ADHD: Do You Really Understand It?

Understanding ADHD

What is it?

ADHD (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is a complicated disorder of the brain affecting children and adults throughout the world. In this condition, the brain’ s executive functionalities are impaired. Executive functions refer to the collection of cognitive process, which is the ability of a human being to acquire and process the knowledge from experience, senses and vision. People suffering from ADHD have difficulty focusing, controlling their impulses and systemization.

There are numerous misunderstandings related to ADHD among people as they consider it as a mental illness. This assumption is absolutely incorrect.Through brain imaging, clinical research and neuroscience, it is proved that it is neither a disorder of behaviour nor a mental illness. You might be intrigued to know that it is not a particular disability of learning also. It is basically a developmental impairment of the brain’s system of self-management.

Facts

Below are mentioned a few facts related to ADHD that might clarify the myths among people:

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, males are three times more prone to be diagnosed with ADHD than females.
The most secure age in identifying the ADHD condition in a child is of 7 years.
Eating too much sugar does not causes ADHD.
The cause of ADHD is not due to bad parenting, too much TV, bad teachers, family issues, moral failure, bad schools, or food allergies. Research unveiled the fact that it caused due to highly genetic or brain-based disorder. At times both factors can cause it.
The onset of ADHD symptoms generally can be observed from 3 to 6 years of age.
ADHD is not a phase that can affect children, but it also increases with age to your adulthood.
It can also cause hyperfocus. It means a person with this condition if given a task will focus on it and ignore the rest of the world.
Having ADHD does not increase your chances of attracting other diseases or conditions. However, few children suffer from an array of disabilities.
Symptoms in cases of women and girls are different from those in men & boys at many times. You can overlook them easily.
Adult ADHD in adults might result in a flow of creativity that will enable to think distinctly than most people perceive the same thing or concept.
A study conducted by researchers at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) shows that a rich diet of omega 6 & omega 3 during pregnancy can increase the chances of your child to have ADHD
People suffering from ADHD have higher chances to have Parkinson’s disease
Women with ADHD condition suffer from anxiety issues

Causes Of ADHD

There is no apparent reason as to why in ADHD brain differs. The most definite proof is that it is obtained genetically in most cases. Majorly children get it either from their parents or relatives. Below are the causes of ADHD:

Hereditary: In case any relative or their parents have ADHD, increases the chances of the baby to have ADHD. Sometimes, this condition runs in the family, and the child inherits this condition.
Pregnancy: Few types of research on ADHD has been proved that diet taken during the pregnancy effects this condition. The food intake during pregnancy should not have omega 3 & omega 6, it can increase the chances of a child to have ADHD.
Brain Damage: Either the child or an adult has suffered a head injury causing ADHD. The child can also incur the head injury while in womb increasing his chances of having ADHD.
Brain structure & functionality: It is found in brain scans that there is a difference in the size of a few areas of the brain structure of people affected with ADHD and a few areas larger in comparison to a brain scan of other people.One more reason might be that the neurotransmitters are not working as it should or there is an imbalance.
Epilepsy: People having epilepsy also have higher chances of ADHD.

Symptoms

Symptoms In Children

Below are mentioned a few symptoms that you might find in children suffering from ADHD:

Trouble understanding the needs of others
Get easily distracted
Unable to follow any rules or leave projects unfinished
Remain self-involved, ignoring people around them
Unable to follow a schedule
Trouble managing daily assignments
Intrude in conversations without letting others finish or unable to wait for their turn to speak up
Might have temper tantrums as they won’t be able to manage their emotions and have frequent outbursts
They will not be able to sit still as they have a habit of fidgeting
Children will tend to daydream and completely shun the world around them
Often lose their belongings
Lack of focus in an activity for long
They might make simple mistakes; however, it doesn’t imply that they are not intelligent or that they are lazy

Hyperactivity: In an ADHD child

They will fidget, squirm or bounce while sitting
Unable to sit in one place for a long time
Difficulty to play quietly
Remain restless by constantly moving, climbing on something or running.
Can be excessively talkative
Remain continuously active or busy throughout the day without a minute’s rest

