Growing up I have struggled with ADHD. For those who do not know what ADHD is, it has to do with the inability to focus, pay attention, and the inability to control behavior. ADHD is commonly noticed in young children and is easily spotted in the classroom. Many are put on medications to help lessen the symptoms that make it hard to do well in the classroom. While found in young children, ADHD also affects adults as well.

While growing up I noticed my body would react to things differently than those around me. For example, whenever I would drink coffee or anything with high caffeine levels I would not get “hyper” on the contrary I would become very calm and relaxed. It seemed as though the sugars and ingredients that were supposed to get me up and going was counter productive. As Andrew has always taught us in class, whenever we have a thought we must turn it into a hypothesis, then after we have a hypothesis we must conduct an experiment to see if our notion is true. This is the only way we can come to a logical well supported conclusion. With that being said, I was on a search to see if my findings were correct. Seems as though I was onto something.

According to medical reviewed journal, “Caffeine is a vasoconstrictor. That means it makes blood vessels smaller and reduces blood flow. Amphetamine medications used to treat ADHD also make blood vessels smaller. So caffeine actually mimics ADHD medications.” It is said that this reduces overactive activity in the brain which allows one to better focused.

It is said the caffine allows the brain to release dopamine which is normally low in those who have ADHD. With that being said when one consumes coffee their dopamine levels can get just right , bringing the normally energetic ADHD patient to be calm and at a happy medium. This can overall bring about better concentration and attentiveness in those with ADHD.

It seems as though things with high caffeine levels, are counter productive for those with ADHD. Now what about things that are suppose to calm the average person down such as NyQuil? While there aren’t many facts and studies on this argument I will pose an opinion on this topic to present on argument which might bring about a contreversial discussion in the comment board.

Given the fact that I have ADHD, I have noticed that NyQuil has no affect on me at all. While NyQuil puts my mom and brother(no ADHD ) right to sleep, it keeps me and my dad(both have ADHD) wide awake. Interesting right? It seems as though those with ADHD are breaking barriers and going against what is normal. Instead of feeling sleepy to get a good nights rest to over come the annual cold, I feel wide awake and overly attentive.

In the end, it amazes me the way those with ADHD react to certain things. Whenever I tell my mom about my experiences she shuns me and tells me “shut up and take your nyquil!”. Statistically  since 2011 6.7 Americans were diagnosed with ADHD, that is a huge statistic! With that being said this information affects and is relevant to many people around you.

To open a discussion I am very curious as to how many people have ADHD and experience the same things as I do. I’m curious if those with ADHD react differently to things that contain high caffeine.

http://333oee3bik6e1t8q4y139009mcg.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/brainmaps2.jpg

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080310024913AA2w90J

http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/data.html

http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/caffeine-shockers-products-surprisingly-high-in-caffeine