What is ADHD?
Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) is a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development. Although typically associated with children, this disorder can be diagnosed at any age. The “hyperactive” part of the title for ADHD can be deceiving because not all individuals with ADHD display symptoms of hyperactivity or impulsivity. Some people struggle with inattentiveness and others may have a combination of hyperactivity and inattention. Inattention can also be misunderstood. Those who have this type of ADHD struggle to focus on what they need to focus, but have the capability to hyperfocus on what they want to focus on. Their focus is directed on preferred tasks versus non-preferred; which can be challenging to complete obligatory tasks.
Recently, ADHD has gained more attention in the media and prevalence seems to be on the rise in schools. However, the hallmarks and collective characteristics of ADHD identified in individuals have been around for hundreds of years. It wasn’t until the 1970s that the diagnostic criteria were developed for ADHD. The increase in diagnoses can be attributed to increased awareness about the disorder and its symptoms, which make it easier to detect. With more treatments available, doctors are more apt to test and diagnose.
What Causes ADHD and Will It Go Away?
As awareness about ADHD increases, so does the research. Research indicates that there can be many correlations between genetic and environmental factors and increasing the likelihood of developing ADHD; but there are no definitive causes. A common misconception some parents may have about ADHD is that their children will grow out of it as they get older. It can look different in adulthood and some symptoms can have less of an impact as children get older, but it never fully goes away. There are many strategies and treatment options that people can use to help manage their symptoms. Other misconceptions parents, teachers, and other adults can have about children who have ADHD is that they are “lazy”, they “don’t care”, or they are a “problem child”. Language can have a significant impact. People with ADHD have different brain structures and circuit functioning than the average developing person, so their behaviors will be different. Being mindful and increasing our awareness of our own perceptions of people with ADHD is an important factor in supporting them.
What Can We Do About It?
Be mindful. There are a lot of people on social media telling you what it means to have ADHD, how to diagnose it, and what it looks like. If you are wondering if you or someone you know has ADHD, we have licensed therapist’s who can help provide diagnostic clarification. It’s a complex disorder that often co-occurs with bipolar, depression, autism spectrum disorder, anxiety, and substance use, which means it can sometimes be challenging to distinguish.
There are many options to help manage ADHD! Non-medical options can include cognitive and behavioral cognitive therapies, parent training, organizational skills interventions, and utilizing a smaller, immediate reward system versus a larger, delayed one. If you are considering medication as an option, please consult a prescriber. Medications can help with better performance in school, increased impulse control, and improve overall brain functioning.
Having ADHD can be challenging for the people who have it, and the people that help care for them. However, there are so many benefits to having ADHD as well. People with ADHD often have energy, the ability to hyperfocus, are spontaneous, creative, have great problem-solving skills, can offer different perspectives, are curious, explorative, courageous, resilient, and often do well in crisis. These people are our educators, first responders, medical professionals, entertainers, artists, and so much more.
It’s also important to take cultural norms into consideration and use a more diverse sample of people in our research. There is still so much more we still need to learn. Talk to a
licensed clinician at Restoration Psychology to find out more, or if you think you or someone you know may have ADHD. At Restoration, we also offer
Psychological Assessments for children and adults. The sooner we know, the better we can support and help make their lives a little easier.
Resources
Faraone, S. V., Banaschewski, T., Coghill, D., Zheng, Y., Biederman, J., Bellgrove, M. A., Newcorn, J. H., Gignac, M., Al Saud, N. M., Manor, I., Rohde, L. A., Yang, L., Cortese, S., Almagor, D., Stein, M. A., Albatti, T. H., Aljoudi, H. F., Alqahtani, M. M. J., Asherson, P., … Wang, Y. (2021). The World Federation of ADHD International Consensus Statement: 208 Evidence-based conclusions about the disorder. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 128, 789–818. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.01.022
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/adhd/Pages/Myths-and-Misconceptions.aspx
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10551976/
https://www.additudemag.com/best-jobs-adhd-careers/
https://www.healthline.com/health/adhd/best-jobs
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