2022 | depression hurts us

Is There A Link Between ADHD And Lying?

Post author:admin
Post published:June 29, 2022
Post category:POSTS

Last Update on June 29, 2022 : Published on June 29, 2022

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or more commonly known as ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that may cause one to engage in impulsive, inattentive, and hyperactive behaviors.

According to the CDC, in the United States, more than 9% of children aged 2-17 are diagnosed with ADHD. Among this number, boys were diagnosed more than girls. Among the symptoms of ADHD, the three common symptoms include impulsivity, hyperactivity, and inattention. Experts also believe that among the consequences of ADHD symptoms, lying can be one of them.

While it’s not proven yet, some believe there’s a connection there. Some ADHD kids (and even adults) frequently lie but not all ADHD individuals lie. Some individuals are even honest to a point which can cause some distinct problems. But those with ADHD lie often, it can soon become a habit.

ADHD Brain And Lying

The part of the brain called the caudate nucleus was studied by a group of researchers. This part of the brain is responsible for combining information over different parts of the brain. This part of the brain also helps with cognitive functions including memories.

This research also indicates that this particular part of the brain is smaller with people with ADHD. Such as, in children with ADHD, there’s trouble with executive functions. Executive functions can help an individual manage time, pay attention, plan, organize, remember, and even multitask.

Why Do People With ADHD Lie?

For children with ADHD, lying itself isn’t an indicator that they are being dishonest. For many, lying can be a symptom of their ADHD. When you ask your child to clean up, they may later insist you never said that but it isn’t their fault. They may just not remember that you asked something of them at all.

Some children with ADHD may even lie to stay out of trouble. For example, if you ask them if they’re done with their homework, they may say they have when they haven’t. If your ADHD kid finds the work troubling, they may lie as they think they can avoid doing their work.

A psychologist from Utah explains that teens and adults with ADHD may react first without thinking, especially under stress. This kind of reaction may cause them to lie to avoid responsibility. While there’s limited evidence on the theory that ADHD causes one to lie or exaggerate, there are other personalities and mental health disorders that may cause one to lie or at least increase the risk of lying.

Some adults with ADHD may even develop a habit of pathological lying or compulsive lying. Lying, in itself, is not harmful but it can still cause some irreparable damage.

One example can be; that you may find it hard to focus on a conversation and that may cause you to lie to conceal your disinterest. You may lie or pretend to be interested in the conversation to avoid hurting others’ feelings.

Another reason why ADHD and lying may be connected is that people with ADHD have poor memory and may easily forget about something. To avoid judgment from others, they may lie and say they didn’t forget. To their loved ones, this may look like lying and in some cases, chronic lying.

Other common reasons why ADHD adults (or teens) may lie can include:

Masking an impulsive action that caused unpleasant consequences
Forgetting an event and later lying to pretend that they remembered
Answering impulsively without thinking much
Lying to avoid judgment from peers
Telling white lies because they find expressing themselves challenging
Making promises they can’t keep out of impulse

Other executive function impairments can also make it difficult for ADHD adults and kids to process certain information, understand, and respond accurately. This can cause miscommunication and misinterpretation that can be viewed as lying.

Tips For Helping With ADHD And Lying

If your ADHD kid lies:

There are some simple and constructive ways to help your child control lying. Chronic or pathological lying can get your child in trouble and can even cause low self-esteem.

Try to look for patterns of lying in your child and help them if you see them struggling with their ADHD and lying. For example, if your child has trouble completing a chore, tell them the steps they need to take.

If your child lies because of their ADHD, then avoid shaming them with the knowledge. Instead, ask them why they lied and help them understand that there are things they can do differently than lie about them. Teach them the consequences of lying and how important it is that they speak the truth.

If your ADHD child lie, then do not take the lie personally. If your child’s ADHD and lying are connected then make sure you help them turn toward more constructive and healthy coping mechanisms instead of lying.

If you’re prone to lying:

If you have ADHD and are prone to lying, then you can follow these coping tips:

Ask for professional help. Therapy, ADHD medication, and even learning new coping skills can help manage the symptoms of ADHD enough to control your lying
Try to be as truthful as you can in a given situation
Try to read ADHD books and material on how you can control your ADHD lying
Try to reduce as much as distractions in a conversation to stay focused
You can also try to think before you speak. This way you’ll form the right response in your mind before you respond impulsively

Wrap Up

While there’s no evidence that ADHD and lying are connected, there’s still a small chance that people with ADHD use lying as a coping mechanism to cover up their symptoms of ADHD such as impulsivity and hyperactivity. Sometimes, this can be a conscious decision but other times, it can be a subconscious decision to lie.

With the right help and treatment, people with ADHD can get help for unhealthy behavior and coping mechanisms. If you or your child is struggling with ADHD and lying, then talking to mental health professionals can help.

