Center of Attention
Newsletter of CHADD of Northern California
Also at: http://www.chaddnorcal.org/newsletter
8 July 2001

CHADD Works to Improve the Lives of People with
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder through Education, Advocacy,
and Support

===== In This Issue =====

About the Newsletter
Feature Article: Why Your Child Acts Without Thinking
This Week: Pointers for Parents
Please Tell Us
Calender of Events

===== About the Newsletter =====

The Center of Attention is CHADD of Northern California's bi-weekly
newsletter. The newsletter is designed to keep you up to date with
CHADD of Northern California's activities and updates in the field.
It's a new step toward bringing the members closer together.

===== Feature Article ======

The following article was published in ADDvisor newsletter in July
1999. We are grateful to Alan Graham and Bill Benninger of ADDvisor
for permitting us to publish this article in our newsletter.

"ADDvisorTM is your link to trustworthy, reliable information about
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). If you would like to
participate in any of our calls or our other programs, or would
simply like more information, including times and fees, call us at:
1-866-ADDvisor
Or you can email Alan Graham at Alan@... or Bill Benninger
at Bill@.... We will give you the information you request."

Behavioral Inhibition - Why your child acts without thinking

Russell Barkley, one of the foremost researchers in the country
regarding ADHD, has presented a new theory that describes ADHD. He
states that ADHD is actually an impairment of the brain's behavioral
inhibition system. To understand this more clearly, think of the
brain as having two parts: the "animal" brain-the part of the brain
that is similar to animals in that it reacts to stimuli and controls
the involuntary body functions such as breathing, blood flow, etc.;
and the "human" brain-that part of the brain that is uniquely human
in that it can think, problem solved, etc. Normally, when the body
reacts to an external stimulus, a message is sent from the "animal"
brain to the "human" brain where the event is evaluated and a
response to the stimulus is formulated. In ADHD children, this
message either never gets to the 'human' brain or it gets there late.
In either case, the individual 'acts before thinking', often feeling
remorse as the message is received after the response has occurred .

This is why ADHD is described as a disorder of doing, not knowing.
Your ADHD child may know the appropriate responses to particular
situations but when at the "point of performance" (the actual event
when the knowledge needs to be put to use), your child acts without
thinking and behaves impulsively. Very often, immediately after such
behavior, your child may say, "Oh no! I didn't mean it." By
understanding this process, we can better tailor our interventions to
help our child mange the world better.

======== This Week ==========

Pointers for Parents: Before you give your child a dietary
supplement, be aware that:
(Compiled by one of our members)

Many dietary supplements, especially herbal products, have not been
tested in kids to determine their safety or effectiveness.

Dietary supplements in this country [US] are not held to any set of
federal standards for quality or purity.

Your best advisor is your child's pediatrician or another health care
provider. Be sure to check with them before starting your child on a
supplement. And keep them informed of your child's continuing use of
the product.

Supplements advertised as "natural" are not necessarily safe. In
fact, herbs, like other so-called natural products, can have powerful
drug-like effects. Some of these effects can be especially risky for
people who take other medicines or have certain medical conditions.

Fraudulent promoters often fall back on the same claims to trick
consumers into buying their products. Tip-offs that they're trying to
fool you are:

**Claims that the product is a "scientific breakthrough," "miraculous
cure," "exclusive product," "secret ingredient," or "ancient remedy."
Says Jodie Bernstein, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer
Protection: "Ask yourself, 'If a product is so amazing, why would I
be reading about it for the first time in an ad?'"

**Claims that the product is a quick and effective cure for a wide
range of ailments.

**Claims that use medical terms that sound impressive. This ploy is
an attempt to cover up a lack of good science.

**Claims that the government, medical profession and health care
industry are in a conspiracy to suppress the advertised product.

**Undocumented case histories of people who've had supposedly amazing results.

**Claims that the product is available from only one source, and
payment is required in advance.

**Claims of a "money-back guarantee

Carry on...and spread the word

===== Please Tell Us! =====

We thank members for their responses to the Newsletter. This week a
member has requested to include articles dealing with adult ADHD
children living with their parents. We will certainly keep this in
mind for our future publications. Any other comments, suggestions, or
criticisms will be greatly appreciated. Please continue to help us
make this newsletter more beneficial to you all.

You can e-mail your comments to us at CHADD_Dimples@....
Simply replying to this e-mail will also send your message to the
right place.

======== Calendar ==========

7/10/2001, Tues. 7-9pm - Marin
"ADHDers are from Mercury - Romantic Relationships with ADHD" - Lew
Mills, PhD, Marriage & Family Therapist. Hear how couples are
affected when one or both have ADHD. Pick up strategies to understand
and solve problems from the facilitator of CHADD of Northern
California's online "Partners Group."
Town Center Corte Madera Community Room, Corte Madera - Contact:
Beverlee: 415-789-9464
============================
7/16/2001, Mon. 7:30 - 9pm - San Francisco
Adult Drop-In Support Group, If you have questions about AD/HD, then
this is where you should to start.
CPMC California Campus, San Francisco - Contact: San Francisco
Warmline: 415-442-1944
============================
7/17/2001, Tues. 7-9pm - Marin
Drop in Support Group, for Adults and Teens with ADHD and Significant Others
Marin Community Mental Health, Greenbrae - Contact: Beverlee: 415-789-9464
============================
7/24/2001, Tues. 6-8:00 PM PST - Online
Chris Zeigler-Dendy - Adolescent ADHD,
CHADD Online Chat, Internet - Contact: Message Line: 510-291-2950
============================
7/25/2001, Wed. 9-10:30am - Marin
Support Group for Parents of Children / Teens with ADHD, Share your
concerns with a parent who really understands.
10 Glen Drive, Mill Valley - Contact: Mary Jo Sorensen: 415-388-8817
============================
8/1/2001, Wed. 7-9 pm - Contra Costa
Walnut Creek Adult General Support Meeting, Ongoing, confidential
support groups for Adults with ADHD
Kaiser Mental Health, Walnut Creek - Contact: Donna Love: 925-687-4324
============================
8/14/2001, Tues. 7-9pm - Marin
Educational Meeting - Speaker TBA,
Town Center Corte Madera Community Room, Corte Madera - Contact:
Beverlee: 415-789-9464
============================
8/15/2001, Wed. 7-9 pm - Contra Costa
Walnut Creek Adult General Support Meeting, Ongoing, confidential
support groups for Adults with ADHD
Kaiser Mental Health, Walnut Creek - Contact: Donna Love: 925-687-4324
============================
Coming Up...
10/18/2001, through 10/20/01 -
CHADD Thirteenth Annual Conference on Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity
Disorder: Communicating the Science of AD/HD: From Fiction to Fact
Anaheim Marriot, Anaheim, CA - Contact: See Website:
www.chadd.org/conference.htm
============================