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What’s the first thing you think of when you hear the word ADHD? Let me guess: You’re imagining some hyperactive boy interrupting class, or something similar? Ever wonder why you don’t imagine girls? Well, before I get into that, let me give you a little basic information about ADHD.
ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. It occurs when brain chemicals known as neurotransmitters are less active in areas of the brain dedicated to attention. How this happens is currently unknown, but most scientists agree that–like several other mental disorders–genetics plays a significant factor; ADHD runs in families.
ADHD is actually a spectrum containing primarily inattentive ADHD (commonly referred to as Attention Deficit Disorder or ADD) and primarily hyperactive/impulsive ADHD. Hyperactive/Impulsive type symptoms include restlessness, difficulty doing quiet activities, excessive talking and racing thoughts, reckless behavior and a tendency to frequently interrupt others. Inattentive type is usually marked by chronic procrastination, poor time management, difficulty initiating and completing tasks and poor attention to detail or complex instructions.
A diagnosis is generally made through a series of evaluations containing questions about your history/performance performing everyday tasks and dealing with various situations. For children, these symptoms must occur for over six months prior to diagnosis, in adults it must be present since childhood. The symptoms must also occur in more than one setting, not only school and not only at home. Most people who are diagnosed with ADHD maintain these symptoms into adulthood.
ADHD is a lifelong disorder, but symptoms may be controlled with the help of stimulant medications. Yeah, it sounds a bit contradictory to provide a stimulant for ADHD, but research has shown that stimulant medication helps aid concentration by balancing out brain chemicals. While medications can help, ADHD often has a negative effect on self-esteem and confidence. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is used as an outlet for those who suffer from these problems to seek advice. These sessions can also include workshops dedicated to helping improve organizational skills and routines.
So, here’s the thing: I have inattentive-type ADHD. I was diagnosed with inattentive-type ADHD at the tender age of 21. Yeah, a little late, right? Well, apparently it’s not that uncommon for women to be diagnosed as adults. In fact, girls are diagnosed an average of 5 years after boys are diagnosed. Why? Well, women tend to have inattentive-type ADHD. Remember when I said that ADHD is often associated with hyper boys? Think about it, who is a teacher more likely to notice: A boy who can’t seem to stop fidgeting, or a well-behaved girl who is a little too spacey? Inattentive-symptoms are less obvious than hyperactive ones. Since girls usually have inattentive symptoms, they’re less likely to be diagnosed. It’s no wonder that so many girls fall fall through the cracks even when their symptoms are so prevalent. Over 50% of girls with ADHD don’t even know that they have it. That’s why I can’t help but tune out the perpetual concern trolling surrounding cries of over-diagnosis of ADHD when these conversations are so obviously about boys and so many girls are under-diagnosed and struggling.
I managed to remain under the radar for so long because I didn’t fit most people’s idea of what ADHD is. Despite my constant tardiness, chronic procrastination and trouble starting and completing projects, I managed to cope with my ADHD for over a decade while undiagnosed. I’m intelligent and generally performed well academically, but my grades were never consistent. It was so tough to suffer in silence and not know why I couldn’t focus, wondering why it took me so much longer than others to complete tasks and relying on elaborate excuses as to why I didn’t finish assignments; it took a serious emotional toll on me. My symptoms were as clear as day on all of my grade reports, but how can I expect someone to see them if they don’t know what to look for?
It’s for these reasons that I think that more people, especially parents and those in the academic field, need to be aware of how non-hyperactive ADHD manifests, especially in girls and women. Nobody should be left in the dark.
If you think that you might have ADHD, try to seek an official diagnosis from a medical professional. And please, if you have a friend with ADHD, don’t ask to use their Adderall to study for your finals. Don’t be that person.
Do you have ADHD? What can be done to spread awareness? Tell us in the comments!
