The Fever Lever Center

Even though the percentage of people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is likely the same as in the past, there are three likely reasons why it seems that “there is more ADHD” than ever before:

First, we become more aware of problems like this as parents than we were as a children. We have grown up now and we are more concerned about these issues since we have our own children.

Second, the news and entertainment media have talked about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder a lot more than in the past, raising our awareness levels.

Third, a recent study by the National Institute of Drug Abuse reported that 5.5% of women REPORTED using illicit drugs while they were pregnant; 18.8% REPORTED using alcohol, and 20.4% REPORTED using tobacco while pregnant. Children who were Drug Exposed in utero, or Fetal Alcohol Syndrome children, have many of the same problems as children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and are often misdiagnosed by physicians as being ADHD.

In our rural area of California it is estimated that 10% of all children born in our county were exposed to drugs or alcohol by their mothers during pregnancy.

There are no known “safe levels” of drug, alcohol, or tobacco use while pregnant. The use of drugs or alcohol are especially dangerous to the developing baby and can often cause neurological problems. When these children enter school, they often display problems with attention, impulse control, temper, learning, and behavior. They are often misdiagnosed as having a genetically based Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

However, rather than having a genetically based Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD) what they really suffer from are structural head injuries thanks to their mother’s past behaviors. ADHD is not a “fad” disorder, nor is it a conspiracy by pharmaceutical companies to get more kids on drugs. It is a very real neurological condition that is common enough as to require parents, teachers, and physicians to become better educated about its causes, the available treatment options, and the potential problems with doing nothing. Learn more about ADHD at the ADHD Information Library.

Douglas Cowan, Psy.D., is a family therapist who has been working with ADHD children and their families since 1986. He is the clinical director of the ADHD Information Library’s family of seven web sites, including http://www.newideas.net, helping over 350,000 parents and teachers learn more about ADHD each year. Dr. Cowan also serves on the Medical Advisory Board of VAXA International of Tampa, FL., is President of the Board of Directors for KAXL 88.3 FM in central California, and is President of NewIdeas.net Incorporated.

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The former head of Ford Motor Company, Donald Petersen, said that the number one reason people succeed in business, or fail, is because of “people skills.”

What are they, anyway?

People skills boil down to an ability to get along with a wide range of people, the great majority of the time.

Here are five basic people skills that everyone who wants to progress, should implement:

(1) Don’t pre-judge people based on appearances or on what somebody else has told you about them. Give everyone a chance to define or explain himself.

(2) Be a great listener. Commit to listening two thirds or more of the time. Not only will this be pleasing to others, you’ll learn something!

(3) Avoid using extreme language. Sound moderate, by saying I think, or perhaps, or possibly, instead of I know and definitely; unless you really do know, and must seem definite at that moment.

(4) Thank people, incessantly. Show your appreciation even more than you think you should.

(5) Praise the good, and always offer a solution if you’re going to identify a problem. Don’t be a complainer.

These five practices will take you far in your career, and in life.

And you may find that putting them to work does more for you than any technical information you have at your command.

Dr. Gary S. Goodman, President of Customersatisfaction.com, is a popular keynote speaker, management consultant, and seminar leader and the best-selling author of 12 books, including Reach Out & Sell Someone® and Monitoring, Measuring & Managing Customer Service. He is a frequent guest on radio and television, worldwide. A Ph.D. from USC’s Annenberg School, Gary offers programs through UCLA Extension and numerous universities, trade associations, and other organizations in the United States and abroad. He is headquartered in Glendale, California, and he can be reached at (818) 243-7338 or at: gary@customersatisfaction.com.

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Sometimes it can seem hopeless. He’s upset, she’s crying. You don’t know what’s going on or what to say. Depression can be a very random thing. Quick to anger, maudlin, lethargic. It can be a hard situation to deal with. And there you are, stuck in the middle. Looking for a way to get them out of this fog.

The best thing to do is to listen. If you think that you need to interject something, then go for it, but most importantly, just listen. Let them tell you what is going on. Let them tell you what they are feeling. They will come to you at this point and they need to be able to feel that you are supportive without putting words into their mouths.

It is also important to let them feel like they can trust you. This might be a time when your significant other becomes less secure, more apt to question you about who you are talking to on the phone or what is going on. If you can answer the questions without it being too much of an intrusion into your life, you should. It is not so much that this is a time to put your life on hold, but it is a time to recognize the needs of your significant other.

Learn to alleviate your depression at http://www.curemydepression.com

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