Adult ADHD

First off, ADHD is real. A lot of people think it’s some made-up problem or that it’s mild and transient. Why? I think it’s because of the name and the nature of the symptoms. Attention Deficit – that sounds like someone just isn’t paying attention. They’re daydreaming or whatever. The fact is, ADHD is not an attention problem but a distraction problem. The brains of ADHD people have somewhat different levels of certain neuro-transmitters than non-ADHD folks. Some neurotransmitters are stimulating and others are inhibitory. Without enough inhibitory neurotransmitters extra thoughts rise to the consciousness in the form of distraction. Take schizophrenia for instance. The symptom of hearing voices and seeing hallucinations are not common in the population. But, ADHD’s list of symptoms sound like things that happen to everyone occasionally. To explain it more clearly, everyone gets an itch from time to town. But, that doesn’t mean they are suffering from chronic itching or that chronic itching does not exist.

Adult ADHD begins in childhood. The child must have problems in more than one area (home, school, shopping mall). Children grow out of the hyperactive component by their late teens. The experts used to believe signaled the end of ADHD. They were wrong! While the hyperactive part diminishes significantly, all the other problems are still there and ADHD continued right on through Adulthood. There are still problems with distraction, organization, impulsiveness, social issues, etc.

ADHD children have problems with finishing schoolwork, homework, keeping their bedrooms clean and with friendships. Once they grow to adulthood, those problems switch to work, finances, romantic and family issues. This should come as no shocker, ADHD effects different people differently. Moreover, there are 6 kinds of ADHD that have been identified by Daniel G. Amen , M.D. of Amen Clinics located in Newport Beach, California.

The symptoms of ADHD manifest in ways that aren’t immediately obvious. Social cues can be missed and inappropriate things may be said. There’s also a huge component of ADHD that causes a person to live very much in the present. When a thought comes into their head they may say it without considering repercussions. They can say something that hurts someone’s feelings or betrays a confidence. When a non-ADHD person sees a flower or the sky, it’s as if they’re seeing that for the first time. Their world is always fresh and new. But, why? Because when non-ADHD people see a flower or the sky they automatically remember other times they’d seen flowers or the sky. People with ADHD don’t. They don’t automatically get those additional memories. While that gives a joyous and charming experience, that same effect causes problems when trying to learn to do or not do something. People with ADHD react to every similar moment the same way, each time. If they were corrected in the past, they don’t automatically remember it. Talk about a two-edged sword!

ADHD can cause a person to get overwhelmed by city traffic to the point they’re a danger on the road. There are problems with organization. That makes it difficult to remember those 10 steps you need to accomplish some complex operation in your graphics program. It’s embarrassing and frustrating, I’m sure.

People with ADHD have a hard time listening to someone talk to them for more than a few sentences. They fall victim to distraction and may interrupt and completely change the subject. This gives the speaker the impression the ADHD person doesn’t care about them or think what they were saying was unimportant. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. The same goes for broken plans. If they don’t keep an appointment book updated, they can easily double or triple book. A manipulative acquaintance may use the ADHD person’s impulsiveness to convince them to change plans at the last minute. These things and more make friendships and romances a mine field for the person with ADHD. They can alienate their friends and lovers without understanding what happened to drive the person away. That’s extremely confusing and disheartening for them. But, the primary cause is lack of knowledge of the ADHD condition. That’s why it is so important to identify people you know (or yourself) who have ADHD. Love and friendship is so rare, it is a shame to lose it to ignorance and misunderstanding. Friendship with a person who has ADHD can be one of the most enriching relationships you will ever have.