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I self diagnosed myself at 12 with ADHD because a lot of my friends have it and I figured why not read the symptoms. Turns out I practically have all the symptoms and it didn’t really surprise me. I have not yet been professionally diagnosed or tested yet, but I will look into it soon. I have been tested before, and the results came back saying that I had AS/HFA (Asperger’s Syndrome/High Functioning Autism). And may I say, ADHD is waaayyy better to have then AS. AS sucks, and I mean sucks. You often have one-sided conversations and can rarely ever have a decent conversation without having it be awkward. You can never, and I mean NEVER, make eye contact, and I’m often commented on that. You also have trouble reading and understanding body language, which is a biggy on me. But there is one (super great) upside: You can be exceptionally talented in a certain area (ex. music or math). I may also have SPD (Sensory Processing Disorder) because I’m super sensitive towards the sound of the fire alarm (long story short: I was in a fire when I was five).
I was diagnosed with ADD when I was about 6, and that was almost 20 years ago. I hardly remember my childhood before I went on medication, which wasn’t until I was 17 going on 18.
I wasn’t provided with any sort of support or help in school and I don’t think my parents were ever given any guidance either. From what I do remember, there is one thing I am extremely thankful for and that is my mum, she used to sit with me for hours after school to help me focus on my school work. Sometimes it was only two or three simple math problems, but it would always take forever and she would always have some small reward for me when I finished (love you mum :-* ).
When I was 17, after I had failed my second year of college, and over 10 years after I had first been diagnosed, I went to a specialist again and was re-diagnosed with ADD along with social anxiety and depression. I finally got treated, I went on medication and I don’t think I could be any happier today. I managed to finish school home in Iceland and I am currently living in Europe working on my bachelor of music degree.
It’s not only important that kids are diagnosed early but they also have to get the help they need. It doesn’t have to be medication, in my case I needed the meds and I still do, but it doesn’t work for everyone. Cognitive-behavioural therapy can do wonders for some people, but again it doesn’t suit everybody. children with ADD and ADHD need to be taught the skills and given the tools to help them cope with this disorder. Mum can’t always be there to hold their hand and help them with their homework (even though mum is a friggin superhero and deserves her own graphic novel).
I’ve rambled on long enough now, time to stop procrastinating and go study
I have ADHD and although I am very smart, I have a really hard time focusing and understanding things. I was diagnosed in 4th grade(around age 9 or 10) and have been on meds for it since then,
My mom, my brothers, and I all have ADHD, and I’m pretty sure my little sister will be diagnosed with it, too haha
I have ADHD. I have a hard time focusing in class and I’m sometimes hyper. I got diagnode at 12 years old. I did take medicine but i stopped because I was out of medicine and i thought it would occur to my parents to buy it. So I didn’t tell them.
I was diagnosed with ADHD at the tender age of 2. Yeah, I must have been something, right? The psychiatrist told my mom that I needed to have extracurricular activities that would make me tired at the end of the day. So I since I can only remember as far back as 4 yrs. old, I remember going to ballet, English classes (I lived in Mexico at this point), and swimming lessons after school. Since we’ve moved to the U.S., I haven’t exactly joined a team or club of any sort, but I still do my best to keep myself busy. Thankfully, it’s worked because I’m not as restless as I used to be. Once in a while, I’ll start getting all the symptoms again, but I always have someone with me to keep me calm and to put be back on track
Just a quick note, ADHD and ADD are actually different conditions, i have friends who have them, they can be managed in similar ways but they are distinct conditions. ADD has no hyperactive element its merely attension and those with it may be easily lead as they can lack focus.
The medical and psychiatric community are starting to put all of that under the general umbrella of ADHD. Like I said, it’s basically a spectrum. ADD symptoms are essentially the symptoms of inattentive-type ADHD. But the average person isn’t necessarily keeping tabs on what terminology is “in” or “out” among the professionals who decide these things.
I was diagnosed with ADD when I was ten. As I was reading through this I couldn’t help, but laugh at how much I lined up with symptoms. Adderall has definitely been a great at helping me focus better, but the ADD in general can definitely be a burden. I’m just glad I got help before middle and high school started.
I was diagnosed with ADHD at 9 (I think?), so I guess I was one of the lucky girls that didn’t slip through