4 Common Triggers for ADHD
There is no cure for ADHD. However, there are plenty of ways with which you can manage the condition. Once you identify the trigger points, you will be able to avoid them, and eventually, you will be able to handle the situation more effectively.
So, here are the common triggers for ADHD:
- Deficiency of minerals
Having a suppressed appetite is a common side effect of medication given by doctors to treat ADHD. Due to reduced appetite, a person can start to consume less food and, as a result, can have a deficiency of essential minerals in the body. This deficiency can worsen the symptoms of ADHD. When some minerals are deficient, such as zinc, in the body, it can cause symptoms that appear to be the same as the symptoms of ADHD. These can include delays in cognitive development, restlessness, inattentiveness, etc. - Stress
Stress is one of the most common triggers for ADHD. Also, ADHD can be the cause of high levels of stress in a lot of patients. When a person has ADHD, they might not be able to focus and remove any external stimuli. This can lead to increased stress levels. When a person is unable to focus, have deadlines nearing, or procrastinate work, it can boost the stress levels even more. When these excessive stress levels are not managed, they can worsen the symptoms of ADHD. Therefore, you need to learn ways to manage this stress to avoid the trigger for ADHD. - Sleep deprivation
Low sleep quality can aggravate the symptoms of ADHD and lead to drowsiness, inattentiveness, and leading to careless mistakes. Due to sleep deprivation, a person can also notice a decline in their performance, poor concentration skills, increased reaction time, and comprehension problems. ADHD in children can also make them hyperactive, which they do to compensate for the laziness they experience. To prevent this trigger, a child or even an adult needs to get a sound sleep for at least 7 to 8 hours. - Certain food additives
The role certain food additives play in triggering the symptoms of ADHD is still under debate. However, studies have shown a link between artificial colors in the food and several ADHD symptoms, such as inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness. The link was found in a 2012 study, and in the end, the authors concluded that these artificial colors have a small but yet, severe impact on a child’s behavior. This was irrespective of whether the children had ADHD or not. The study was still not believed to be completely reliable, and further researches are required to establish a concrete link between the symptoms of ADHD and food additives.