The ADD Thought ProcessA Remix by: Alex Schuen

DISCLAIMER Attention Deficit Disorder=A.D.D.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder=A.D.H.D.

A.D.H.D.=A.D.D.

Why Map a Thought?

The process of using your mind to consider something carefully - definition of “thought process”

A unique process to members of my community

Shows how the same product can still be achieved

Meet the Community

Question If I’m hyperactive or I

can’t focus, doesn’t that mean I have ADD?

Answer Everybody has times of high

energy, or inattentiveness, but ADD is more complex than just the occasional lack of motivation. ADD is a disorder that involves impairments in focus, organization, motivation, emotional control, memory, and other functions of the brain’s management system, over an extended period of time.

The Typical Myth

Myth ADD is just a lack of

willpower. People with ADD focus well on things that interest them; they could focus on any other tasks if they really wanted to.

Fact ADD looks very much

like a willpower problem, but it isn’t. It’s essentially a chemical problem in the management systems of the brain.

Genetics

Question What is the genetic

connection to ADD?

Answer While there is not a

specific gene that codes for the disease, recent studies have shown that people with ADD commonly have a variation of a gene known as the DRD4 gene. This gene is associated with a Dopamine receptor in the brain.

Other Psychological Conditions

Myth Someone can’t have

ADD and also have depression, anxiety, or other psychiatric problems.

Fact A person with ADD is six

times more likely to have another psychiatric or learning disorder than most other people. ADD usually overlaps with other disorders.

Putting into Perspective

Fact A classroom with 30

students will have between 1 and 3 students with ADD

MSU Equivalent MSU has about 45,000

students, so that makes at least 1,500 of them to be diagnosed with ADD

Gender

Myth ADD is only found in

men.

Fact Recent studies have

found ADD in females also, however the symptoms appear different or less physically apparent in females than in males. ADD is more often found in males than females. The ratio is about 3 to 1.

Medication

Question What does ADD

medication even do?

Answer Stimulant medication

such as Ritalin and Adderall help to strengthen a weak Dopamine system in the brain of somebody with ADD.

Drug Abuse

Question What consequences

come about if you abuse ADD stimulants?

Answer High doses of

stimulants can cause irregular heartbeats, dangerously high body temperatures or cardiovascular issues (seizures, failure).

The Big Idea

People with ADD may take a longer time with their thought process but the same end result can still be achieved!

Thank You