About The Author

Swarnakshi Sharma

Swarnakshi is a content writer at Calm sage, who believes in a healthier lifestyle for mind and body. A fighter and survivor of depression, she strives to reach and help spread awareness on ending the stigma surrounding mental health issues. A spiritual person at heart, she believes in destiny and the power of Self.

Is Mindfulness Biblical?

Post author:admin
Post published:June 13, 2022
Post category:POSTS

How to spot signs of anxiety in children

Post author:admin
Post published:May 14, 2022
Post category:POSTS

Learn about the warning signs of worry and stress in kids so that you can step in to offer support

Anxiety is simply an activation in our nervous system that we also call the fight or flight response. It warns us against imminent physical danger, such as a car coming towards you as you are crossing the road, or when perceived psychological danger, such as a big exam, is approaching.

Some childhood anxieties can be completely age-appropriate. For example, very young children, under three years old, may have separation anxiety – they may cry when separated from their parents or carer, and become clingy. Some children, particularly preschoolers, may develop fears such as being scared of the dark, or not wanting to use the toilet seat. And school-aged children may feel anxious, particularly if they are in a new situation or a new environment – such as when starting at a new school, or before a presentation or exam. These are all part of their normal daily life, and it’s OK to feel this way.

But, anxiety becomes a problem for children when it starts to get in the way of their everyday life. This might present as them refusing to go to school, or starting to experience psychosomatic symptoms like headaches and stomach aches, or beginning to avoid big events.

You may notice some changes in your child’s behaviours recently, and are wondering whether your child is experiencing anxiety or not. You might be asking what the signs of anxiety in children are, and how can you support them? Here, we explore some common signs to watch out for.

1. Excessive anxiety and worry

Your child may lack the confidence to try new things or seem unable to face simple, everyday challenges. If this is the case, and you know a change such as a house move is coming up, prepare your child by talking to them about what is going to happen and why.

2. Inability to control fear or worry

Having a lot of negative thoughts, or constantly thinking that bad things are going to happen to them, starting to avoid everyday activities, and having overly high expectations for their schoolwork, homework, and sports performance can be signs that they’re not able to control their worries. Try not to become overprotective or anxious yourself. Practise simple relaxation techniques with your child, such as taking three deep, slow breaths – breathing in for a count of three, and out for three.

3. Restlessness

Constantly fidgeting or squirming can be an external sign of anxiety. Having some sensory or fidget toys may help your child to calm their minds, and redirect their energy, and there are plenty of different options available to purchase easily online.

4. Agitation and irritability

Anxious children may become irritable, tearful, or clingy – or have angry outbursts, including tantrums and crying. Reassure them and show them that you understand how they feel. As well as talking to your child about their worries and anxiety, it’s important to help them find solutions. Teach your child to recognise signs of anxiety in themselves.

5. Sleep disruption

Having difficulty sleeping, waking in the night, starting to wet the bed, having bad dreams, and difficulty settling down for bed can all be signals of anxiety. Children of all ages find routines reassuring, so try to stick to regular daily routines where possible. Worry jars are particularly helpful for children, where they can write down on paper anything that’s worrying them, and put these thoughts into a jar. Pintrest has a lot of creative ideas on this. Then you go through the papers/worries together at the end of the day or week.

6. Somatic symptoms

Anxiety can often come with physical, somatic symptoms, such as headaches, stomach aches, and muscle tension. If your child is old enough, it may help to explain the physical effects anxiety has on our bodies. It could also be useful to describe anxiety as being like a wave that builds up, and then ebbs away again.

7. Avoidance

Refusing to go to school, meltdowns before school about minor things such as clothing, hair, or shoes, and meltdowns after school about homework are things to watch out for. Encourage your child to manage their anxiety and ask for help when they need it. If your child is anxious because of distressing events, such as a bereavement or separation, look for books or films that will help them to understand their emotions.

Support the Inclusion of Postpartum Psychosis as a Unique Diagnosis in the DSMV

Post author:admin
Post published:February 14, 2022
Post category:POSTS

Last year, Margaret Spinelli, MD wrote about a proposal to the DSM-V committee of the American Psychiatric Association arguing for the inclusion of postpartum psychosis as a unique diagnosis based on its distinct clinical presentation. She will be soon be presenting this information to the DSM Committee in order to recognize “Postpartum Psychosis” as a unique diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).

Recognizing postpartum psychosis as a unique psychiatric diagnosis is not just about words. Recognizing the unique and unusual features of postpartum psychosis will ensure that women with this disorder will receive appropriate treatment.

Read more about why postpartum psychosis is unique HERE.

