ADHD Parenting: Preventing Internet Addiction in Teens

Does your teenager spend way too much time on the Internet? There's a high chance that he or she might have ADHD or an emotional condition like depression or anxiety. And if your child does, your ADHD parenting should be geared towards preventing an internet addiction from developing.

New research from Taiwan's Kaohsiung Medical University reveals that Internet addiction is strongly associated to ADHD and depression. Two thousand fourteen students were assessed for ADHD symptoms, symptoms of depression, and Internet addiction through a questionnaire. The data collected shows that those with ADHD symptoms or depression are more likely to have an Internet addiction. Males addicted to the Internet were also found to show more hostility than women.

Although it's not an official disorder, someone is said to have Internet addiction when he or she cannot control the time spent online, neglect real life responsibilities because of the time spent on the Internet, or prefers to go online instead of attending to personal relationships. As with other types of addiction, an Internet addiction often arises as an attempt to escape from unwanted situations or negative emotions.

If you consider the symptoms of ADHD, it's no surprise that teens and adults with the disorder are at risk for an Internet addiction. The fast-paced online games and social networks satisfy the ADHD person's constant need for new stimulation. The study discovered that social anxiety contributes to the overuse of the internet; since individuals with ADHD are more likely to have social difficulties, they can take on another identity and have an easier time contacting like-minded individuals. Through the internet, they can socialize without being bound by conventional social norms.

So how can you make sure that your ADHD teen does not develop an Internet addiction? Here are a few tips to prevent this problem from occurring.


Monitor Internet time. There is no way you can ban the child from using the Internet; these days, kids need to go online to view and fulfill their homework requirements. Instead of prohibiting your child from using the Internet, monitor and regulate the time spent online and the activities your child engages in. On week days, limit Internet usage to an hour or two. Allow your child to check social network sites, but save the online gaming for the weekends.

Put the computer in a public place. If your child is at risk for Internet addiction, do not put a computer in his or her room. Instead, put it in a common area like the den or the hallway. This integrates the Internet into the hustle and bustle of everyday life rather than making it an escape that you go off to in privacy.

Plan family activities. Engage your child in more family activities like day trips, board games, or movie nights. Not only will this keep your child away from the computer; it will also strengthen your relationship and reduce his or her need to use the Internet for social interaction.

Encourage extracurricular activities. Encourage your child to participate in extracurricular activities to stay busy and social during weekdays. Not only is this a great way of meeting like-minded people with similar interests, but excelling in an extracurricular activity will boost your child's self-esteem.

Dr. Yannick Pauli is an expert on natural approaches to ADHD and the author of the popular self-help home-program The Unritalin Solution. He is Director of the Centre Neurofit in Lausanne, Switzerland and has a passion taking care of children with ADHD. Click on the link for more great information about what is adhd.

ADHD Parenting: Smoking Among Teens With ADHD

Adolescence is a period of experimentation and peer pressure. It is also the stage where your ADHD child may develop damaging habits that could carry on into adulthood. If your son or daughter is experimenting with cigarette smoking, do try to intervene with your ADHD parenting skills. A new study by researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital shows that smoking teens and adolescents with ADHD are more likely to develop serious nicotine addiction. Additionally, they found that teens with more ADHD symptoms are more likely to be dependent on nicotine than those who have fewer symptoms.

The study involved looking at participants from two long-term studies (one on male teen smokers and the other on female teen smokers) that looked at a variety of factors compared to those of a control group of teens without ADHD. The study's authors discovered that those who had ADHD started smoking tobacco a year and a half before those in the control group did. 21% of the ADHD participants also reported normal to severe levels of nicotine use, as compared to less than 1% from the control group.

It's easy to see why teens with ADHD are more likely to be dependent on nicotine from tobacco. Nicotine is a stimulant that raises the levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is often deficient in individuals with the disorder. Dopamine is also referred to as the "pleasure chemical" because it produces feelings of reward and pleasure. This can explain why it is so difficult to kick the habit of smoking once it starts.

ADHD teens' increased dependence on tobacco is connected to the fact that nicotine is a stimulant; cigarette smoking probably helps them make up for their inability to concentrate and pay attention. A study published in Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry interviewed 1,066 10th grade students from different high schools. Those who had more symptoms of inattention were discovered to be three times more likely to have smoked or to be current smokers. The study also notes that while inattentive behavior is significantly associated to cigarette smoking, symptoms of impulsivity and hyperactivity are not.

While cigarette smoking can help improve attention in the short run, it causes serious health problems and can be counterproductive. A paper from the Archives of Internal Medicine shows that smoking can cause memory problems and impair reasoning during middle age. Although middle age is a long way off from adolescence, teens can get addicted to nicotine in just a matter of weeks - a habit that they can bring with them well into adulthood. Get your child to stop smoking with these tips.

Understand what's going on

The easiest thing to do is to tell your child to quit smoking. But instead of threatening or commanding him or her, find out what made your child start. Is your teen just trying to fit in with friends, or is the smoking due to stress? Once you understand the reasons behind the smoking, you'll be able to address the issue and get your teen to stop smoking eventually.

Point out the cons

The obvious consequences of smoking like lung cancer and heart attacks are too far off in the future to be a real concern for a teen. Instead, point out the immediate negative aspects of cigarette smoking. Here is a list you can start with.

