When shopping is no holiday

Holiday shopping is stressful enough for most of us, but for people with attention-deficit (hyperactivity) disorder or addictive personalities, it can be a "nightmare," says a Tallahassee woman with ADHD.

"I don't do my holiday shopping in the malls," said Vicki Spitzer, a nurse who works with children who have ADHD and whose children also have the disorder she has battled all her life.

Spitzer said holiday shopping strikes at several areas that typify people with ADHD: impulsive behavior, distractibility and hyperactivity.

"We are impulsive and easily frustrated," Spitzer said. "When I think about going to the mall at Christmastime, it's just a nightmare."

The combination of crowds, traffic and breaks in routine that often occur during the holiday season can trigger information overload, Spitzer said, the last thing a person already dealing with too much information needs.

In addition, the confusion can override coping strategies that help control ADHD or addictive impulses.

Spitzer said people who have success dealing with ADHD have taught themselves to avoid situations that trigger the disorder or avoid difficult situations.

For example, she said, making lists or not driving in rush hour traffic help control impulsive behavior.

Kristen Schmidt, a Tallahassee psychologist who specializes in treating ADHD patients, said from 3 percent to 5 percent of schoolchildren have the disorder and from 2 percent to 4 percent of all adults have it.

"Everything is sort of on fast-forward" for people with ADHD, Schmidt said. "The holidays increase the pressure."

ADHD is organic in its origins, and there is strong evidence it may be hereditary, Schmidt said.

There is no cure, she said, but a combination of medication and behavior modification can help children and adults with ADHD lead fairly normal lives.

"It can be managed very successfully, without a doubt," Schmidt said.

During the holidays, Schmidt said, the most important thing people with ADHD can do is try to control exposure to difficult situations and prepare for those situations if they are unavoidable.

"If you are an adult with ADHD or have a child with ADHD, you have to realize you or the child are going to be over-stimulated by holiday shopping," Schmidt said, "so plan ahead."

"Planning and anticipating are probably the two most important areas," she said.

Schmidt said children should make what she called a "no-holds barred" list for toys they want, then write a more realistic list. She said the same advice applies when making a list of things to buy for other people.

Schmidt said if you realize shopping is going to present a problem, then leave the children at home with a baby sitter or get someone to shop for you.

Learning to recognize situations that exacerbate your ADHD problems is the key to managing the disorder, Schmidt said.

Clare B. Jones, who has a Ph.D. in psychology and is on the board of Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, a national ADHD awareness group, said holidays are a very difficult time for people with ADHD or those with addictive personality problems.

"It's definitely a pressure point for them," said Jones, who has just written an unpublished article called "How to Stay Cool Through Yule" that is aimed at helping people handle holiday stress.

"When you are talking about people who have difficulty planning," said Jones, describing one of the hallmarks of someone with ADHD, "and then put them into a time (like the holidays) that requires more planning, it is very difficult for them."

Treatment of ADHD can be even more problematical, Jones said, if the patient is very intelligent or creative - two hallmarks of people with ADHD.

Spitzer agreed.

"They tend to be very creative people," Spitzer said, "with a tendency to think outside the box."

"We don't do well in traditional classrooms," she said. "We have so much energy we have to move around."

Spitzer said the key to dealing with problems caused by ADHD or addictive personalities is to find a way to deal with issues that does not increase stress levels.

"I can't handle the (holiday) crowds and the traffic," Spitzer said, "so I shop in small stores and I don't drive."

"It's all about getting the right fit."

DEALING WITH ADHD

Here are some tips for dealing with holiday shopping if you have ADHD or addiction problems:

Make a list of things you want to buy and stick to it. People with ADHD often struggle with the lack of routine that holidays create; stress from noisy mall crowds and other distractions can trigger impulsive behavior, memory problems or a return to addictive behavior.

Parents of hyperactive children should avoid shopping malls, if possible. Hiring a baby sitter and leaving a child with ADHD at home reduces stress.

Shopping in small stores can help control the "information overload" that creates stress. Some experts say shopping online may be a good idea.

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