Do you feel that, recently, everyone is talking about ADHD?
And yet, most of the time, it is done in a way that perpetuates stereotypes.
The other day, someone told me that a teacher at their daughter’s high school does not believe in her diagnosis “because, after all, she doesn’t run around the classroom all the time.”
ADHD is still often left undiagnosed in children, with more and more adults seeking help and trying to learn more about what it means for them to be an adult with ADHD. When we reviewed the questionnaire, several clients were surprised by how accurate the questions described them.
Others asked: ‘Why did no one tell me about it earlier? Why did no one catch it at school?’
What is ADHD?
So, what exactly is this ADHD?
The acronym comes from the English language, in which it expands on Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. It is a syndrome of neurodevelopmental, mental disorders primarily associated with abnormalities of the prefrontal cortex and reward center, which manifests as problems with executive functions related to maintaining attention and inhibiting impulses. Because of abnormal dopamine metabolism, activities, topics, and tasks, even those that are highly enjoyable, do not provide enough dopamine, causing attention spikes and rapid boredom. This is not out of laziness or weak willpower but precisely because the reduced amount of dopamine makes it harder to maintain interest.
Looking at the diagnostic side, ADHD is divided into three subtypes:
- inattentive type
- hyperactive-impulsive type
- combined type
The inattentive type, for example, can manifest as inattention and absentmindedness, loss of important objects, or an inability to plan the day and responsibilities.
The hyperactive-impulsive type can show through physical agitation and the need for constant movement, but it can also cause a feeling of having “a thousand thoughts per minute” and cause an inability to work on tasks without constantly jumping from one to another.
With the advancement of science and the growth of our knowledge of ADHD, the name of the disorder has become well overdue. People with ADHD do not suffer from an attention deficit, but the opposite: an excess of attention. Not all individuals experience hyperactivity, especially motor hyperactivity. Although ADHD is a disorder, its prevalence would rather prompt one to call it a trait.
For this reason, some researchers suggest a new name: VAST, or variable attention stimulus trait. Of course, this name is less catchy and ingrained in our consciousness than ADHD, so, for the time being, nothing suggests that any such change will be made. And I am not suggesting that we necessarily require the name to be replaced.
Yet, I find it interesting how names tend to influence our perception of things. Would we treat ADHD differently if it was known as VAST, instead?
You can read more about VAST here: https://www.additudemag.com/attention-deficit-disorder-vast/
MYTHS ABOUT ADHD
Let’s take a look at some of the most common myths associated with ADHD:
- Only Children Have ADHD
Well, no! ADHD is a disorder related to the functioning of the prefrontal cortex, and although the symptoms can change over time (following a simple pattern: the more difficult and stressful the period in life, the more severe the symptoms can be. For this reason, for example, many people noticed their symptoms intensifying after a year of lockdowns and the Covid-19 pandemic!)
ADHD is a commitment that lasts forever.
Children with ADHD grow up to be adults with ADHD.
Of course, often, the latter learn how to control their cravings and restrain their impulses and how to hide and compensate for their absentmindedness and forgetfulness over time. Such concealment of one’s neurodiverse traits to conform to social norms is often called masking. Unsurprisingly, it requires a lot of energy and can be extremely draining. After all, we are talking about hiding one’s personality and defining characteristics!
- ADHD Is Just An Excuse For Laziness And Lack Of Education
I have a big problem with the term “laziness” because it tends to be overused in common discourses and is very strongly politically charged. Usually, lazy people or groups are those whom someone else wants to control.
Working-class people are lazy because they sit down in front of the TV after hard work instead of bettering themselves or taking a yoga class.
A student is lazy because they sit down in front of the computer to play their favorite game for a couple of hours instead of working, no matter that they have had eight hours of classes in a row and that they are slowly experiencing burnout.
I’m not saying that laziness doesn’t exist, but it’s worth being careful whom we give that label and why.
In my work and personal life, I meet many people with ADHD. While they face many difficulties, laziness is not one of them. They tell me about the frustration they feel when they want to accomplish something but can’t, about how overwhelmed they feel, and about how angry their own powerlessness makes them. They want to do things; they have ambitions, dreams, and passions, but, often, they just can’t, and they don’t know why. What they experience is not laziness.
Remember the famous joke (or a parable) about the fish that was judged by its ability to climb trees?
This is why I want to talk a little about executive dysfunction — the topic that I will discuss in the COMIC soon.
To simplify it somewhat, the concept refers to a state of inability to get down to tasks and describes difficulties with planning and undertaking tasks that may often seem trivial. The phenomenon often manifests itself in a flurry of paralyzing thoughts that are impossible to stop and control. Looking from the outside, it would seem that such a person is doing nothing, while inside he or she is fighting a whirlwind of thoughts.
- In Need Of Speed: All Children With ADHD Are Unruly and Jump on Furniture
Although only one of the four letters of ADHD stands for hyperactivity, it is the one most often associated with the disorder. There are two misconceptions associated with it.
First: not every person with ADHD necessarily experiences hyperactivity. For example, this symptom is missing from the first subtype of ADHD, which is characterized only by issues with maintaining focus.
Second, hyperactivity does not necessarily only mean the inability to sit. Additionally, it can define an internal cognitive state. Some describe this condition as having “a thousand thoughts per second.” For others, it will simply mean a state of internal tension that demands an immediate response to a situation, and for others, it is simply impulsivity.
- Adhd Is Too Readily Diagnosed, And Doctors Are Too Eager To Prescribe Medication
When I hear such statements, it simply makes me sad because they confirm that prejudices and misunderstandings about mental health are still very common. Fortunately, awareness about them is changing, and we hear these kinds of sentences less and less often.
Both parts of this sentence can be answered similarly: the opposite. ADHD is still underdiagnosed or often confused with other disorders, such as Autism. On the other hand, more and more people are discovering the name ADHD for themselves, without a need for an official diagnosis.
Is medication alone, without therapeutic or coaching support and a deep understanding of oneself, enough to solve problems? In most situations: no. People are wonderfully complex, and many things influence how they experience the world from hormonal (im)balance, general health and fitness, to even (or especially) our diets.
Many of the difficulties resulting from ADHD can be effectively helped by therapy and coaching, but that’s not to say that medication isn’t incredibly helpful or even salutary.
At the same time, it is often the case that if a client or patient is experiencing exceptionally severe difficulties, it is first recommended that pharmacological help be incorporated before the process begins. The same is true in the case of ADHD. In my experience, ADHD medications can provide individuals with tremendous relief by focusing attention, leveling or alleviating executive dysfunction, raising motivation, but also leveling out the level of mood felt throughout the day or reducing the level of anxiety felt. Then, one can focus on working on other areas of life.
