Developing focus and stillness

While ADHD can occur in any person at any age, some risk factors predispose a person to develop ADHD. The more risk factors a person has higher the probability of developing this disorder. Those most likely to be diagnosed with ADHD are-
1) Young children and adolescents are most likely to develop ADHD with boys three times more likely to have ADHD than girls although the reason for this is not well understood. In the adult population as well, more men are affected by this disorder than women.
2) Genetics - A person having a close relative such as either one or both parents, an identical twin, or a sibling with ADHD or another mental health disorder.
3)  Babies who have been exposed to toxins in the womb, for example a person whose mother consumed alcohol, drugs, nicotine or smoked during pregnancy is also at higher risk of developing ADHD.

Yoga is often suggested as a complementary or alternative therapy for individuals with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). While it may not be a standalone treatment, incorporating yoga into a comprehensive ADHD management plan can offer various benefits. Here are some ways in which yoga can help individuals with ADHD:

1. Mind-Body Connection: Yoga emphasizes the connection between the mind and body. Through mindful movement, breath control, and meditation, individuals with ADHD may enhance their awareness of their bodies and develop better self-regulation.
2. Focus and Concentration: The practice of yoga often involves concentration on specific postures (asanas) or breath patterns. This can help improve attention and focus, which are commonly challenging for individuals with ADHD.
3. Stress Reduction: Yoga is well-known for its stress-relieving effects. Engaging in yoga practices can reduce cortisol levels and promote a sense of calm. Managing stress is crucial for individuals with ADHD, as stress can exacerbate symptoms.
4. Improved Self-Control: Many yoga postures require a level of discipline and control. Regular practice can help individuals with ADHD develop better self-regulation and impulse control, essential skills for managing ADHD symptoms.
5. Balancing Energy Levels: Yoga involves a combination of energizing and calming postures. This can help balance the energy levels in individuals with ADHD, providing a structured and constructive way to release excess energy.
6. Enhanced Executive Function: Executive functions, such as planning, organization, and time management, can be challenging for individuals with ADHD. Yoga practices that involve sequencing and coordination may help improve these executive functions over time.
7. Sensory Integration: Many individuals with ADHD also experience sensory processing challenges. Yoga can provide sensory input through various movements and positions, contributing to improved sensory integration.
8. Sleep Quality: ADHD is often associated with sleep difficulties. The relaxation techniques incorporated in yoga, particularly at the end of a session during the "savasana" or corpse pose, can promote better sleep quality.
9. Social Interaction: Group yoga classes provide a structured social environment, fostering a sense of community and belonging. This can be particularly beneficial for individuals with ADHD, as social support plays a crucial role in overall well-being.

Since ADHD has a high occurrence among young children and adolescents, it is bound to cause concern to parents of children with ADHD. When parents realise their child has ADHD, it is going to make them worry about the child's behaviour, normal development, performance at school, social circle at school, and out of school. They may even be stressed about their child getting involved in situations that can cause trouble or danger to the child and possibly others due to the child's unexpected behaviour or actions.
Parents may blame themselves for their child's condition or bad behaviour and may experience guilt and shame from any adverse social interaction involving their child. A child's ADHD may even create situations of conflict between the parents for various reasons that can include differences of opinion regarding the course of treatment and ways of disciplining the child, and they may even face a dilemma if they have another child without ADHD who may feel resentful about their parent appearing more lenient towards their sibling with ADHD. The sibling without ADHD may view this as the parent being less loving towards them. All of these can put a strain on family dynamics.
ADHD in adults can have a negative impact on their relationships, friendships, and people in their social circle.
A person with ADHD has poor stress response. So situations that raise their stress can cause angry outbursts with corresponding actions such as slamming doors, abruptly leaving meetings, or putting pressure on others with their impatience. The person's partner can feel exhausted from doing extra chores as the person with ADHD is messy, disorganised, and less likely to share all the responsibilities evenly. Such behaviour can drain their partner or friends, create distance in mutual understanding and relationships.
The individual's partner may misconstrue their lack of attention as disrespect, arrogance, or a lack of interest in having a meaningful conversation or the partner may perceive the individual's fleeting attention in romantic situations as a lacklustre gesture of love. This can hurt emotions, create misunderstanding, and at worst breakdown in the relationship. 

For ADHD in children, parents, carers, and teachers can play a crucial role in creating a supportive environment that nurtures a child's development irrespective of ADHD. Parents can learn from behavioural management programmes techniques of effective communication, and ways to engage their child with ADHD to improve their attention and behaviour. Children with ADHD lack planning and organisation, completing tasks on time, and can make their room or house messy. Parents can help the child establish a routine with their daily tasks along with a timeline for each task along with reminders to finish them on time, get the child to declutter their space or clear up after say a playdate with their friends, To help the child cope with their lack of working memory, it can be a good practice to make the child repeat vital information so they can remember and retrieve it when needed soon again.
For an adult with ADHD, it will help them to have sticky notes or notice boards reminding them of important tasks, important dates, and deadlines for work projects as they tend to forget, poor time management, procrastinate, leave things incomplete, and start something new. Allowing regular breaks at the workplace and where possible providing a quieter work environment, involving the person with ADHD in projects that arouse their interest will not only help the person with ADHD but also benefit the company as the person performs well.
 

Children and adults with ADHD can be taught techniques to improve focus and minimise fidgety restless behaviour by encouraging them to exercise or play sport, practice mindfulness and meditation.