5 Things You Need to Know About ADD Support Groups

1. ADD Support Groups Increase Understanding

While there is much you can learn online or in books about Attention Deficit Disorder, there is so much more you can understand by talking with others. People with ADD usually struggle with regular bouts of inattentiveness. Often ADD is combined with hyperactivity and impulsivity, called ADHD. This is a general definition, but a support group can give you information on other common symptoms. In a support group, you can learn more about treatment, education and local doctors and other resources. To find a support group, search online for your area or ask the doctor who diagnosed the ADD.

2. ADD Support Groups Help Reduce Isolation

At times, those with ADD can feel like they are the only ones struggling with it. A support group can help you feel less isolated by sharing with others the challenges you face daily with ADD. In a support group, you can discuss ways to succeed in a classroom or at work. You can also discuss challenges of relationships and treatment plans, among other things.

3. ADD Support Groups Can Give You Coping Tips

Sharing with others the challenges of ADD can often result in ideas on how to stay on task, how to remember things or how to complete a job or assignment. There are tools that can help with ADD, such as calendars or visuals to remember certain tasks. You can get details on these and other ideas of how to cope in a group setting. People with ADD can share strategies and discuss things such as ways to pay attention to details and avoid skipping from one activity to another too quickly.

4. Social Skills Classes Can Be Part of ADD Support Groups

For children with ADD, they can benefit greatly from role playing to improve their social skills. Within the social skills classes, children can practice listening techniques and back-and-forth turn taking without losing attention. The social skills classes can work on helping a child with ADD finish a game or puzzle. Teens with ADD can also benefit from social skills classes where they learn to be more outwardly focused.

5. All Ages Can Benefit From ADD Support Groups

Each stage of life brings new challenges of dealing with ADD. A child with ADD can benefit from talking with others about how to listen to friends or remember to do their homework. A teen with ADD needs help navigating the social complexities. Adults with ADD can get ideas in a support group of how to stay focused at work, such as using props or reminders to complete goals. If you are a caretaker of a child or teen with ADD, you may also benefit from the support of other parents. From others you can get ideas on how to guide your child with ADD and how to get enough breaks for yourself. Don't have time to attend a support meeting? Join a local group with e-mail discussions or a national online support group.