Is It ADHD?
Ivy Griffin
If you’ve been in a school, at a doctor’s office, or even frequented social media lately, you may have noticed that ADHD has been getting a lot of attention in recent years. While there is a bit of controversy about whether ADHD is over- or under-diagnosed, there’s no question that ADHD is on a lot of peoples’ minds these days.
So, what is it?
Officially, ADHD (Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) has a standard definition with specific-ish criteria; those are found in the DSM-5, an unwieldy tome that your therapist probably has a love-hate relationship with. In a nutshell, ADHD is a chronic (persistent) condition featuring difficulty concentrating, restlessness, and impulsive behaviors. It’s all about executive functioning, the thing your brain does that regulates emotions, organizes thoughts, and lets you choose whether to act on them.
If that’s not specific enough, think about
The conversations you have; ever lose track of what people say to you, in real time?
Or maybe you’re the kind of person who always fidgets, can’t wait in line, or has a habit of finishing others’ sentences.
Have you consistently, over a period of months or years, found yourself reading a few paragraphs, and needing to re-read them again, and again, and again just to retain the info?
It could feel hard, even like a hassle, to go about a task in the order you’re “supposed” to use —A to B to C to D… all the way to Z; boring, right?
If you’re feeling called out by any of this, it’s important to know that there are resources available to you, and you’re certainly not alone. Even people without ADHD, and especially younger people, are in the process of developing their executive functioning skills — things like time management, planning, and emotion regulation.
If you’re curious if any of this applies to you, what can you do?
Reach out to a trusted adult. A parent or caregiver, maybe a teacher or doctor or therapist you have a decent relationship with; these people are key. They can point you in the right direction and even assist you with an assessment. This can clear up your questions about your own approach to life, and also hook you up with medical and school-based supports.
Talk to a friend or family member who has similar experiences. Even if they’re a “civilian” (a.k.a. not a doctor, psychiatric nurse, therapist/counselor) they may be able to share what the assessment experience was like for them, or what made them curious about whether they had ADHD.
Consult a legit online source. Unfortunately, we don’t all have accepting and supportive family and friends. It might not feel safe to share what’s going on inside your head. We’ve all been in this position for one reason or other. That’s when we turn to our dear friend l’internet. There are loads of helpful social media accounts sharing individuals’ experience of being curious about, being diagnosed with, and living with ADHD. There is also a lot of misinformation on the internet. It’s important to put your Online Media Consumer hat on and assess how well-informed your sources are. Luckily, there are sites out there with access to some standard assessment tools. While these are not enough to provide an official diagnosis, you can at least get the ball rolling and start to answer some basic questions about yourself.
When it comes to our executive functioning, every human being is on a spectrum. Even “neurotypical” people can have ADHD traits, and vice versa. What’s most important is to treat yourself with compassion — no matter your neurotype, you are the only person you’re obligated to spend the rest of your life with. How well do you treat them? You may have weaknesses that feel like “deficits”, but your strengths exist, too. If you have had even 1 friend in your entire life, then your strengths have been valued by others, and more than likely, they make the world a more fun, dynamic and pleasant place for all of us.
Warmly,
he/him
Supervised by Danielle Kardum, LMFT #114847
Thrive Therapy & Counseling