We Don’t All Sit Still
by Were you told to sit still and pay attention as a child? Did that work for you, or did you find problems concentrating?
After reading just this one paragraph, I felt immediate relief. So maybe I am not that strange after all. I couldn’t wait to inform my husband. Although it made me feel some what guilty for insisting my children sit still and pay attention all throughout their childhood. After all isn’t that what I was taught?
Simultaneous Sensory-Motor Activities Improve Concentration
According to the authors of Fidget to Focus, Roland Rotz, PhD, and ADD coach Sarah D. Wright, doing simultaneous sensory-motor activities can be an effective way to improve one’s ability to concentrate.
Fidget to Focus helps us find acceptable ways to “fidget”. It gears one away from nail biting, smoking, picking at one’s cuticles, and so forth. It advises against socially unacceptable habits that may be annoying to coworkers such as drumming at your desk, and provides a workbook of “Fidget Strategies” in order to assist the reader with acceptable forms of fidgeting.
More Resources
Here is an outstanding site that offers programs, tools, and various sites directed at assisting those with different variations of attention deficits.
Groundbreaking Ideas
This book is full of groundbreaking ideas based on personal stories of hundreds of patients. Research in neuroscience will aid in the way that attention deficits are dealt with and the therapy used to help those with this disorder to stay on task. What a relief to find a treatment that does not merely consist of medication, but on self management.
Substance Abuse of Ritalin
While I in no way endorse self treatment, or ignoring the recommended treatment advise of a qualified professional, there is much to be addressed and examined in the medications prescribed for treatment of various disorders. Ritalin is abused for the stimulant effects it provides including appetite suppression, wakefulness, euphoria, increased focus and attentiveness.
Many cases of drug abuse have been reported with Ritalin being used by those without a prescription; crushed and snorted, swallowed, or dissolved in water and injected. Abuse of this drug may lead to severe psychological or physical dependency.
According to an annual report performed by the University of Michigan, in 1994 it was found that more seniors abused the drug Ritalin than were prescribed the drug.
Addressing the need of improving methods of learning with the learning disabled by therapy and self management should be an alternative that is seriously considered. It just makes sense to use every tool accessible to improve the teaching and learning experience. In the meantime, I fidget discretely and focus more completely.
Liked it
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Post CommentIcyCucky
On April 6, 2008 at 6:32 am
I think on some levels, we all have ADD, because we are racing with the little time we have…
Great article, Judy.
Judy Sheldon
On April 6, 2008 at 8:31 am
Thank you, Icy. You are right – there is so much to do and so little time to do it in. (And so little money to do it with, too. lol)
Alexa Gates
On April 6, 2008 at 8:36 am
I agree with Icy, Sometimes if you sit still all of your life you end up like my grandpa and can’t walk…
Judy Sheldon
On April 6, 2008 at 10:16 am
I always say “use it or lose it”. Thanks, Alexa for the comment. I hope your grandpa feels better. He may need a hip or knee replacement.?
Anne Lyken-Garner
On April 6, 2008 at 11:08 am
This is indeed a superb article. I learned a lot from reading this. I can sit still but my mind races. I have nevertheless, a thing about doing nothing, as I feel guilty about being unproductive, this is why I never watch soaps or any day time TV. I know that in order to be a balanced,happy person I should take time out to smell the roses, so I do exactly that when I’m gardening. (Though some may argue that gardening is not exactly doing nothing…)
I loved this article.
Judy Sheldon
On April 6, 2008 at 2:35 pm
But, Anne, if you enjoy gardening, aren’t you achieving two goals?
I try to explain that to my husband. I need to accomplish something in order to feel fulfilled, and I need to multi-task in order to concentrate. It is good that you enjoy gardening. Why should all tasks be dull, tedious, and boring?
Ruby Hawk
On April 6, 2008 at 4:33 pm
You know I have wondered if I might have ADD. I am always busy and I cannot sit still. I am always dong two or three things at once. I have a grandson who definitly has it. It’s hard for me to sleep at night because my mind races on. Oh well, I had rather be this than a couch potato.
Judy Sheldon
On April 6, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Ruby, it may be more common than we think. Thank you for reading and commenting.
nobert soloria bermosa
On April 7, 2008 at 6:57 am
great article Judy, i guess most writers have ADD,it seems like everybody’s experiencing (or have observed at least)the same thing as you do….and so do i,
Judy Sheldon
On April 7, 2008 at 7:59 am
It is good to know that I am not alone. Thank you & take care, Nobert.
CHAN LEE PENG
On April 7, 2008 at 9:58 am
Thanks for sharing this info. Take care!
JudySheldon
On April 7, 2008 at 6:36 pm
Chan, your support is appreciated.
valli
On April 8, 2008 at 12:38 am
Great article, Judy.
Judy Sheldon
On April 8, 2008 at 7:24 pm
Valli, your comment is appreciated. Thank you & take care.
Francie
On April 20, 2008 at 8:11 pm
Wonderful article, very insightful and pertinent. I am for sure a fidgeter! My ADD causes me a hardship when it comes to finishing projects, I have a ton of things going on at one time, it’s exhausting =) One of my children studies best by moving from room to room while studying for a test. Sitting still and listening for any length of time causes him much stress. He learns best in spurts and needs a pretty quiet environment to do his best.
It’s all a learning process, if we know what works best for us we hopefully can make the changes that need to happen in our personal lives. I was so pleased to see your article and now have another resource to turn to…Fidget to Focus, I cannot wait to get my hands on this book!
Thanks for your article!!!
Francie
Judy Sheldon
On April 21, 2008 at 8:06 am
I believe that there are many different learning styles and what is ideal for one is totally useless for another. I was so grateful when I was able to find a school that agreed with me, and place my son in a better learning environment for him. Many schools refuse to adapt, and make it difficult for some students.
Thank you, Francie, for reading and supporting. Good luck with the issue, there is also listed in the article a wonderful site with lots of support.
Take care.
quiet voice
On April 25, 2008 at 9:58 pm
….we all do what it takes, to get
us through the night. Me, channel
surfing is my non-ending habit, it’s
fun. Excellent article. Take care,
we are all in this together.
Judy Sheldon
On April 25, 2008 at 10:10 pm
Quiet Voice, My husband will not relinquish the remote, so I have to find other “toys”. lol Thank you for reading and commenting.
dj
On August 12, 2008 at 2:17 am
Thanks for taking the time to post this article. I have found it very relieving to know this is such a common concern. I have a very quiet well mannered and well behaved son, but he cannot help but fidget when he is learning. His teachers do not know how to help him and yet he is the quietest in the class but his fidgeting either annoys them and or others around him. We have decided to temporarily put him in home-schooling until we can help him to achieve new methods to deal with this issue.
Judy Sheldon
On August 12, 2008 at 9:01 am
DJ, there’s hope out there. I was finally able to find a school that geared the teaching to the student and not just the curriculm. It made a world of difference for my son. Then I got to experience something that was totally awesome – we attended the university together. It really makes one proud to watch the son that struggled with homework stand in front of the class and perform well with an oral presentation. We all learn different.
Take care and God bless.
Ruby G.
On February 17, 2009 at 12:18 am
Wow Mom, you realy seem to have a fanbase on here….great job. I’m proud of you. Love your Daughter
Judy Sheldon
On February 17, 2009 at 7:40 pm
Ruby, thanks, dear daughter, for checking in on your mom, but just to let you know, I am more their fan than they are mine.
Take care, G♥d bless and get an “A”!