ADHD

ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Every single time parents whose children were diagnosed by medical doctors for ADHD, were very worried and feeling so unsettled.  

It takes time for them to accept the diagnosis.  Without treatment acceptance, it is not possible to start any effective treatment.  My job is to help parents and the affected individual understand the neurobiological basis of ADHD, find out how the ADHD conditions affecting people in different ways, and explore their personal experience. 

Most importantly, the clients need to reflect on the impact of ADHD on their daily life activities and, above all, interpersonal relationship, particularly their family life.   

Despite the advancement of research, practice and efficacy of medical treatment, the readiness of people to recognize, accept and adhere to the intervention of ADHD conditions is always an issue.  At this point, amongst others, it is essential that mental health professionals will face the fear of the public especially the affected individuals, to pursue the efficacious treatment of ADHD. 

Mixed Blessings of Two F.5 Graduates

After the release of 2008 public examination results, I had a very complex feeling regarding the future development of two female clients.


One of them got all subjects failed except the Chinese Language.  The other one earned 5 distinctions and 4 credits.  The former one said that she hated the idea of taking the public exam results as her true abilities therefore she didn't take the whole thing seriously in the past two years.


The other one was so surprised by such good results that she wanted to seriously think over her educational advancement and personal growth.  In the past few years, she had been emotionally dependent on her boyfriend who turned out to be bullying her in many different ways, putting her down and intensified her self doubt and low self esteem.  The positive results of her public exam were so shocking that she questioned herself if she deserved such poor self esteem and a bully boyfriend who treated her so bad.


Later, it was discovered that she displayed significant delay in her social understanding (e.g. self knowledge, understanding others, taking perspectives, assert for personal right, comprehension of social cues, self reflection, goal-directed behavior etc etc) and that affected social decision making.  In other words, she could easily become a target of bullies.


The girl, who got very poor exam results, came from a grass root background and received close guidance and behavioral coaching from her parents.  Her social competence was fine.


Amongst others, she was aware of her blindspot and openminded enough to seek on-going self improvement.  At the moment, she was doing psychosocial intervention to manage her compulsive thoughts and anxious mood (i.e. all-or-none thinking, negative self beliefs etc).

Both of these two girls had very high potentials.  Their future is absolutely not determined by their examination results.  As their personal growth and self improvement in making decision and analysing things show significant progress, they can make a turn point in their educational, career and personal growth.   

So what makes a young adult successful in their learning and personal growth? What does the public exam performance tell us about the individual needs of these young adults? And what not?  In a word, it is love, care and timely support most fundamental of all.  That's what I learnt from my clients, however young and innocent.