The price of a pack of cigarettes. If you live in a major city like San Francisco or New York, a single pack of cigarettes can cost $10. Mention that there are many other things you can buy with $10, and ask your teen to calculate how much money he or she will be wasting on cigarettes each month.
Appeal to your child's vanity. Point out that cigarette smoking makes clothes, hair, and breath smell bad.
Smoking causes lethargy. If you smoke a certain number of sticks, cigarettes can work like a sedative. Talk about how this can affect sports performance or energy levels for other activities.

Dr. Yannick Pauli is an expert on natural approaches to ADHD and the author of the popular self-help home-program The Unritalin Solution. He is Director of the Centre Neurofit in Lausanne, Switzerland and has a passion taking care of children with ADHD. Click on the link for more great information about ADHD parenting.

ADHD Parenting: Smoking Among Teens With ADHD

Adolescence is a period of experimentation and peer pressure. It is also the stage where your ADHD child may develop damaging habits that could carry on into adulthood. If your son or daughter is experimenting with cigarette smoking, do try to intervene with your ADHD parenting skills. A new study by researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital shows that smoking teens and adolescents with ADHD are more likely to develop serious nicotine addiction. Additionally, they found that teens with more ADHD symptoms are more likely to be dependent on nicotine than those who have fewer symptoms.

The study involved looking at participants from two long-term studies (one on male teen smokers and the other on female teen smokers) that looked at a variety of factors compared to those of a control group of teens without ADHD. The study's authors discovered that those who had ADHD started smoking tobacco a year and a half before those in the control group did. 21% of the ADHD participants also reported normal to severe levels of nicotine use, as compared to less than 1% from the control group.

It's easy to see why teens with ADHD are more likely to be dependent on nicotine from tobacco. Nicotine is a stimulant that raises the levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is often deficient in individuals with the disorder. Dopamine is also referred to as the "pleasure chemical" because it produces feelings of reward and pleasure. This can explain why it is so difficult to kick the habit of smoking once it starts.

ADHD teens' increased dependence on tobacco is connected to the fact that nicotine is a stimulant; cigarette smoking probably helps them make up for their inability to concentrate and pay attention. A study published in Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry interviewed 1,066 10th grade students from different high schools. Those who had more symptoms of inattention were discovered to be three times more likely to have smoked or to be current smokers. The study also notes that while inattentive behavior is significantly associated to cigarette smoking, symptoms of impulsivity and hyperactivity are not.

While cigarette smoking can help improve attention in the short run, it causes serious health problems and can be counterproductive. A paper from the Archives of Internal Medicine shows that smoking can cause memory problems and impair reasoning during middle age. Although middle age is a long way off from adolescence, teens can get addicted to nicotine in just a matter of weeks - a habit that they can bring with them well into adulthood. Get your child to stop smoking with these tips.

Understand what's going on

The easiest thing to do is to tell your child to quit smoking. But instead of threatening or commanding him or her, find out what made your child start. Is your teen just trying to fit in with friends, or is the smoking due to stress? Once you understand the reasons behind the smoking, you'll be able to address the issue and get your teen to stop smoking eventually.

Point out the cons

The obvious consequences of smoking like lung cancer and heart attacks are too far off in the future to be a real concern for a teen. Instead, point out the immediate negative aspects of cigarette smoking. Here is a list you can start with.

The price of a pack of cigarettes. If you live in a major city like San Francisco or New York, a single pack of cigarettes can cost $10. Mention that there are many other things you can buy with $10, and ask your teen to calculate how much money he or she will be wasting on cigarettes each month.
Appeal to your child's vanity. Point out that cigarette smoking makes clothes, hair, and breath smell bad.
Smoking causes lethargy. If you smoke a certain number of sticks, cigarettes can work like a sedative. Talk about how this can affect sports performance or energy levels for other activities.

Dr. Yannick Pauli is an expert on natural approaches to ADHD and the author of the popular self-help home-program The Unritalin Solution. He is Director of the Centre Neurofit in Lausanne, Switzerland and has a passion taking care of children with ADHD. Click on the link for more great information about ADHD parenting.

Parenting Teens With Love And Logic (Updated and Expanded Edition)

Parents need help to teach their teens how to make decisions responsibly--and do so without going crazy or damaging the relationship.

Parenting Teens with Love and Logic , from the duo who wrote Parenting with Love and Logic , empowers parents with the skills necessary to set limits, teach important skills, and encourage decision-making in their teenagers.

Covering a wide range of real-life issues teens face--including divorce, ADD, addiction, and sex--this book gives you the tools to help your teens find their identity and grow in maturity.

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Disconnected: Parenting Teens in a MySpace World

Parents worry they don't have the understanding or training to be able to care for their kids in a world that is increasingly superficial, politicized, and performance driven. Disconnected makes the concepts and strategies described in the bestselling Hurt: Inside the World of Today's Teenagers accessible to parents. After the overwhelming response to Hurt, authors Chap and Dee Clark here equip parents with an up-to-date, realistic parenting book that doesn't ignore the harsh realities of adolescent life. It builds a foundation for parents by describing exactly how things have changed, takes them through the various developmental stages their children go through, and gives them workable paradigms for parenting.

Price: $12.99

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