ADD which stands for Attention Deficit Disorder is a distressing psychological condition which results in all kinds of behavioral symptoms including a lack of concentration, bed-wetting, aggression and compulsive behavior.  It affects both adults and children.

ADD is almost always described as a three-pronged illness that contains three components – irritability, compulsivity and distractibility.  Another form of the disease is ADHD (Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder), which adds hyperactivity to the mix. Minimizing the provocation of these four mental states can greatly help to minimize the extent to which a person’s daily life can be affected by this disease. 

Here are some tips to helping you or a loved one deal with the uncomfortable behavioral and emotional symptoms of this disease. 

First of all Practice HALT.  HALT stands for Hungry, Angry, Tired or Lonely. Avoiding any one of these emotional states can help prevent the compulsions, irritability and wandering thoughts that are symptoms of ADD. Low blood sugar is definitely something to avoid so make sure you child eats her meals on time, gets plenty of sleep, has company and is never provoked unnecessarily. 

Make sure that your kid takes all medications as prescribed and exactly on time!  Many of the medications used to treat ADD and ADHD have a short half-life. If they are not taken exactly as prescribed, the sufferer can suffer from a rapid shift in mood that results in aggression or an emotional “crash.” 

Understand too that a misbehaving kid might also be suffering from the side effects of prescription drugs used to treat the ailment. Make sure that your child can avoid fluorescent lights.

Studies have also shown that ADD sufferers find it more difficult to concentrate if they are sitting under fluorescent lights. Low incandescent lighting of a yellowish quality helps them to focus. Realize that your child may need more exercise than most people. As most ADD sufferers are hyperactive they need an outlet to burn off excess nervous energy.

Make sure that your ADD child takes in at least an hour of aerobic activity such as walking, running or playing an athletic game a day. Take your child to Yoga class with you!  Meditation and deep breathing can help control the speeding mind and distractibility and irritability that are associated with Attention Deficit Disorder. Avoid stimulating entertainment. Movies or video games that are too stimulating can provoke violent episodes and mood swings in both adults and children with ADD. 

It is also a good idea to deliberately steer your child away from any kind of high pressure or competitive situation especially if your child is having problems getting his or her excitability under control. Stick to a daily routine.

Many symptoms disappear if an ADD sufferer learns how to stick to a daily routine that is consistent over a number of months. This includes eating and exercises at the same times every day and not working overtime.  Consistency goes a long way to controlling a child’s ADD symptoms.

Physical fitness for teens is necessary as exercise is crucial for their physical, mental and psychological health. Despite this, people between the ages of thirteen and eighteen tend to be real slackers when it comes to exercising. It is hard to get them off the couch.  

There is another type of teenager that is too busy to exercise. Like adults they are always have an appointment, are on a cell phone or attending a meeting.  If the problem is not too many extracurricular activities or having to go to a part time job then it might simply be teenage malaise.

‘Many adolescents simply are not in the mood to exercise and prefer to surf the Internet and play video games. This of course can lead to a fat kid. Perhaps the best thing you can do for a child who goes “What’s the point?” when it comes to doing regular exercises or taking a walk is buy him or her a bicycle.

A bicycle makes perfect sense to an adolescent because it is does have a purpose, which is to transport the teenager from one place to another. Buying your child a bike that he or she likes will also encourage him or to ride. There is nothing like a brand new bike to encourage physical fitness for teens. Girls like old-fashioned roadsters and boys tend to like bikes that are capable of racing. Both sexes like the idea of a bike that they can bling out with various accessories such as stickers, bells, lights, baskets or ornament. 

You should also make swimming part of any plan for personal physical fitness for teens. Swimming is fun and it strengthens and elongates the body the same way Pilates does.  If your adolescent is shy about showing their body in public you can encourage participation in swimming by buying swimsuits or trunks that make your child look cool at the pool. Overweight girls who are sensitive about their appearance can also now buy swimsuits that have boy shorts and skirts, which offer more coverage. 

A kid that spends a lot of time on the couch watching television might be inspired by competitive sports. Enrolling your child sports team that meets and plays regularly is a good way for a kid to get exercise.  It also teaches skills like goal setting, teamwork and how to get along with other people. Gymnastics might also suit some individuals who are already demonstrating some level of athletic prowess. Competing in sports and gymnastics teaches your child an appreciation of the potential of their bodies to do great things. If your kid is a thrill seeker then you might have to come up with some more clever ways to excite him or her about the idea of exercise.  Some more offbeat and adventurous ideas for physical fitness for teens are rock climbing, surfing, skateboarding, rollerblading and hiking.  Adolescents that enjoy thrilling sports also might enjoy taking part in a biking trip that takes them out of town and involves camping and swimming. There are many parks in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom with extended bike trails that take you across a network of trails that intersect with cities. 

