How to Know If You Have ADHD

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a brain disorder that begins in childhood. ADHD does not affect a child's mental abilities in any way but makes them inattentive, emotional, and impatient. 

What is ADHD?

ADHD is a chronic, long-term brain disorder that causes executive dysfunction, meaning it disrupts a person's ability to manage their own emotions, thoughts, and actions. ADHD makes it difficult for those affected to:

• manage their behavior;
• be careful;
• controls overactivity;
• regulate mood;
• concentrate;
• follow the directions

How Do I Know If I Have ADHD?

Below is a list of the main symptoms of ADHD. For a person to be diagnosed with ADHD, these symptoms must cause significant difficulties in at least two areas of daily life. For example, at home, at school or work, in relationships with other people, and aspects related to household chores.

Many other experiences have been reported by people with ADHD that may not be included in this material. We've included examples that span a range of ages, from young people still in school to people in employment. 

Lack of Attention

• Demonstrate a lack of attention to detail
• Make mistakes at school or work or in other activities
• You find it difficult to concentrate on tasks or activities
• You find it difficult to listen when someone is speaking directly to you
• Do not follow instructions or fail to complete tasks, chores, or other responsibilities
• It is difficult for you to organize your tasks and activities
• Avoid or dislike doing things that require mental effort for a long period (such as school activities, homework, or housework)
• Lose important things (e.g. school supplies, pencils, books, tools, wallets, important documents, glasses, mobile phones)
• You are easily distracted
• You forget some things easily

Hyperactivity and Impulsivity

• You fidget or move your hands or feet
• You stand up from your chair in situations where you are expected to remain seated
• Furthermore, you have a sense of impatience and a lot of energy
• You have difficulty playing or participating in quiet leisure activities
• Moreover, you talk excessively
• Give answers before the questions are finished
• It is difficult for you to wait your turn
• You interrupt or disturb others

Not all symptoms will be obvious to others. People with ADHD will find ways to hide their symptoms, but this can be extremely tiring and can negatively affect their mental health.

How Can I Tell If Someone Has ADHD?

Friends and relatives may notice the signs of ADHD in someone they know. The Canadian ADHD Resource Alliance (CADDRA) has created a helpful list of symptoms that might indicate someone you know has ADHD and isn't getting support:

• Organizational difficulties. For example, poor time management, missed appointments, postponed and unfinished projects, frequently
• Chaotic performance, at work or academically
• Problems with anger management
• Family or marital problems
• Lack of routine. For example, inappropriate sleep patterns
• Problems in managing finances
• Addictive behaviors such as drug use, compulsive shopping, or gambling addiction
• Frequent accidents caused by either reckless behavior or carelessness
• Traffic problems such as speeding tickets, serious accidents, or license suspension
• Need to reduce workload or difficulty completing homework or projects at school
• Low self-esteem or persistent poor performance.

People with a direct relative with ADHD are at higher risk of having ADHD themselves.

Life With ADHD

Very often, people with ADHD manage to function well. As a rule, but not necessarily, they have jobs that do not involve reporting to other people. We can talk about freelancers who organize their schedules. Or, another example, entrepreneurs.
We keep in mind that for them organizing tasks and maintaining attention may seem difficult.

But at the same time, it sure can be hard. There are extraordinary people with a mind of genius who cannot complete their tasks by working for a job below their level. This is one of the biggest dramas for people with ADHD. When they fail to fulfill their potential.

How Is Life with People Suffering from ADHD?

People with ADHD function in leaps and bounds. They constantly need stimulation, again. Repetitive things bore them terribly. Of course, life cannot be a constant search for adrenaline.

People with ADHD often feel like they are in an airport. Thoughts are numerous and constantly occurring. For this reason, focusing attention on the task is very difficult. Because there is always one more plane crossing the field of consciousness.

It's not a fad either. It can be excruciatingly tiring. For this reason, people with ADHD always have associated anxiety, and depression.
They often come into the office and talk very loudly because talking loudly makes it easier for them to concentrate. They develop all kinds of tricks over time. Many of them have been used to working with lists for a lifetime. Otherwise, they would also forget where they put their usual things.

When we discuss the symptoms of ADHD in adults, these people often have problems in their married life or their professional life, because they forget. The people in their lives tell them "You never pay attention to me", "I told you 100 times and you didn't remember". "But how could you forget our anniversary?". It's very hard for a person with ADHD to say, "This is how my brain is made up for life." "It goes in one ear and out the other, not that I want to. I'm trying, but I can't."

What Diseases Are More Frequently Correlated with ADHD In Girls?

In elementary school, many girls with ADHD may feel able to manage their symptoms.

As the difficulties imposed by the higher classes increase, the efforts to cope with the demands become exhausting.

Girls may be more likely to blame themselves for their symptoms, labeling themselves as incapable. Although they can get the maximum mark on a paper, because the effort put in is very high, they consider themselves less capable than the others.

These processes increase the risk for Depression, Anxiety, and Eating Disorders. 

It was found that girls who present the combined type of ADHD (both symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity) have an increased risk of suicide and self-harm.

Relationships and social integration are difficult. Their behavior is misinterpreted and they misinterpret the behavior of their colleagues.

Those with ADHD - the predominant type of Attention Deficit, have a high rate of association with Learning Disorders (reading, writing, math) in the presence of a normal or even above-average QI (intelligence index).

Another important association is with Opposition Disorder.

The various abuses (e.g. food) are not to be neglected either.

What Should I Expect After Finding Out I Have ADHD?

After being diagnosed with ADHD, you may go through a period of adjustment. You will experience different emotions, such as:

• The relief that you got an explanation for some of your difficulties and that you are not the only person in this situation. You may also feel relieved that you are not "lazy," "reluctant," "messy," or whatever other labels have been placed on you in the past.
• Frustration that your condition was not diagnosed and treated earlier. You may feel angry at your parents’ teachers or medical staff who did not notice the symptoms earlier.
• Sadness over missed opportunities and the impact that untreated ADHD has had on your life thus far and the lives of those you know.

If you have been diagnosed with ADHD, this diagnosis may become an important part of your self-image. It can be difficult to find a balance between:

• consider yourself a person whose life is affected by ADHD in more ways than one;
• not seeing ADHD as the most important thing about you.

To achieve this balance, it can be helpful to have a solution-focused approach that looks at the difficult aspects of your life and what can be done to improve them.

How to Care for A Person With ADHD?

• help make lists, keep journals, keep reminders, and set aside regular time to plan what needs to be done;
• train regularly - both in behavior and communication with people around you and physically: gymnastics, yoga;
• Find ways to relax, such as listening to music or learning relaxation techniques.
• maintain a sleep schedule and daily routine.

Conclusion 

The sad news is that for now there is no cure for ADHD, being a developmental disorder. Fortunately, there are a variety of therapies that can help with proper management and monitoring of symptoms. Brainpower Wellness Institute can explore the possibility of medication to help manage core symptoms like inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.

Institutes like Renewed Mental Health Group provide valuable resources on various therapeutic approaches for ADHD.

The type of treatment depends on several factors such as personal preferences, the age of the child, the severity of the symptoms, and the history of the treatments administered.

Impulse control and attention deficit can be corrected with the help of medication, and social, emotional, and behavioral problems can be addressed with the help of different psychotherapeutic options.

There are also parent education programs offered by Inland Empire Behavioral Group to help them learn new ways of communicating or playing with their child, to improve their attention and behavior.