2023-05-09 16:22:08
You probably know someone who says things like, “Oh sorry, I have a little today ADHD”. In recent decades, people have become more aware of this neurodevelopmental disorder and are throwing the term around without really knowing what it actually means.
ADHDAttention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is one of the most common disorders that affects the behavior and thought processes of children and teens. The condition is usually diagnosed before a person’s 12th birthday and gets better with age many adults also suffer from it.
The most common symptoms of ADHD are difficulty concentrating, restlessness, and impulsiveness. But in adults, the condition can also lead to a number of behaviors that are often mistaken for depression of bipolar disorder can be diagnosed, as these conditions have many symptoms in common.
Worldwide has such 5 percent of children and teens suffer from ADHD. But not all adults who have ADHD were diagnosed as children. A 2021 meta-analysis of previous studies found that 6.76 percent of the adult population show ADHD symptoms, but only 2.58 percent of them were certain they also showed those symptoms in childhood.
The exact causes of ADHD are still not known, but we know it has to do with a shortage to two neurotransmitters in the brain: dopamine and noradreline. People with ADHD often focus entirely on tasks that stimulate them, such as a favorite game or topic of interest. ADHDmedication may also help by stimulating the production of these neurotransmitters.
ADHD can have a profound impact on your life, whether at school, at work, or at home in relationships. I spoke with four young adults with ADHD about what they would like the world to know about their condition.
“People with ADHD can’t think beyond today, or maybe tomorrow.”
“I work in the UK and have had a number of jobs there, from delivery driver to property manager. I’ve also got a Youtube Channel where I talk about ADHD. I went to see a doctor after a good friend of mine, who had a diagnosis, noticed some symptoms in me that he had himself: a chaotic lifestyle, a lot of projects I could never finish, depression, anxiety, and not be able to choose a professional field of work.
People with ADHD can’t think beyond today, or maybe tomorrow. Although we do make plans, they can be overshadowed by almost any stimulus that comes our way in the present. As a result, we also have a very low tolerance for change, as well as considerable frustration when faced with change. We procrastinate and finish projects at the last minute, only after we’ve faced the fear of the consequences of not finishing and go into “fight or flight” mode. If we don’t get adequate treatment, we can also get burned out.
These are all depression-like symptoms, which is why ADHD is often misdiagnosed by doctors. To compensate for the lack of satisfaction, we feel a constant urge for stimuli and do impulsive things.
I am one of the lucky patients: the medication works well for me, with virtually no side effects. But I also try to exercise, and I have a balanced diet. And it helps. Many of my symptoms have gotten better now, but not all of them – I keep forgetting things. I often change jobs because I lose interest easily, and routine and repetitive work are the main enemies of this disorder.
ADHD also makes you feel emotions very intensely, whether they are positive or negative. On a personal level, you always feel misunderstood when you have ADHD. However, you can form wonderful friendships with other people on it neurodiverse spectrumbecause they can more easily understand certain types of behavior and difficulties in relationships.
When I tell people around me that I have ADHD I often hear the following comments (especially from older people) – “Oh yeah? But you were such a good and smart kid!”; “OMG, they invent a new disease every year”; “In my day you didn’t have ADHD” or “You just make excuses.” Such attitudes also discourage people from taking their condition seriously, from seeing a specialist for a thorough evaluation, and from seeking treatment that would improve their quality of life.”
– Catalin Bararu, 36.
“We need empathy and understanding from those around us – we realize that our symptoms affect them too.”
“I wasn’t diagnosed with ADHD until I was 24, after many years of suspecting I had it. I realized that I wouldn’t be able to function well as an adult, and all my concentration problems became major obstacles in my career. My symptoms included lack of concentration, poor sense of time, difficulty organizing even when motivated, low tolerance for routines, difficulty understanding things, intense and uncontrollable emotions, and depression and anxiety.
For a long time I thought there was something wrong with me. If I pushed myself enough I could function just like the people around me. But after I got my diagnosis I discovered my own way of working.
In Romania, the psychologists don’t take you seriously – many told me I really couldn’t have ADHD because I talk well and finished my studies, even though I’ve always had to put in a lot more effort than other people to get mediocre results . Medical personnel are not adequately informed about how the disorder manifests beyond the well-known typology of hyperactive boys who disrupt others and get bad grades in school.
We need empathy and understanding from those around us – we realize that our symptoms affect them too. I’ve had a lot of nasty interactions as a result of this; I was even bullied at work because people thought I was incapable or disinterested. This has happened to me at school and in relationships too, so I’ve had to toil to convince people they can count on me.
Now that I’m undergoing good treatment, it also feels like I have a better chance in my career. ADHD allows me to come up with good ideas in the creative field in which I work.
– Ioana (name changed for privacy reasons), 25, social media manager
“For me, the intensity of emotions and the fact that people don’t understand me are the hardest things.”
“When I was 31, the psychiatrist I was seeing for anxiety realized I might have ADHD and had me evaluated. I’ve been on medication ever since, and my life has gotten a lot better. This disorder has affected my ability to focus – if I wasn’t fully passionate about something, I would forget all sorts of details and appointments.
For me, the intensity of emotions and the fact that people don’t understand me are the hardest things. It hurts to get an answer like, “Yes, yes, we all have problems like that.” It’s one thing to be bothered by something once a month, and quite another to be bothered by it ten times a day. We really do our best, but the results are not always directly proportional to our efforts.
There are many preconceived notions about this disorder, there should be more information about this in the media. I was lucky enough to get that info from my partner and close friends, but I can say that it is extremely difficult to live with ADHD if you are not on the right medication.”
– Oana (last name withheld for privacy reasons), 32, works in HR.
“I’m on medication now and I feel like a different person.”
“I was diagnosed with some ADHD forms that I filled out online last year, with the help of my wife and parents. For me, this disorder has mostly disrupted my physical and mental life – I had a cluttered closet and a cluttered brain. I put off everything as much as I could, until the very last moment. I’ve always done that, in high school, college, during my master’s studies and at work.
I am smart and I have always done a good job; I pride myself on being able to perform well under pressure. Actually, it’s more of a consolation, because I can’t really help it. I’m on medication now and feel like a different person – I can concentrate and don’t procrastinate anymore. I am also very happy with my wife, who understands me. She texts me so I don’t forget things and doesn’t get mad at me if I do.”
– Claudiu (last name omitted for privacy reasons), 39, data analyst.
This article originally appeared on VICE Romania.
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