&
ADHD (Attention Deficit & Hyperactive Disorder)
In research done in various countries, it has been found that close to 20% of school children suffer from Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD). The number of boys is 3 times higher than that of girls. Modern medicine diagnoses this as an emotional/physical disorder. These phenomena are considered genetic, and physicians often recommend medication. During their school years and even during college, many of them do not achieve high grades, since study requires a high level of concentration with which they have difficulty.
Unfortunately, the majority of those who have ADD, and especially those who have ADHD, feel inferior in comparison with others. As a result, some feel low self-esteem. A well-known saying is: “Knowledge is Power.” This means that when children or adults with ADD and ADHD understand why nature causes many people to experience these phenomena, and what the advantages and disadvantages are in modern society, this understanding enables them to develop
self-acceptance and self-love. In addition, self-acceptance facilitates and even encourages control over the phenomenon, since it causes deficiency in functionality or in the functionality of those around them.
Whenever peoples feel stress from nearby noise or from intrusive thoughts, the sympathetic nervous system goes into action, preparing the person for flight or flight. A detailed explanation can be found on this website in the chapters entitled: "Fight or Flight" and "Anxiety Helped Survival."
While a person is relaxed, the Para-sympathetic nervous system goes into action, and the person feels relaxed. One of the typical phenomena during stressful situations is loss of ability to concentrate. In my opinion, this term is erroneous. We do not lose the power of concentration, but rather we expand our point of view to all directions. As the explanation on the website clarifies, these phenomena can be compared to a computer program that God or Nature created in the brains of all people. This program was intended to contribute to the survival of prehistoric human beings who lived in forests for more than four million years.
In the forest, many animals attack as a group. A number of animals stand opposite the attacked animal, some on either side, and others from behind. When our ancestors, went to hunt and a group of animals surrounded them, they should not focus their attention on one of the predators but to look around them.
The assumption is that people who were born with ADD & ADHD, were the best hunters and were chosen to be the leaders of the group. Unfortunately, this “computer program” does not help modern people, who withdrew from the forest about ten-thousand years ago and started to develop agriculture, language, writing, and diverse culture. In modern society, concentration power is a highly important tool during years of study and even in a great many work-places.
Typical phenomena of people with ADD which deter school activity
Obviously, not every student who has ADD experiences all these symptoms.
• Difficulty in concentrating in school.
• Not obeying the teacher’s instructions.
• Difficulty in organizing various tasks.
• Tendency toward not completing activities.
• Difficulty in concentrating on a test when there is noise in the room or even outside it.
• Multiple errors in homework and on tests.
Typical phenomena of people with ADHD
Obviously, not every student who has ADHD experiences all these symptoms.
• Hand or leg movement during class.
• Running around in many directions during recess.
• Tendency to talk to oneself or to others nearby during class.
• Tendency to jump-in before other students with an answer to a teacher’s question.
• Tendency to interrupt while another student is addressing the class.
Positive characteristics of ADD or ADHD in modern society.
Above-average intelligence level. A large portion of those with ADD or ADHD tendency have an above-average intelligence level.
Strong energy. A large portion of those with ADD or ADHD tendency have a high level of energy. They apply it to subjects which interest them and in which they are talented, such as: Success in commerce, which includes buying and selling of diverse products, success in stock-market investment, or in sport competitions.
Creativity. A large portion of those with ADD & HDAD tendency invest energy in trying to change existing things. They tend to become bored with routine things, so their mind wanders toward improvement of existing products.
Tendency to act in a daring manner. A large portion of those with ADD or ADHD tendency have an above-average daring personality (It’s important to look at the chapter:
Cautious vs Daring.)
As a result, they tend to take financial risks, such as financial investments and starting new enterprises. Many of them are very successful financially, despite occasional failure at a higher rate than people who do not have ADD or ADHD.
Management of enterprises, diverse companies, and even high political positions.
Since the intelligence level of those with ADD & ADHD is high, their energy level is high, they are creative and tend to act in a daring manner, they are appointed to function as managers of enterprises and of diverse companies. At times, they even achieve high political positions. On the other hand, since these people sometimes have difficulty restraining themselves, subconsciously they choose as a chief assistant, someone who has the opposite personality. That is to say, a person who has high concentration power. This person knows how to apply positive brakes, when he thinks that the daring excessiveness may damage their activity.
Coping with ADD & ADHD during Preparation for an exam and during the exam itself.
Despite the fact that ADD & ADHD can damage the activities of children and of adults, unfortunately it is not possible to delete this “program” from the brain computer, but it is possible, with the aid of various methods, to lessen it and to decrease its intensity. As a result, the person calms down, and attention and concentration abilities return.
Since the expression is “Knowledge is Power”, it is important that every student who has ADD or ADHD, understand during exam preparation and the exam itself that the occurrence of turning attention toward a sudden noise is completely normal. The goal of distraction from concentration is to discover the focus of the noise. As soon as we discover that the noise is not dangerous, logic causes the Para-sympathetic nervous system to function, thus calming down, and the power of concentration returns. Pre-historic man, due to his experience as hunter, learned to distinguish between types of noise stemming from real danger, such as a predator, versus noise that is not dangerous, such as a flock of birds flying from a tree, causing a sudden noise. Since concentration disorders stem from stress that a predator may be threatening us, it is important to use logic and to convince ourselves that the noise nearby is not dangerous, as in the forest, and we are able to calm down.
The best way to cope with concentration disorders while preparing for an exam or during the exam itself, is with the help of two methods described on the website:
"Deep Breathing"
&
"Muscle Relaxation."
These methods increase oxygen flow and blood to the brain, thus improving concentration and relaxing the entire body. In order to practice applying these methods during the exam, practicing them a number of times a day for several days before each exam is recommended.
It is important to implement these methods in different situations and very delicately, so that a person standing across from us would not notice that we are breathing at a rate different from the usual or that we are contracting certain organs. On our way to the exam room, it is advisable to do some “relaxation breathing” while walking. While seating ourselves on the exam chair, and even before receiving the exam form, it is important to take a few “relaxation breaths” again and perhaps to incorporate contracting the two legs, in a way that is unnoticeable to the students nearby. After finishing a question, it is important to breathe at least one “relaxation breath”. If we encounter a question that is difficult to answer, or the moment any stress symptoms occur, it is important to breathe “relaxation breaths” until we calm down.
Methods contributing to improved concentration during the exam, despite noises around us or excessive worries.
• Convince ourselves that we are not in the forest and the noise near us is not dangerous but
derives from a small bird flying from a tree.
• Breathe one relaxation breath any time we feel loss of concentration.
• Breathe one breath, incorporating contraction of both legs. This method contributes toward
increase of blood flow to the brain.
Articles on ADHD
ADHD and Evolution: Were Hyperactive Hunter-Gatherers Better Adapted Than Their Peers?
https://www.healthline.com/health/adhd/evolution#1
The Benefits of ADHD
https://www.healthline.com/health/adhd/benefits-of-adhd#1
Assessing Normalcy in an Abnormal Environment
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/freedom-learn/201007/adhd-school-assessing-normalcy-in-abnormal-environment
9 Tips for Managing ADHD Mood Swings
https://www.healthline.com/health/adhd/tips-managing-adhd-mood-swings#1
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Translation from Hebrew by Ruth A. Rin, Alef Bet Translation,
www.AlefBetHebrewTranslationAndTutoring.com