![]() ![]() To support our mission of providing ADHD education and support, please consider subscribing. She is a pioneer in the identification of gender differences in ADHD and the co-author of Understanding Girls with ADHD. Littman, Ph.D., has been involved in the field of attention disorders for more than 30 years. Learn: ADHD and Trauma May Go Hand in HandĮllen B.Understand: The Relationship Between PTSD and ADHD.For urgent, short-term relief, petting a dog or cat has been shown to increase serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin, and to reduce blood pressure, heart rate, and cortisol.įinding a therapist who incorporates somatic therapy can allow you to spend less energy managing distress, leaving more energy to pursue a better quality of life.Like the other techniques, it is a tool that enables improvements in mood, anxiety, and attention. Meditation takes practice, especially for those with ADHD, but research identifies significant stress reduction following eight weeks of practice. ![]() Yoga, dance, walking outdoors, tai chi, and other types of movement are great ways to reduce tension held in the body.The process can be enhanced with positive imagery, like recalling the image of a happy place. Progressive muscle relaxation involves sequentially tensing muscle groups as you breathe in, then relaxing them as you breathe out, beginning in the upper body and moving down to the toes.By fully expanding the lungs, this technique counteracts the rapid, shallow breathing that accompanies panic, and calms the amygdala, the brain’s emotion processing center. Hold each breath for four seconds, then release it through the mouth for four seconds. Deep “belly breathing” involves inhaling slowly through the nose, allowing the chest and belly to rise.Here are some of the most common and easily learned interventions from somatic therapy that can reduce the intensity of high emotional arousal: Somatic therapy offers greater physical and emotional control over the body’s uncomfortable responses to distress. Those with ADHD often disconnect from physical discomforts by numbing themselves with food, drugs, sex, risky behaviors, or by being workaholics. It is generally not apparent that a physical complaint reflects an underlying emotion. Research suggests that, for many reasons, those with ADHD are more likely than others to have experienced trauma at some point in their lives, although they may not label it as such. The body raises the alarm and demands action. These sensations come when a trigger convinces the body that it is again under attack. Somatic treatment for adults with ADHD might begin with learning to be mindful of the sensations in their bodies. Since most ADHD brains do not linger on unpleasant issues, somatic discomforts often remain unaddressed. Research shows that, compared to those without ADHD, those with ADHD are more likely to suffer migraines, digestive issues, muscle pain, and insomnia. However, as people age, treatment usually becomes more intellectualized, with less attention to physical sensations. In teaching children with ADHD to control their impulses, many therapists use somatic techniques to help them become aware of and restrain the physical sensations associated with impulsivity and aggression. While the conscious mind may believe it can deny or minimize the memories, the body keeps score. When old fears are triggered, the body shifts into survival mode, derailing normal functioning. So, even when the mind blocks or distorts distressing memories, as it usually does, the body remembers the threat exactly as it was experienced. Trauma survivors are generally hypervigilant, constantly scanning their environment for danger. Trauma expert Bessel van der Kolk, M.D., in his book The Body Keeps the Score, explores the fact that trauma leaves an indelible imprint on the body as well as the mind.Īfter a traumatic experience, the brain recalibrates the body’s early warning system in self-defense. The ability to feel safe with others is central to a meaningful life, but that basic comfort can be elusive. Now, this approach has been expanded to help a wide range of people - including those with ADHD - release tension, fear, and anger that can compromise their functioning. The holistic integration of body awareness with traditional psychotherapy was initially used to treat PTSD by focusing on the body’s sensations, rather than on reliving a traumatic event. Somatic therapists are attuned to physical sensations as talk therapists are attuned to thoughts and feelings. The field of somatic psychotherapy focuses on the feedback loop connecting mind and body, and the ways that one constantly informs the other. Today, most people recognize that there is some connection between their minds and their bodies. Somatic Therapy Explores the Mind-Body Connection ![]()
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