Do You Have ADHD?

Do you have ADHD?

Do you think you might have?

Do you know what the symptoms of ADHD are?

Many people assume that ADHD is a childhood behavioural problem which causes them to be disruptive at school, but which they grow out of. Unfortunately that's just one of the myths about ADHD.

ADHD is a neurological disorder for which there is no cure, and it's with you for life. The most widely known symptoms are hyperactivity such as fidgeting and disruptive behaviour in children, and a short attention span. Boys are more commonly diagnosed with ADHD, however, it is just as common in girls, but the condition presents itself differently. Boys tend to act out their boredom and frustration in a classroom setting while girls who aren't paying attention gaze out of a window or disappear into a dream-world.

ADHD is less commonly identified or diagnosed among adults as they will have been punished for their condition as they were growing up, so they've learned to mask it, or developed their own strategies for dealing with situations where their ADHD will become a problem.

So while the main symptoms of ADHD are lack of focus and an oversupply of nervous energy, they themselves create secondary symptoms which you may not have thought of. If you, your child, or someone you know displays some or all of the following, then they too may have ADHD.

• Poor sense of the passage of time/time management
• Insomnia or disrupted sleep patterns
• Poor emotional regulation / anger management
• Forgetfulness
• Losing or misplacing things
• Rejection sensitivity dysphoria (an unreasonably high tendency to fear rejection, criticism, even well intentioned advice)
• Belligerence "do it my way or we're not doing it at all"
• Difficulty concentrating on a task, and inability to switch tasks quickly
• Forgetting to eat or putting off using the lavatory, right up until it's almost too late
• Inability to make choices or prioritise important tasks
• A racing mind which keeps you awake or tends to make you daydream instead of doing what you're supposed to
• Poor impulse control. This can lead to substance misuse, inappropriate/self destructive toxic relationships, bad decision making, and the need for instant gratification
• Difficulty following along conversations, following instructions, losing concentration in meetings or class
• Depression and anxiety
• Mood-swings
• Hyper-fixating on interests to the exclusion of everything else
• Starting projects which never get completed
• Becoming overwhelmed when you have too much to do and stalling, meaning that nothing gets done

All of these "bad habits" can be caused by ADHD, and while there isn't a cure, treatment and advice on coping techniques and strategies is available.

One option is medication, however, to get medication you need to be clinically diagnosed, and getting a diagnosis can take an incredibly long time if you're relying on the health service. Diagnosis can be achieved more quickly if you get an assessment which confirms that all criteria are met, your assessor can then pass your case over to a psychologist, psychiatrist, or other clinician qualified to diagnose neurological conditions.

While you wait for that diagnosis you might want to explore the drug-free options available. ADHD coaching helps you learn techniques which help you concentrate, how to direct your energy productively, and how to manage your time so distractions don't overtake you.

Because so many problems are caused by simply having too much energy and poor attention, then coming to terms and managing them properly has many knock-on benefits too. If you're coping well you feel less anxious, you relax and relationships improve, you feel less depressed so perhaps you drink less or make fewer high risk choices. You sleep better which improves your mood and ability to function at work and enjoy a better home-life.

So far from being a condition which mostly affects kids, it's a condition which adults try very hard to manage. Recognising that you have it and taking advice from a coach, either in a one-to-one or group environment can start to have a positive affect from your very first day.

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