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community & life
WhatsHappeningOnline.com
November 2012
How Exercise Can Help Teens and Young Adults with ADHD Regular physical exercise has important benefits for both the mind and the body. Exercise has been proven to help people control weight, combat chronic diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes, improve sleep and boost overall energy level. Exercise has also been shown to improve mood Dr. Michael Clatch and overall mental health. While these benefits can be acquired by anyone who engages in regular physical activity, for teens and young adults that have attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), exercise may provide a host of other benefits that can help reduce symptoms and improve the individual’s overall quality of life. One of the principal hallmarks of ADHD, especially in adolescents and young adults, is the inability to focus or pay attention. Challenges in this area can lead to a plethora of changes in mental state. Because of the difficulty focusing that people with ADHD experience, many believe that they are not able to engage in certain tasks, or if they do try new things they will fail. This situation is one that can markedly impact the ability of the individual to succeed and seek out new or challenging opportunities. For teens and young adults who should be engaged in and actively exploring their external worlds, these issues can have significant implications. This includes the development of comorbid mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. Based on this description of ADHD and
the benefits of exercise, it is possible to see where some overlaps occur. Exercise improves overall mood. For adolescents and young adults struggling with ADHD, exercise may help prevent the development of mental health problems. If these issues are already present, exercise may stabilize mood and reduce symptoms of both anxiety and depression. While these benefits are obvious, there are other benefits of exercise for young adults with ADHD. In particular, exercise may boost activity in regions of the brain associated with attention. Exercise typically results in the release of neurochemicals such as dopamine and norepinephrine. These chemicals can stimulate parts of the brain responsible for attention and concentration. Thus, by engaging in regular exercise adolescents and young adults may be able to boost their attention and focus. Adolescents and young adults with ADHD also have difficulty with executive functioning. Executive functioning refers to the ability of a person to control behavior. Impulsivity is a challenging issue for many people with ADHD. Although adolescents and young adults with ADHD often develop coping mechanisms to deal with impulsivity issues, there are instances in which impulsivity can create problems. Regular exercise can help stimulate areas of the brain that are responsible for executive functioning. In particular, exercise has been shown to stimulate parts of the frontal cortex. Stimulation in this area makes it possible for people to evaluate their behavior and to consider the consequences of their decisionmaking. Stimulation of these areas of the brain continues even hours after exercise. Thus, regular exercise may promote consistency in impulse control for the person with ADHD.
The changes that occur in the brain as a result of exercise are similar to those that occur when certain ADHD medications are used. Although exercise may not be a complete substitute for medication, it can provide a healthy alternative that may enable adolescents or young adults to decrease the dosage of their medication. In addition, regular engagement in physical activity will provide all of the benefits that come along with exercise. For adolescents and young adults with this condition, exercise can also promote healthy self-esteem. This may help in coping with fear of failure, or the belief that you will not be able to succeed. Given the potential outcomes, there is strong support for using exercise as a complement to other therapies used for the treatment of ADHD. The amount of physical activity that you will need to achieve these benefits will vary depending on your age, body type and
severity of your ADHD symptoms. Although there are no firm recommendations for using exercise as a complementary therapy in the treatment of ADHD, you should strive to get 30 minutes of moderate to intense physical activity at least four days per week. This level of exercise is recommended for all adolescents and young adults seeking to garner the typical benefits of regular exercise, e.g., maintaining and healthy weight, preventing disease, etc. When selecting exercises, you should consider your preferences and what you enjoy doing. Any activity that you enjoy and that elevates your heart rate or builds muscle will be good for you. Dr. Clatch practices at the Courage to Connect Therapeutic Center, 2400 Ravine Way, Suite 600, Glenview. For more info, call 847-347-5757 or visit couragetoconnecttherapy.com.
Recent Happenings
1. Mary Johnson of Kenilworth won a fournight stay for two at the Westin Casuarina Resort and Spa in the Grand Cayman Islands during the Party on the Parkway, held Sept. 27 to kick off this year’s fundraising activities for the Kenilworth United Fund. The event raised more than $3,000, bringing together local businesses with area restaurants that provided food as neighbors walked from one location to the next.
3. Christina “Christy” Bouris has joined Winnetka Covenant Church as Youth Pastor, following her graduation from North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago with a Master of Divinity with high honors and a career that has so far included serving as Director of Youth and Discipleship at Trinity Covenant Church in Lexington, Mass., among other positions. Bouris will lead ministry activities for junior and high school youth.
2. The Northbrook and Deerfield rotary clubs are collecting winter coats for their annual “Coat Off Your Back” campaign. Gently used coats may be placed in bins located throughout Northbrook – including the Northbrook Public Library, Northbrook Village Hall, Northbrook Post Office, the North Suburban YMCA, Sunset Foods, Whole Foods, Mission Hills, Northbrook Bank and Trust, and Ace Hardware.
4. Glenview Senior Craft Room workers have created another attention-getting dollhouse to raffle this holiday season. The classic three-story farmhouse has 11 rooms, and is wallpapered, carpeted and fully furnished. Tickets are available thru November in the senior wing of the Park Center for $1, or $5 for six. The drawing takes place Dec. 7, and the winner need not be present to win.