| Impulsivity is the inability to consider the | | | | medications work by causing more dopamine or |
| consequences of your actions beforehand. Put | | | | norepinephrine (or both) to be released into the |
| simply, performing an action before thinking. For | | | | synapses, and by causing more of the |
| some parents treating impulsive behaviors simply | | | | transmitters to be retained in the synapses for a |
| means imposing stricter rules but this approach | | | | longer time. Specific medication names are Ritalin, |
| may not be effective with the ADHD personality. | | | | Dexedrine, Adderall, Desoxyn, Cylert, and Provigil. |
| Why? | | | | *Cognitive behavioral counseling: Cognitive |
| The answer lies deep within the brain. | | | | behavioral counseling is a systemic approach to |
| Neuroscientists are beginning to gain an | | | | changing the way a child thinks and acts using |
| understanding of brain chemicals well enough to | | | | conditioning and association. The therapist works |
| determine which chemicals are associated with | | | | with you and your child to find your problem |
| specific ADHD symptoms. Impulsiveness for | | | | behaviors and isolate the circumstances under |
| instance has to do with to much norepinephrine or | | | | which they tend to appear. Once the source of |
| too little dopamine in the brain. Distractibility is | | | | the problem has been isolated strategies are then |
| often a result of too much norepinephrine activity | | | | put into place to manage and/or change these |
| compared to the amount of dopamine activity. | | | | behaviors. One of the advantages of CBT over |
| Obsessiveness can be sign of too much dopamine | | | | prescription meds is a much lower rate of relapse. |
| in relation to the amount of serotonin. | | | | In summary, parenting an impulsive child is no |
| Neurotransmitters are brain chemicals that allow | | | | easy task. But by combining patience with a well |
| the brain to communicate, bridging the gap | | | | thought out treatment plan you can effectively |
| between synapses. So, if you child has neurological | | | | help your child to overcome impulsivity and |
| imbalance you may be able to temporarily protect | | | | perhaps eliminate the stress it has been causing in |
| them from themselves by imposing stricter rules | | | | your life. It is also possible that your doctor will |
| but you likely will not be able to change their way | | | | suggest a combination of the two therapies listed |
| of thinking, or their actions. | | | | above for treating impulsive behaviors. |
| What can be done? | | | | Additionally, many parents are choosing to |
| The two most commonly suggested treatments | | | | combine cognitive behavior therapy with natural |
| for impulsive behaviors in children are stimulant | | | | ADHD remedies. This all natural approach has |
| medications and behavioral therapy. | | | | shown to be a side effect free way of treating |
| *Stimulant medications: As discussed above | | | | impulsive behaviors in ADHD children and is option |
| impulsive behaviors are triggered by to much | | | | worth considering. |
| norepinephrine or too little dopamine. Stimulant | | | | |