ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder to give it its proper name, is a behavioral disorder which affects approximately ten percent of school age kids. What is interesting is that it actually affects about three times as many boys as it does girls, but as of yet nobody is quite sure why this happens to be the case.

Children that have ADHD are usually hyperactive, do not focus well and normally act without thinking it through first. Although as a rule they understand the things that are expected of them, they find it difficult to carry this out as they are unable to pay attention, sit still or focus on details.

ADHD Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

As everyone is probably aware though, most children, especially the younger ones, act like this frequently, especially if they are excited, but ADHD affected kids are different as such because the symptoms last over a long period of times and can be triggered be a variety of reasons, not just excitement or anxiety. ADHD can hinder the ability of a child to function properly at school, at home or when they are out and about.

Although difficult to diagnose, ADHD can be managed with the proper treatment and the children affected can learn to manage their symptoms successfully.

An anxiety disorder can loosely be described as a condition where feelings of anxiety can get in the way of normal, everyday life. Many things can cause or even be classed as an anxiety disorder, and these can include phobia, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic attacks and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).

Anxiety attacks can be caused by a variety of conditions, both mental and physical. On the mental side of things, problems such as alcohol dependence, depression, substance abuse (including drugs, nicotine and caffeine) and medicine withdrawal can all cause anxiety. Physically, a person could be affected due to illnesses or cosmetic reasons such as appearance. It can also be brought on by stress due to traumatic events like bereavement.

Anxiety

There are some physical symptoms attributed to being anxious and these occur due to the body’s natural “fight or flight” response due to the release of adrenaline. These can include dry mouth, diarrhoea, tightness in the chest, rapid heartbeat, dizziness, shortness of breath, shaking, the need to urinate more frequently and swallowing difficulty.

A few psychological symptoms associated with anxiety include uneasiness, insomnia, irritability, tiredness, lack of concentration and a fear of “going mad”. Sometimes, when anxiety disorders and other conditions such as schizophrenia, depression or bipolar disorder occur together, suicide or self-harm can often be the regrettable outcome.

Eczema can be described as a generalized term for various inflamed skin complaints, and one of the most common forms is atopic eczema. Although eczema varies in appearance from person to person, it can usually be characterized by red, very itchy blotches on the skin. People often refer to the condition as the “itch that rashes” because when an itch is scratched, a rash appears.

Eczema can occur almost anywhere on the body, and typically on the face, neck, insides of elbows and knees and the ankles. It affects people in different ways, with some reporting oozing blisters, and others scaly, dry and red skin. In time the skin becomes leathery in texture and thickens due to chronic scratching.

A lot of substances have been found to act as “triggers” in individuals suffering from eczema and these triggers are not the same for everybody. Some of these triggers include coarse material in contact with skin, causing an itch; feeling hot and sweaty; soaps detergents and disinfectants; dust mites, juices; animal saliva; respiratory infections; and stress.

Eczema can occur in both adults and children but usually appears at infancy. Even though there is no obvious cause for the condition, it does seem to affect individuals with a family history of different allergies. Outbreaks can frequently be avoided by following some simple precautions: moisturizing frequently, avoiding sudden temperature fluctuations, try to avoid sweating, reducing stress and avoiding “scratchy” materials, avoiding harsh detergents.

Eczema