ADD stands for attention deficit disorder. It is very similar to ADHD, a subtype of ADD, but without the hyperactive part. Therefore, it is quite common for ADD to be discovered later in life because the symptoms are more internal and may not always show up in your child's behavior. ADD can be quite disruptive to your life, which is why in this blog I will discuss what ADD is and what you can do to minimize its effects.
ADD is a neurological disorder that causes you to have difficulty paying attention, such as when receiving instructions, focusing on things like homework, completing other assignments, completing tasks and even social interactions, such as conversations.
In some cases, you can still be hyperactive, but then you suffer from ADHD.
So I won't go into that now.
The problem with ADD is that it is not as noticeable in behavior, and it can even be mistaken for laziness.
ADD symptoms
So kids with ADD are not at all as busy as kids with ADHD. They usually just sit quietly in class, but unfortunately that doesn't mean they have their attention.
Children with ADD ...
- often have trouble focusing.
- Appear uninterested.
- Appear bored.
- Daydreaming a lot.
- Are oblivious.
- Sling homework and other things around or get lost.
- Often forget to do/deliver homework.
- Their desk and homework is often cluttered[1].
ADD symptoms in adults
In adults, ADD often causes....
- More creativity
- The feeling of being able to multitask
- Out-of-the-box thinking
- Unorganized
- Forgetfulness
- Often losing things (keys, cell phone)
- Working on many projects but not getting anything done
- Procrastination
If your child is diagnosed with ADHD or ADD, this is often a reason to take the test as an adult as well, because this disorder can be hereditary. So if you recognize many of the problems your child faces from your own childhood and he/she is found to have ADHD or ADD, chances are you have it too[2].
ADD treatment
ADD is often treated with medication and behavioral training. Attention is paid to the home situation and in schools, teachers are taught how best to deal with a child suffering from ADD.
For example, parents of children with ADD are taught how best to interact with their child. Research[3] shows that this often works better than medication and that parents are most positive about this "treatment."
Hypnosis can help parents implement these tips if they suffer from limiting beliefs that cause them to block when they need to do something, such as being strict.
Reward systems or a point system, for example, are used with children with ADD. Hypnosis can also greatly help teachers stay calm in busy classes and perform the right behavior when needed, such as with post-hypnotic suggestion.
The children themselves can receive training to improve their social skills. This must be done in conjunction with behavioral training for parents or it will have no effect.
Research also shows that activities in nature cause your child to suffer from ADD less than having activities in an environment with no or little nature[4].
In addition, your child can also receive psychological treatment, this is usually cognitive behavioral therapy and self-control training. By combining this with hypnosis, you can get faster results, especially since children are very sensitive to hypnosis. Even as an adult, you often get this treatment if you suffer from ADD[5].
ADD medication
When ADD is treated with medication, it is usually with uppers such as ritalin. This often helps with getting better focus. However, the use of ritalin does come with side effects, which is why as a parent you may choose to still go for behavioral training or other non-medicated treatments.
This can sometimes work better than medication because ADD and ADHD behavior in children can also come from family or personal problems.
ADD and hypnosis
As early as the 1980s, research was conducted to see if hypnosis could help children with ADD suffer less from their symptoms. Initial attempts were made to do this in groups, but eventually it was found that 1-on-1 treatment was best for achieving success[6].
Hypnosis can also be very helpful for adults to reduce some ADD symptoms. For example, have you developed anxiety because you can't (finish anything) or sleep poorly? Then hypnosis can help you calm down and sleep better[7].
Post-hypnotic suggestions for behavior change
For doing what you need to do, hypnosis can also be great for influencing behavior. For example, you can get a post-hypnotic suggestion about when to turn off your PC and relax so you can go to bed.
For example, when there are some regular things you find difficult to do, such as:
- Put your key in a permanent place.
- Doing something quiet after 10 pm.
- Focusing your longer time on 1 task.
Before you put your key in a fixed place, it's helpful to already know what that fixed place will be. You may even have a tray by the door. The hypnotist will put you under hypnosis and have you visualize coming home.
"From this moment on, you put your keys in the tray every time you come home. This will be completely automatic."
"When you are still busy gaming or sitting at your PC at night and notice that it's (been) 10 o'clock, turn off your computer and start doing something that requires less thinking so you fall asleep more easily."
"From this moment on, every time you notice that you are distracted and not doing the task you actually want to focus on, take a few deep breaths and focus on what your touch, sight, sound and smell senses are giving you. Then go back to your task."
Because you get to hear these suggestions while you are under hypnosis, this also comes deeper to you and you start incorporating it into your daily rituals faster.
Hypnotic suggestions for less anxiety
ADD can cause anxiety, such as not being able to socialize well or not being able to do your job well because of the lack of focus. In that case, hypnotic suggestions can also help you feel more confident in your own abilities.
For example, you can first get those post-hypnotic suggestions for the behavior you want to have at work or with friends. Then other suggestions can help you with your confidence that you can do anything. You repeat these suggestions out loud while you are under hypnosis. For example, these can be:
"I can master anything I want."
"I am a go-getter."
"True friends accept me as I am."
"I am valued at my work."
These are just examples. Depending on your beliefs and issues you want to address, a hypnotist may give you suggestions to repeat other than these.
Thereby, you can then repeat these kinds of suggestions at home to make yourself more confident on a daily basis.
Regression for breaking patterns
In addition, some limiting beliefs can cause you to have certain patterns by which you unintentionally sabotage yourself. This is incredibly unfortunate. In that case, regression therapy can help break patterns through your beliefs you have about how the world works and how you function in it with ADD.
What happens then is that you look at that pattern you want to break. You go to the first moment on which that pattern is based. This is often a childhood event because that's when you form your beliefs. Then, with the help of the hypnotist, you are going to do something with that moment. I can't say what because this is different for everyone and by doing this you break the pattern and it becomes much easier not to let the belief hold you back. It is as good as gone.
Childhood hypnosis and ADD
Children with ADD are often exposed to hypnosis already because a teacher or parent will tell them what characteristics are typical of ADD, and then they are more likely to behave accordingly. Because children are so sensitive to hypnosis, you can sometimes use very simple suggestions to make your child suffer less. You don't always have to put your child under hypnosis for this, just because they are so sensitive to it.
For example, you can have an "ADD time-out box" into which your child can put the ADD when he needs to focus for a while. This allows him to easily get rid of all that other hypnosis about ADD for a while. Then, when he/she is ready, the ADD can be taken out of the box again, because otherwise, at some point he/she will start to notice that he/she also has ADD if the ADD is in the box for too long.
Want to learn more about hypnosis and how you can hypnotize other people to help them? Then come to a hypnosis playshop.
Want to learn immediate techniques to help people with hypnosis? Then enroll in one of our trainings, seminars or courses.
[1] https://www.verywellmind.com/add-and-attention-deficit-disorders-2161810
[2] https://www.addrc.org/youve-got-adult-add/
[3] https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15374410701818681
[4] https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/full/10.2105/AJPH.94.9.1580
[5] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jclp.20123
[6] https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.2466/pms.1986.63.3.1191
[7] https://www.additudemag.com/hypnosis-adhd-treatment-natural-alternative/
