Have you ever wondered if you have ADHD? Sometimes it can be hard to tell, read on for information about the condition.
Attentional Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) appears differently in individuals, which can make it hard to pick up. This can make it difficult to know if you would meet the criteria for a diagnosis, so it is good to know that when assessing for ADHD clinicians are looking out for signs of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. You could have one, two or all of these traits and they can look quite different for different people.
Symptoms:
ADHD begins in childhood and can continue into adulthood and may affect all parts of your life, including relationships, study, and employment. Some people do not realise that they have ADHD until they are an adult. Getting a diagnosis at this stage can lead to mixed feelings including relief that there is a reason behind why things may have felt like more of a struggle for you than your friends and family, and sometimes feelings of anger or grief can come up for all the years of not knowing and perhaps feeling held back from reaching your full potential. Receiving an ADHD diagnosis can give great insight, not just to you, but also the people around you, as it can provide an explanation for the struggles that you have faced in your life. The difficulties people experience in their lives due to their ADHD can lead to feeling inadequate and reinforcing negative beliefs about themselves and their abilities, but you do not have to be defined by the diagnosis. Despite the barriers that may occur, research has shown that people with ADHD are adaptive and innovative, and with the right tools you can sustain a positive outlook on life and manage any issues you may experience.
Let’s unpack a bit further around the primary symptoms present in ADHD:
Hyperactivity
Hyperactivity is an unusually high level of activity. You may have this show up in various ways such as restlessness, fidgeting, and finding it hard to wait or stay in your seat. Hyperactivity is not just a negative and can be channelled into physical activities you enjoy, such as sport, the gym, dancing, and hiking.
Inattention
Inattention is when someone has difficulty in holding their concentration. This can mean you are distracted easily, have trouble being organised, have difficulty finishing tasks you start, and struggle to complete chores you find boring and repetitive. These difficulties can be managed through personal strategies you have developed or learn through other means, and you can find employment which provides consistent new challenges to maintain your interest.
Impulsivity
Impulsivity means being easily guided by urges without thinking too much about them. You could feel that you are doing things without considering the consequences, chasing short term rewards instead of approaching long-term goals, and engaging in thrill seeking behaviour. Impulsivity can be positive, as it makes you more creative and willing to think outside the box without being focused on the potential barriers that may arise.
Causes and Diagnosis
It is not clear what leads to ADHD, just that it is a mix of genetic and environmental factors. Studies have indicated that the underlying biological factors have a higher influence on the likelihood that ADHD will present than the experiences and environmental factors we are exposed to growing up.
If you are curious about whether you may have ADHD or not, there are some reputable screening tools that are free which will give you an indication if your symptoms would meet the criteria for an ADHD diagnosis. You can access those screening tools here – ADHD Rating Scale and the Vanderbilt ADHD diagnostic rating scale. It is important to note that these are not diagnosis tools. If you are keen to explore a formal ADHD assessment, in Australia that must be done by a qualified clinician such as a psychiatrist, or a Clinical Psychologist who has completed speciality training in the area. Whether you are looking for an assessment for yourself or a child the best starting point is to speak with your GP.
Conclusion
Thankfully there is a lot more awareness of ADHD in the community, and you may be relating to some of the social media content out there of people talking about their ADHD traits. ADHD is a real and serious disorder, and for many people impacts various areas of their life. If you have been struggling with your ADHD or if you feel you might have ADHD but are yet to be formally assessed, we want you to know that you are not alone. With the right support what feels burdensome now could in fact become one of your many strengths. Though it is unclear exactly where ADHD originates from there are many options for treatment, including therapeutic ones which can provide positive outcomes for people living with ADHD.
Do you have ADHD and feel that you would benefit from a supportive group environment? Centre Self Collective is collaborating with Gil Clendinnen to host an ADHD therapy group beginning in mid-September 2024. To express your interest please use this link to fill our enquiry form.