Impulsivity: In an ADHD child

Have difficulty in waiting for their turn
They abruptly start talking or cannot wait to answer
Hinder others in the midst when others are speaking

Symptoms In Adults

Adults symptoms of ADHD are mentioned below:

They suffer from anxiety
They are persistently late or have long-term forgetfulness
They have low self-esteem
Face constant issues at work front
Face problems managing their anger
They give reactions impulsively without thinking ahead of the consequences
In a few cases, they abuse substances or are addicted to them
They are disorganised
They linger on making a decision or doing a task
They tend to get frustrated very easily
They also tend to get very bored very soon
Face problems focussing while reading
Have mood swings
Feel severe self-doubt, become gloomy and suffer through depression
Have relationship issues

Symptoms In Women

Things for women become difficult with ADHD due to the set expectation in our society or their role they generally take up in a family. They are seen as a primary caretaker, organizing everything, keeping affairs of the house in order, remembering birthdays etc. Often women with ADHD feel that their lives are out of control or in chaos, and daily tasks may seem difficult to manage. She may have difficulty in managing these tasks as she is having trouble managing her own life, so it becomes impossible for her. Such expectation takes a toll on women as it increases the feeling of being inadequate.

There are a few similarities in symptoms of women and men as they both feel overwhelmed, exhausted, low self-esteem, psychological distress, and severe stress. Women often feel that their life is getting out of their control, and everything seems chaotic and everyday responsibilities seems to unmanageable.

Below are a few instances that might help you understand how they manifest in Women suffering from ADHD:

For instance, the clothes and other things in your home are unmanaged. No matter how much you try, still, are unable to tidy your house for more than one or two days.
When working in an office, you are bothered by the noises around you and prefer to work after the office hours as it is quieter.
You try to look normal all the time so that nobody can understand the real you.
You feel being overwhelmed or unable to cope up with situations around you. It seems you are in a bad place and things are slipping out of your hand.
You feel overwhelmed and reserved, so you avoid going to parties and other social gatherings
You are only interested in talking when you are speaking or about the things or topic of your interest other than that your mind strays
You feel that you are unable to manage your friendship due to complex social rules.
You are more talkative than anyone else.
You were known as a tomboy during your childhood years and were more energetic
You feel that you are unable to manage money and cannot pay bills on time
You tend to overspend when you in emotional turmoil or facing issues. For instance, you feeling inadequate in a relationship and you buy yourself lipsticks or clothes to make you feel good about yourself.
While shopping you feel happy or it lifts your spirit, however, you feel concerned after overspending
You try to more organized and to do so you invest a lot of times, money and analysis on the product but end up not using them.
When people visit your home, you feel embarrassed as your house is not in order
You hope that you become a better life partner, friend, or mother. You might also feel to do things as other people are doing, such as others can keep your house in order, always able to make new dishes and be punctual.
People might perceive that you do not bother when you are unable to do things that women are expected in our society to do.
You take a longer time than other people to decide what to purchase in a grocery store.
You feel that your life is standing still only trying to dodging failure and countering the situations. You are unable to move forward with your goals.
You have an overwhelming inbuilt frustration and that you have not achieved success as your potential.
Even the littlest things can set you off, making you very emotional.
You are unable to unwind and decompress due to continuing fixation on something.

Numerous women are comforted when they came to know that the struggle with their behaviour is due to ADHD.

Conclusion

ADHD is a complex developmental impairment which causes the children, men & women to behave in the manner they do. By understanding the reason affecting their behaviour will prepare you how to work as a support system for that person. Understanding is a bridge that will make you feel closer to them and not resenting their behaviour. It is a lot work for the family handling people suffering with ADHD and might also need support. Always look out for help when needed and do not get crushed by the increasing responsibility. It is the emotional & mental support that will help the person suffering from ADHD overcome their obstacles.