adhd and stress

Neuro-Linguistic Learning Center

Helping Children, Teens and Adults Succeed in the 21st Century

ADHD and Stress

Is your child suffering from undo stress? Does he struggle with fear, anxiety, nervousness or anxiety?

Today, more and more children are exhibiting considerable signs of stress, particularly with respect to education. For many children, this higher level of stress seems to be directly interfering with their ability to learn.

In addition, children predisposed to conditions like ADD or ADHD are especially susceptible to the effects of stress. These children are twice as likely to abuse alcohol and drugs and four times likely to get in trouble with law enforcement.

Of even greater concern is that these higher levels of stress seem to be occurring at earlier and earlier ages. Many children as young as 5 or 6 years old are exhibiting the effects of higher levels of stress. Under the “No Child Left Behind Act” and the mistaken belief that learning earlier is better, more children are being forced to accept greater academic responsibilities, even as early as 3 and 4 years old.

Many members of the American Pediatrics Association have subsequently spoken out against the “No Child Left Behind Act” because of the physical and emotional toll it seems to be taking on many or our children.

When a child (or adult) is under stress, his ability to store, process and recall information is greatly reduced. His ability to respond thoughtfully with reason and logic may also be impaired. He may have difficulty focusing or paying attention in class. While this hyper-alert, reactive mode may be appropriate to activities such as snow-boarding, skate-boarding or playing video games, it does not serve a child well in the classroom.

The long-term effects of stress can be debilitating and even dangerous. Children often develop a negative attitude towards school and learning. Despite his intelligence, he can’t understand why school and life seem to getter harder every year. As his struggles with learning increase, his frustration grows. Stress levels increase. His confidence and self-esteem begin to suffer. As the child grows, he may seek relief through alcohol or drugs.

So what can we do to help our children overcome stress? (click here)