What is ADHD?
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a developmental disorder which can result in many afflictions to all areas of life if left undiagnosed. Life with Adult ADHD if left unmanaged may often seem chaotic, uncontrolled and turbulent. Although the exact cause is not yet fully understood, a combination of certain factors can indeed contribute. These factors include:
- Genetics
- Brain chemistry
- Issues surrounding pregnancy or childbirth.
As ADHD is a developmental disorder, the common belief is that it cannot develop in adults without first appearing in childhood. Although this does not mean that if you are undiagnosed as a child then you do not suffer from this condition. In fact, it is often quite the opposite for many cases due to the lack of prevalent knowledge before the turn of the new millennium, and largely developed over the past decade.
When thinking about Adult ADHD, the common experience is of having developed skills and tools to be able to overcome the limitations that ADHD imposes, such as difficulties with concentration, focus, impulsivity, etc. However, there is always a turning point when these skills are no longer enough to compensate for the deficits; it is at this point that ADHD becomes a possible explanation and help should then be sought.
It is often seen that ADHD is overlooked, even when the features are present in childhood. Sometimes high levels of intelligence and motivation can compensate for the difficulties. Sometimes anxiety and obsessional behavioural traits can arise from difficulties that occur, and these traits can hide or compensate for the deficits. Often the individual hides their difficulties, which makes it even more of a burden to carry. When the person seeks help, the possibility of ADHD is too often dismissed or never considered as few adult clinicians have formal training in neurodevelopmental disorders.
Invariably, there is a tipping point where the level of complexity and the demands cannot be overcome by the adaptive coping strategies and intelligence levels, it is then when difficulties can arise, leading to development of anxiety and depressive symptoms.
What are the symptoms of ADHD?
You may have been able to compensate for symptoms as a child, or perhaps labelled ‘a dreamer’ or ‘bad student’. However, you may have noticed that problems begin to increase in parallel to your adult responsibilities.
Symptoms of ADHD have different levels of severity which are usually unique to each individual, some of these symptoms include:
- Disorganisation
- Forgetfulness
- Impulsivity
- Emotional difficulties (especially surrounding the management of anger and frustration)
- Hyperactivity (these symptoms tend to become more subtle or internal as one grows older but can present as feelings of inner restlessness, agitation, racing thoughts or feeling ‘perpetually on the go’)
- Hyper focus (a paradoxical symptom which can occur as a coping mechanism for distraction, this leads to a tendency to become absorbed in certain tasks stimulating to the individual which can be destructive if not appropriately channelled)
How does ADHD affect daily life?
ADHD symptoms can have wide-reaching effects into all aspects of life, it may be time to consider a diagnosis if they are persistent and severe enough to cause ongoing problems in more than one area of your life. You may feel as if you are struggling to juggle everything, or perhaps people have labelled you ‘irresponsible’ or ‘lazy’ due to difficulties in managing tasks. Areas of life that will be affected include:
- Unstable relationships
- Physical and mental health problems (including low self-esteem, substance abuse, forgetting vital medical appointments and medications)
- Poor work or academic performance (it is common to feel underachievement if symptoms are not managed correctly)
- Financial difficulties
These effects can often result in frustration, embarrassment, hopelessness and loss of confidence. A common misconception is that ADHD can seem like a problem with willpower. This is categorically incorrect, it is actually due to the brain’s ‘hardwiring’, therefore essentially a chemical issue in the areas of the brain responsible for management. Having ADHD does not however mean that you are ‘designed to fail’ – a diagnosis could help provide valuable insight and understanding of yourself, give relief and hope, and act as the key milestone for creating structures to cope with, and effectively manage your condition.
Does ADHD cause other conditions?
ADHD does not cause other psychological or developmental problems, although other conditions can commonly co-exist in those with ADHD. These can include mood disorders and anxiety disorders, which can be especially amplified due to certain symptoms of ADHD providing challenges and setbacks which worsen the effects.
In fact, there is indeed synergy between the conditions of ADHD and anxiety. Due to the symptoms of ADHD and their common effects on the functioning of one’s daily life, people often find themselves suffering from symptoms of anxiety as they struggle to manage the effects of ADHD. However, there is often a mutual reduction in the severity of symptoms when working in symbiosis to address and effectively manage ADHD.
What is the difference between ADD and ADHD?
- There are 3 types of ADHD:
- Inattentive
- Hyperactive/ Impulsive
- Combined
ADD is therefore a type of ADHD, Inattentive ADHD is often the more accurate term when ADD is being referenced. It usually relates to individuals whom display enough symptoms of inattention yet not hyperactivity or impulsivity. It is commonly understood that this confusion originated in 1994 when the condition had the umbrella term of ADHD, now, the 3 distinct types each have their own terms.
What is the definition of deficit?
The term deficit can be understood as an amount by which a resource falls short of requirement or expectation. It is used in medical vocabulary often as a ‘neurological deficit’ to describe abnormal functioning of a specific area in the brain. This relative to ADHD therefore refers to the difficulties one may encounter with focus and organisation, which can lead an individual to seem like they display the following examples:
- Forgetfulness
- Disorganisation
- Easily distracted
- Unable to follow through on instructions
What is the definition of impulsive?
The term impulsive can be understood as the behavioural tendencies to act without thinking, this can be especially pertinent for those with ADHD if they do not have structured ways in which to cope with impulsive feelings. Examples of this behaviour can include:
- Difficulty waiting a turn for something (loss/ little patience)
- Intruding or interrupting conversations
- Engaging in risky activities or behaviour without considering the subsequent consequences
What should I do if I think I might be suffering from Symptoms of ADHD?
If you, or someone you know, relate to elements of this article then it may perhaps be a good idea to explore the idea of a diagnosis. If these symptoms are significant enough to cause an interruption to more than one area of your life then a diagnosis could help to provide relief, understanding, and be the first steppingstone to a more structured approach to coping and living with your condition. If you are considering professional guidance, it is extremely important to reach out to those who are able to provide such assistance. Below are some handy tips to consider during the process of diagnosis:
- DO NOT self-diagnose your condition
- DO NOT self-medicate, if you think you have ADHD it is imperative to be professionally diagnosed before considering medication
- DO reach out to the professionals, perhaps make a list of the symptoms you relate to or print of a list of symptoms and circle the ones you may struggle with the most. If you can, reach out to a close friend or family member who may be able to help you
- DO make enquiries at your GP or search online for qualified adult ADHD specialists who will have the necessary skillsets to diagnose and create treatment plans
- DO research different approaches to treating ADHD, medication is not the only method with which one may manage ADHD, you may find that after a diagnosis of the condition, you do not want to use medication. In these instances, a holistic approach may be more suitable for you or your loved one.
