to share their experiences on social media and form support groups. These are some of the options for sharing, but ultimately it is your decision. It is a private condition and nobody has any business to know about it if you do not want to share.
Question: Can you refer me to some resources in this area?
Dr. Sharma: Here are some resources from where you can find more information:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Informational website on Attention deficit Hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- United States Department of Agriculture’s MyPlate information
- Meditation and yoga for ADHD
- Physical activity guidelines for school-aged children and adolescents
- Screen time recommendations by age chart
If you have questions, reach out to Dr. Sharma at editor@indiacurrents.com
Further reading:
Read the following articles relating to ADHD also on our website.
Symptoms of ADHD and ADHD and Learning Disabilities.
Photo by Pradeep Ranjan on Unsplash
