There's alot of information online about many things, ADHD included. While some of that information is solid, plenty of it is only partially true, lacking in context, or just plain false. Finding accurate information online that will be helpful to you and your particular situation (or your child's) can be overwhelming, confusing, and frustrating, to say the least. In this series, I share some of my insights into ADHD, based on my understanding of the relevant research as well as my clinical experience, to offer some clarity on this topic.
What is ADHD?
ADHD is a developmental disorder (meaning present from birth and usually identifiable in childhood) of self-regulation or self-control. It is related to abnormalities in brain functioning and impacts a person's ability to meet demands in major areas of life, such as school, work, and relationships. It also often affects a person's ability to regulate their emotions, something that is not part of the current diagnostic criteria for ADHD but probably should be.
Is ADHD overdiagnosed?
The answer to this is: Yes and No. In most areas and populations, it is actually underdiagnosed. The symptoms of ADHD are interpreted as "bad" behavior or lack of intellectual ability in children, and as laziness in adults. More recently, as the mental health profession has embraced "trauma" as the cause of almost everything, ADHD is often misdiagnosed as either evidence of trauma or is overlooked in cases where an individual has also experienced one or more traumatic events (and all of their issues are attributed to the trauma). It can also be misdiagnosed if the person giving the diagnosis does not have the training or experience with this complex disorder to conduct a thorough evaluation of the person before drawing diagnostic conclusions. On the other hand, ADHD can be overdiagnosed in children whose brain function has been affected by overuse of screens (a post on Electronic Screen Syndrome is forthcoming). This may even be happening with teenagers and young adults now as daily, intensive use of screens becomes more and more normalized.
What are the best first steps when ADHD is suspected?
Get Tested and Properly Diagnosed. If you are an adult and think you have ADHD, the first thing to do is get tested to find out if you really have it. There are other disorders that have some of the symptoms of ADHD as primary or secondary symptoms, so it is important to be evaluated by a clinical psychologist or neuropsychologist with experience diagnosing ADHD. If it is your child that you suspect has ADHD, the same applies- they need to be tested, in person, by a clinical or neuropsychologist. A parent checklist of symptoms at the doctor's office is insufficient for diagnosing ADHD and represents low quality mental health care. Schools do not diagnose ADHD.
Actively Manage Your Life and Environment. In order to thrive and be successful in work and relationships, those who have ADHD need to actively manage their lives, including their immediate environments, more so than individuals who do not have ADHD. Order, intentional planning, self-care, and time management are your best friends; on the other hand, chaos, "winging it", and doing things based on how you feel at the time will inevitably lead to overwhelm, frustration, actual failure, and even safety issues such as substance abuse and risky behaviors.
Seek Coaching Specific to ADHD. Did you know that having ADHD increases a person's vulnerability to substance abuse, mood disorders, and school failure, among many other negative outcomes? Did you also know that traditional psychotherapy has not been shown to be an effective treatment for ADHD? While psychotherapy can be a successful treatment for common ADHD co-morbid disorders (anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, substance use disorders), it is not the best approach for ADHD itself. A better option is ADHD coaching with someone who knows what they're doing, so you can get out in front of this disorder, as opposed to waiting for it to create additional problems and layers of problems in your life (or your child's life). Check out my Optimal Executive Function coaching program for adults and call, text, or email me for more information.
For most people, ADHD is not a "superpower", as some ultra-wealthy individuals, statistical outliers, and others looking to sell products may claim. You can live an awesome life with it though, if you understand it, accept it, and work with it and around it. I can help you do that.
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