This effort is supported by the Postpartum Psychosis Taskforce of Postpartum Support International. You can support this effort by signing this petition.

Postpartum Psychosis Awareness Day will be May 6. To learn more, CLICK HERE.

Spinelli M. Postpartum psychosis: a diagnosis for the DSMV. Arch Women’s Ment Health. 2021 Sep 8.

Male Mental Health – News-Medical.net

Post author:admin
Post published:February 14, 2022
Post category:POSTS

Mental health is among the most essential requirements for well-being and high quality of life. The symptoms of mental illness may appear different in men and women, making it a challenge to diagnose some mental conditions in men compared to women.

*Male mental health. Image Credit: Chinnapong/Shutterstock.com*

With depression, for instance, men may be angry or irritable and may be extremely reluctant to seek help, thinking of it as a weakness and not an illness.

Risk factors for mental health in men

Several things can trigger mental ill-health in men, including separation, divorce and other relationship problems; financial stress; pressures at or associated with the workplace; not having productive or paying work; illness; isolation; becoming a father; and drug or alcohol abuse.

Types of mental health issues in men

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is known to occur in a significant proportion of people who have witnessed war, violence or other dangerous events. It can result in distrust, frequent flashbacks to the distressing event, nightmares, emotional detachment or numbness, and suicidal ideation. Approximately 60% of men have a history of such events in their lives.

However, where women frequently become anxious or jittery as a result, men tend to lash out and become aggressive or take to drinking or drug abuse.

Depression is common among men and women. Both sexes complain of overwhelming sadness and irritability for most of the time, on most days of the week. Along with this, they have difficulty in focus, over-sleeping or insomnia, isolating oneself from others who were formerly close, appetite changes, somatic symptoms and feelings of guilt, hopelessness and poor self-worth. Suicidal thoughts and a general loss of interest in life are also commonplace in these patients.

Depression in men is reported less commonly than in women, who account for the majority of cases. Even so, up to a tenth of men have symptoms of depression and anxiety, but only one in two of these men sought help. Men with depression tend not to speak about it or to disclose their suicidal thoughts, even a little. As with PTSD, they turn into angry or aggressive people instead.

Body image disorders or eating disorders in men also affect them differently from women. Men with an eating disorder are obsessive about counting calories and may work out excessively. With body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), men may pay excessive attention to their muscle development, the size of their sex organs, their hair, or skin, these being uncommon foci of attention for women.

Bipolar depression includes the symptoms of depression, but also of mania, when the person becomes highly euphoric and feels very energetic. During this phase, easy distractibility, excessive talking, increased speed of thoughts and words, wakefulness for days together, building grandiose plans, and displaying risky behavior. Men tend to show problems with relationships, work, sex and money, and this may be reflected in angry behavior, substance abuse or suicidal ideation.

Binge drinking is twice as common in men, and drinking is related to higher rates of associated hospitalizations and deaths in men than in women. Alcohol is more frequently used by men before committing suicide.

Differences with Mental Illness in Men

Mental illness in a man can be deadly. It affects almost every activity of daily living, work, relationships, in appearance, and multiple areas of health.

Why do men speak less about mental illness? One reason is that men hate to admit weakness. Having to tell someone else, even a therapist, about feeling depressed most of the time is tantamount to being too weak to handle their own problems, for men. They feel, perhaps rightly, that just as they would judge one of their own for describing such symptoms, they themselves will be judged – by their friend, their therapist, their pharmacist, and anyone else who might come to know the truth.

But the truth is that mental illness is an illness that cannot be cured simply by wishing it away or ignoring it. It eats away at one’s ability to live normally, causes deterioration of one’s productivity, sanity, and finally will to live, in the most extreme cases.

In fact, suicide is four times more common among men than women and is currently rising in the USA, even though it is already among the leading causes of death. About 84% of suicides with a history of mental illness occurred among men. This emphasizes the need to get a proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment, by professionals trained to treat mental health problems.

Management

Managing men with mental health issues includes encouraging them to bring up disturbing symptoms, and helping them find alternative ways to express their sad and vulnerable feelings such as taking a time out, deep breathing or simply counting to 10.

Stress management, self-care, healthy habits, arranging for regular times away from stressful situations such as caring for sick people, and ensuring that they do not hurt themselves or other people during acute episodes are key aspects of caring for these men. Weapons and ammunition should be removed from the house in this case, to be stored in a secure place without access by the man in question, to be returned once things stabilize.

As one expert explains, “We need to talk openly about mental health. Suffering in silence isn’t a safe or healthy option for the men in our lives.” Asking men how they feel during times of great stress or change, watching for behavioral alterations and symptoms of mental illness, support, and getting them to share their feelings with trained professionals, are important steps to getting down the rate of suicide and of general misery among men due to mental health issues.