Lately I have really been into Feng Shui. I decided to study up on how this ancient art of object arrangement can affect your children. 

Creativity and children live together in the same part of your home (according to feng shui) because they share the same energies. This is an area that you will enhance to ensure yourself of many descendants as well as make sure that you will always take time out to “smell the flowers” and enjoy life’s recreational pursuits. To enhance this area you should make sure that you have lots of  metal picture frames that are used to feature photographs of your children. If your Creativity and Children sector is in your kitchen then make a point of displaying metal molds and utensils on your wall.  A display of metal cookie cutters shaped like animals is a nice touch. 

The color white equals the element of metal in feng shui. To enhance this area paint it white.  If this area is in your bathroom, augment it with white fixtures and white towels.  White dishes in the kitchen can help accomplish the same purpose. Look for furniture and everyday accessories that are round in shape such as throw rugs, coffee tables and stools.

Moving objects such as a round metal clock or a rotating fountain can also augment the energy in this sector.  If you do install an aquarium or fountain make sure it is shiny and new looking and that the water is always kept clean. Hoy is closely related to creativity and also the spirit of playing children.

The western sector or western wall of your home is the best place to put any kind of entertainment unit, the television, displays of art as well as store games, stuffed animals dolls and any kind of juvenilia. It is also the best area to store or feature items that are related to hobbies or crafts such as painting easels and sewing machines. S

ymbols of Fire and Real Fire are not favorable to children in Feng Shui. As the Eastern sectors of your house are isruled by the metal element this is not the place to put candles, a fireplace or a stove. This is because according to the Cycle of Destruction, fire destroys metal (and thus your creativity and fertility.) If you do find that your hearth or stove is placed against the Western Wall of your home then you can remedy the situation by placing a mirror above the mantelpiece or near the stove. Mirrors symbolize water in feng shui so the metaphor would be “putting out fire with the water.”  

Lately too I have been toying with many of the new room sprays that are on the market. Orange scents are supposed to enhance creativity and joy, especially when combined with vanilla.  Spraying your child’s room with lavender can also help enhance peace. Lavender is also an age old remedy for getting your child to go to sleep.

If you have just had a baby or simply just have let your weight slide for years it can be hard getting back into an exercise program. However if you want your children to watch you grow old, losing those pounds might be mandatory.

 One of the best ways to lose it (and also combat depression as discussed in a previous blog) is to exercise. Not necessarily diet – but exercising. First of all you should ask your doctor if you need an exercise stress test, or whether you should follow any special exercise guidelines before you embark on any type of program.

You should then consult with a professional at a gym, such as one of the employees at your local YWCA or your doctor to figure out the work out program that is ideal for you. If you are obsessed for instance your doctor may not recommend anything more strenuous than walking at first. 

It is also not a good idea to “binge” exercise. Exercise regularly and get into a routine rather than go in fits and starts or you are setting your body up for the kind of shock that can lead to injury or heart attack. To optimize the positive effects of any aerobic exercise, you must sustain an activity for at least 20-45 minutes at each session. If you are just beginning exercise, start with a 10-minute workout and gradually add two minutes a week until you reach your fitness goal.   

While exercising try to keep your heart rate within your “target heart rate zone.” Calculate your maximum heart rate by subtracting your age from 220. Your target heart rate is 60-75% of your maximum heart rate. This formula cannot be utilized if you are taking certain cardiac medications. Consult your health care provider for your target heart rate parameters if you are on medications. If you are on certain medications it may not be wise for you to exercise, which is unfortunate, as that will prevent you from accessing one of the easiest weight loss tools at your disposal. 

To determine your heart rate, you must first learn how to take your pulse. Using middle and index fingers, locate your pulse on the thumb side of your wrist. Press lightly. Count your pulse for 10 seconds starting with zero. Multiply by 6 to arrive at your pulse rate. Never stop your activity completely to take your pulse. Keep moving at a slower pace to slowly come out of an exercise. It is important to do a warm-up and cool-down before you exercise. A slow but steady building of excessive intensity during a warm up allows the cardiovascular system to adjust to the increasing demands of exercise, and a good cool down helps it adjust back to resting level.  

While exercising it is also very important to be aware of your body. Listen to your body and heed warning signs of cardiovascular disease, such a chest pain or pressure, abnormal heart rhythms or dizziness. While these symptoms are often caused by something other than heart disease, it is best to be safe and check them out.  A healthy person will not be in pain while exercising.