Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Inattention and/or hyperactivity which started at a young age and is persistent, that interferes with functioning or development.
Your life matters
ADHD can impact everyday life in some big ways. If you feel you may have ADHD, your feelings are valid and you deserve support.
What does ADHD feel like?
While there are official criteria for diagnosing ADHD, some have described it as feeling like:
Paying attention to everything at the same time
Many have described ADHD less like they have a hard time paying attention to one thing, and more like they are paying attention to everything at the same time which makes focusing on one thing difficult.
Impulsive all the time
One of the main symptoms of ADHD is impulsivity. Some with ADHD have described boredom as being "painful" and anything that is less boring is worth trying. This can lead to trouble when the impulsive choice leads to things that negatively impact life like drugs, gambling, or unsafe sex.
Feeling less intelligent than others
This is an important one because it is one of the biggest dangers of untreated ADHD. It does not naturally come with the diagnosis, but kids that get told to pay attention, calm down, and act right their whole lives often develop negative thoughts about themselves.
Being "driven by a motor"
Often folks with anxiety have to fidget or move at all times or they become uncomfortable. Kids are especially impacted by this.
You are doing physics in Grand Central Station
When there are hundreds of things to look at and hundreds of thoughts going through your mind, it can feel like there is unending "noise" that can make seemingly simple tasks difficult.
Help is available
ADHD is not something to "tough out". It is caused by factors like chemical imbalances that are best treated with therapy and/or medications.
What causes ADHD?
While ADHD is thought to be mostly genetic, there are some factors that can worsen symptoms or make it more impactful like:
Things that happened when you were young.
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are events that happen during childhood that can have an impact on someone their whole life. Examples include being exposed to violence, neglect, drug or alcohol use, and several more. ACEs are associated with higher rates of ADHD development and other types of mental health diagnoses.
Sometimes it's something you're born with.
Genetics can play a large role in ADHD. This does not mean people born with those genetics are destined to get ADHD symptoms, but they can be more likely to develop it sometime in their life, especially if they have other risk factors.
Life can be really hard.
Big life changes can be hard on our minds. Things like death, breakups, financial changes, and many other experiences can worsen or bring about ADHD symptoms. Even positive changes can cause stress that might make it more difficult to manage symptoms.
Your mind and body are connected.
Certain exposures while in the womb are thought to increase risk of the development of ADHD symptoms. Dealing with medical conditions that cause pain or discomfort may chip away at resilience and make it more difficult to manage ADHD symptoms.
Things can add up.
Having other mental health conditions may make managing ADHD more difficult. Many conditions have symptoms that make it more difficult to focus and pay attention.
Can we improve ADHD ourselves?
While ADHD itself is not something that "goes away", steps can be taken to help improve symptoms like:
What treatments help ADHD?
There are medication and non medication based treatments that have been shown to help with ADHD.
Medication
In some cases ADHD is best managed with medication, so it is important to become established with a psychiatric professional in order to receive the right medication treatment for you (if needed).
Non-Medication
It is also important to consult with a mental health professional about non-medication treatments. Some may still require referral or a prescription. Examples of non-medication treatments include:
- Therapy
- Vitamin modification
- Sunlight/Red light
- Lifestyle changes
- Therapeutic groups
Which treatment is best?
It is important to find a mental health specialist that blends best practices and your personal preferences, to help create a treatment plan that works best for you.