ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is a hot topic these days. And, as in any field, a hot topic attracts both information and misinformation. Let’s review 5 key things everyone should know about ADHD.
First: ADHD is a Brain-Thing
Technically we call this a neurodivergence, because ADHD brains diverge from what is statistically the norm. ADHD brains are not defective, they just operate differently. ADHD brains do not derive enough stimulation from ordinary, everyday activities, which is why people with ADHD are restless, inattentive, or hyperactive.
You don’t need a specialized neurodivergent psychologist to tell you that you can’t sit still or stay focused. However, most people with ADHD can live better lives with specially designed stimulant medications and support for proven strategies that improve executive functioning.
Second: ADHD can Produce Psychological Side-Effects
These are different for everyone, but the stress of living with undiagnosed ADHD in a world designed by non-ADHD people can lead to anxiety, shame, depression, and even OCD. People with ADHD are three times more likely to experience these psychological symptoms as people without ADHD.
While there is a relationship between ADHD and psychology, it is important to see this in perspective: people with ADHD are not lazy, irresponsible, or thoughtless, but often some of their behaviors are interpreted that way by others.
Therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be highly beneficial in managing ADHD .
Third: ADHD Therapists can be Critically Important Supports.
“ADHD therapist” is a broad term that, depending on context, includes (a) those who screen, assess, and diagnose; (b) those who manage ADHD medications; (c) those who provide lifestyle coaching with ADHD in mind; and (d) those who provide psychotherapy for broader issues who understand how ADHD impacts everything in a person’s life.
ADHD therapists can also include couple’s therapists who understand how ADHD can impact the growth and development of relationships. Other ADHD therapists have other specializations, such as PTSD, ASD, BPD, and other conditions that people with ADHD can also have.
Fourth: ADHD Therapists Recognize Several Inarguable ADHD Facts.
- ADHD is an inherited condition. It runs in families. Any individual could be an outlier in their family, but likely not, so it is best to step back and view an individual with ADHD in the context of their extended family.
- ADHD is something people are born with. While it is detectable and diagnosable in children, sometimes the effects aren’t understood until they’re problematic. There is often more at stake, for instance, in holding onto employment in adulthood than in finishing homework in elementary school.
- ADHD is a lifelong condition. There is no “cure” for ADHD. Properly prescribed, dosed, and managed medication and coaching can reduce the problems that may arise from having ADHD.
- ADHD stimulant medications are safe and effective. They are among the safest mental pharmacological interventions because they have a half-life of 8 to 12 hours and are complete metabolized overnight. They do not build up in your system.
- ADHD can present as inattentive, hyperactive, or a combination of these two sets of characteristics.
- ADHD can be understood as a chronic, problematic gap between intention and execution. Someone with ADHD knows as well as anyone else what’s important and what needs to get done. A high degree of distractibility and/or impulsivity interferes with task completion. ADHD therapy
- ADHD can be a source of strength in some circumstances. People with ADHD can thrive in fast-paced, stimulating environments, often better than people who don’t have ADHD. There is some evidence to suggest that ADHD is associated with high levels of creativity.
Fifth: ADHD Therapists Recognize Several ADHD Misconceptions.
- ADHD is not a biological fluke. Some speculate that in our evolutionary history those tribes with at least some members who were constantly on the lookout for both benefits (food sources) and threats (predators) survived where other tribes did not.
- ADHD is not caused by screen-time, food additives, or lack of attention by caregivers. People with ADHD may use screen time for stimulation, impulsively make bad food-choices, and or be deemed “hard to handle” by caregivers, but this is not why anyone has ADHD.
- ADHD is not something that people “grow out of.” Many people with milder ADHD symptoms can marshal resources and devise strategies that lead them to personal success without formal diagnosis or treatment. It is likely, however, that these people face more difficulties than they need to face.
- ADHD medications are not physiologically addictive. They metabolize rapidly and because they do not build up in your system withdrawal symptoms are very rare. Some people “abuse” ADHD medications by taking them without the oversight of regulated health professional, which is not recommended.
- ADHD does not present the same way in all people. We used to refer to people with inattentive presentation as “ADD” and people with hyperactive presentation as “ADHD,” but now we speak of ADHD having two (and possibly a combination of presentation.
- ADHD does not make people lazy or unreliable. Sometimes people with ADHD impulsively over-promise and then struggle to deliver on their promises, and this is unfairly attributed to their character.
- ADHD does not doom people to underachieving. People with ADHD go on to be successful partners, parents, and professionals. The writer of this article has ADHD, two master’s degrees, and two doctoral degrees, and is in successful private practice with an amazing business partner who also has ADHD.
Also Read: 10 ADHD myths vs facts
I hope this brief outline helps establish what current (2024) research says about ADHD and encourages anyone with ADHD to see the best ADHD therapy available.
So You Need Therapy helps adults and couples with personalized ADHD support. We offer psychotherapies, medication, and lifestyle coaching to guide people with ADHD to manage symptoms, realize their capabilities, rebuild their bonds, and reclaim their sense of self. Feel free to reach out without fearing judgment. Call us at 416.755.7206 or schedule an appointment: https://soyouneed.janeapp.com