Understanding ADHD
ADHD
Our world can be full of notifications, long hours of sitting, and very little time spent outdoors. These conditions can lead to forgetfulness, difficulty focusing, feeling overwhelmed, and even excess energy with nowhere to go. You may find yourself thinking, do I have ADHD? Does my child have ADHD?
Getting a diagnosis can be incredibly helpful in accessing the right support. At the same time, it’s important to carefully discern whether what you’re experiencing reflects a neurodevelopmental condition like ADHD, or whether it is a reasonable response to our fast-paced, overstimulated world, constantly competing for our attention.
So what is ADHD?
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects how the brain regulates attention, impulses, and executive functioning. Some of these symptoms may seem very ordinary and relatable. These are reasonable responses when we consider that we are human beings living in a world where caffeine, sugar, screens, and busy schedules compete for our attention. However, ADHD goes beyond simply being distracted or having trouble paying attention. It can be persistent and can significantly impact daily functioning, relationships, work, school, and other core areas of life.
ADHD generally falls into two categories: difficulties with attention and difficulties with hyperactivity/impulsivity. Some individuals primarily experience one, while others experience both. Attention-related symptoms may look like losing track of tasks, forgetting details, struggling with organization, or feeling mentally scattered. Hyperactivity and impulsivity can look like restlessness, interrupting others, difficulty slowing down, acting quickly without thinking, or feeling as though your mind is constantly moving.
The challenge is that these symptoms do not look the same in everyone. ADHD can present differently, which means it may go unnoticed in some individuals or be overidentified in others. For example, one child may be completely preoccupied and unable to focus during class, while another may struggle to sit still and frequently blurts out answers. The latter child may be interrupting the class and therefore more likely to be labeled with ADHD, while the former may be overlooked entirely. ADHD can be over-identified in some situations and entirely missed in others because of how the symptoms uniquely show up. Both children may be struggling, but in very different ways. It is important to look at each child holistically in order to understand the full picture. We are not all the same!
Symptoms can be influenced by personality, environment, coping strategies, lifestyle, nutrition, sleep, and stage of life. Rather than asking, “Is this ADHD because of…?” a more useful question in determining if your child has ADHD may be, “How long and how consistently has this been happening, and how much is it impacting daily life?” Understanding ADHD requires looking beyond individual symptoms and considering the whole person.
Pursuing an assessment can be an incredibly helpful step to getting answers and treatment if necessary. It can also be helpful to slow down first and ask what else might be contributing to these symptoms. Are there identifiable and modifiable factors that could be influencing attention and regulation, like sleep quality, nutrition, stress levels, screen time, daily rhythms, or emotional load? This allows you to get curious about what you can actually support or shift without dismissing the real challenges you are facing. And if, after looking at those areas and making some adjustments, the symptoms are still clearly present and getting in the way across different settings, then seeking a diagnosis absolutely becomes the next appropriate step. Here at Arcadian Therapy, we offer assessment and treatment for those struggling with these sorts of challenges. Contact us to learn more about how we can support your family.
Written by Shelby Bach, Candidate for Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling
