Born William James Adams Jr., Will.I.Am showed an interest in music from an early age. Before his pursuit of a musical career, though, he attended raves and other events with his friends whenever possible. It wasn’t until he was in high school that he met fellow music enthusiast Allan Pineda who’s more popularly known as apl.de.ap. Together they would go on to form the award-winning group, ‘The Black Eyed Peas’.
Apart from producing music with the group, Will.I.Am also has several solo albums and has produced music for other artists.
In 2013, the rapper opened up about his ADHD diagnosis. In fact, he’s attributed his typical style to the disorder.
In a recent interview with ‘ADDitude’, he states that he uses music to manage his ADHD. He goes on to add that “If you think about it, the songs I write are very ADHD-ish. They have five hooks in one, and it all happens in three minutes.”
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What Is ADHD?
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common mental disorders. While it typically affects children between the ages of 3 and 7, it can be diagnosed much later and even in adulthood.
People with the condition can exhibit different symptoms but a few of the usual issues include having trouble focusing, problems with keeping still and being impulsive.
These symptoms may also be expressed differently depending on your age. Children may have trouble going to sleep, organizing their tasks, and getting ready for school on time.
On the other hand, adults may be more prone to risk-taking, have trouble following instructions, and feel restless all the time.
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How The Illness Is Diagnosed
The main symptoms of ADHD are sorted into inattentive type, hyperactive/impulsive type, or combined type categories. To be diagnosed with the disorder, you’ll need to have at least 6 symptoms from the first two categories. Some of the symptoms attributed to inattentiveness are forgetting daily tasks, appearing not to listen when being spoken to, and disliking tasks that require prolonged mental effort. Under impulsiveness, you’ll find symptoms such as fidgeting, talking too much, and interrupting others during a conversation.
It should be noted that it tends to be easier to diagnose children than adults because some people have developed coping mechanisms that may mask their symptoms.
In that case, doctors may look for fewer than 6 symptoms and ask about your childhood medical history. While diagnosing ADHD, the doctor may also check for other illnesses that can accompany the disorder. For example, people with ADHD can have depression, anxiety, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and dyslexia.
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How Is ADHD Treated?
There is no cure for ADHD. Instead, your doctor will focus on a program that manages the symptoms. This program can be based on a combination of medication and therapy depending on what works for you.
However, combination treatment is usually recommended for children. The prescribed drugs can include stimulants such as methylphenidate or amphetamine and antidepressants. Since each drug has side effects, your doctor will need to discuss how to cope with them. A few of the possible effects are dizziness, headaches, irritability, depression, and decreased appetite.
Where therapy is concerned, children may benefit from behavior therapy, where they are taught to control their ADHD, social skills training, and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). Their parents are also encouraged to talk openly about the disorder and educate them on what to expect. For adults, the focus may mainly be on CBT and psychotherapy, which helps with recognizing your symptoms as well as managing them.
It’s important to note that your ADHD treatment will rarely be set in stone. Your doctor will likely change doses based on how the symptoms react and it’s common to take breaks from certain types of medication for assessment purposes.
Many Americans are living with ADHD. While it’s more easily diagnosed in children, it’s never too late to get an official diagnosis and start the treatment program you need. If you’re having any of the symptoms attributed to the disorder, it’s best to see your doctor as soon as possible.
