ADD and ADHD

What are ADD and ADHD?

ADHD stands for Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Someone who has ADD or ADHD has a difference in brain development that causes issues with inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, and difficulty managing emotions. This can cause behavioral and emotional issues at home, school, in the community, and in relationships.

ADD and ADHD are neurological disorders which affect approximately five to twelve percent of all children and teens. This means that both disorders impact the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. It is believed that neurotransmitters, the chemical messengers of the brain, do not function correctly, causing disorders such as ADD and ADHD.

Major Forms of Attention Deficit Disorders

ADHD (predominantly hyperactive-impulsive): Kids and teens may be very fidgety all the time and impulsive. This means that they will often act or speak without thinking first. It is difficult for them to sit still during class or play quietly or wait patiently for their turn.

ADHD inattentive (predominantly inattentive without hyperactivity- also known as ADD): Kids and teens may seem shy or in their own world. They may daydream a lot or just have trouble maintaining or changing topics. They also may have trouble focusing on a game or playing with a friend for any length of time.

ADHD, combined type (a combination of both hyperactivity and inattention): Kids and teens have the symptoms of both types above, they hyperactivity and the inattention.

Symptoms of ADD and ADHD

Inattention: disorganization, problems staying on task, constant daydreaming, and not paying attention when spoken to directly.

Impulsivity: spur-of-the-moment decisions without thinking about the chance of harm or long-term effects, acts quickly to get an immediate reward, regularly interrupts teachers, friends, and family.

Hyperactivity: squirming, fidgeting, tapping, talking, and constant movement, especially in situations where it's not appropriate.

Difference between ADD and ADHD

Children and teens who have ADHD are energetic, talkative, and outgoing. These disorders are usually recognized in elementary school ages as there is normally an impact on the ability to stay still and focused in school, which can have a dramatic influence on their grades in school.

Children and teens who have a similar disorder, ADD inattentive, can be lethargic (It takes longer to complete or understand something), less likely to talk during class, and introverted.

Addressing Common Misconceptions

--> People use this as an excuse to get out of doing work: People with ADD or ADHD do try to get their work but it can be really frustrating when nobody realizes that they actually are struggling.

--> People only have it if they are visibly hyperactive: There are many people struggling who do not visibly move a lot but are very impulsive in their actions and the way they speak. Impulsivity (acting without thinking first) can be a major part in hyperactivity.

--> It is all in your head: Brain scans on people with ADHD or ADD have proven that there is a difference in people with ADHD and people without it. It is a real issue, not something that you can just get rid of.

--> Only kids can have it: People of all ages can have ADHD. It is usually diagnosed during childhood but it can continue through your whole life.

--> It is caused by bad parenting: ADHD can happen no matter how you are raised and no matter how much effort you put into doing your work. Additional discipline does not help ADHD. To get things done, someone with ADD or ADHD has to actually want to focus on what they are working on.

--> Only boys can have it. Fewer girls get diagnosed with ADHD or ADD because of this misconception and boys are mostly more hyperactive and visibly going through it. Girls tend to have less obvious symptoms or movements that are not regularly observed.

ADD and ADHD Coexisting

Some symptoms of ADHD can overlap the symptoms of another disorder. Kids and teens with ADHD or ADD often have other disorders such as being somewhere on the Autistic Spectrum. This can further complicate the symptoms experienced. It is difficult for diagnosing clinicians when symptoms overlap because some disorders can cause symptoms of ADD or ADHD. Other disorders that commonly coexist with ADD and ADHD are disruptive behavioral disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, tics and Tourette Syndrome, and learning disabilities.

ADD/ADHD and Relationships

People with ADD or ADHD can have a lot of difficulty with any kind of relationships. Friendships can be difficult to make and maintain. Kids and teens with ADD or ADHD can act or speak in ways out of impulsiveness that cause negative reactions from their peers. Relationships require patience and control over impulses, cooperation, being empathetic, and other factors that can be difficult for people with symptoms of ADD or ADHD. Many kids and teens with ADD or ADHD have trouble picking up on social cues, so changes in how someone is talking or behaving could go unnoticed and the child or teen could be unaware that someone did not agree with something that was said or done.

During any kind of relationship, when it is new and exciting, someone with ADD or ADHD can be invested and motivated to make it work. But over time, that newness goes away and someone with ADD or ADHD can get bored and seek out someone new in order to feel the way they did with the last person. A lot of kids and teens with ADD or ADHD isolate themselves because of previous failed at attempts with relationships.

Coping with ADD and ADHD

If you have ADD or ADHD, or you are just having a bad day, you can ask yourself these questions:

--> Have you had anything to drink recently?

--> Have you eaten in the past three hours?

--> Have you showered today?

--> Have you stretched your legs today?

--> Have you been compassionate to someone today?

--> Have you danced today?

--> Have you had social interaction today?

--> Have you seen a therapist recently?

--> Have your medications changed recently?

--> Are you dressed?

--> Are you resisting going to sleep at night?

--> Do you feel ineffective?

--> Do you feel unattractive?

--> Do you have trouble making decisions?

--> Have you overexerted yourself recently?

--> Have you felt bad for a week or more?

If you can answer yes honestly to any of these questions, there are things you can do to help yourself feel better. There are always things you can do to make yourself feel better about yourself. Sometimes even just cleaning something or organizing it can help you to feel better and more motivated to get your work done.

Treatment for ADD and ADHD

Some people need medication in order to be able to get past their ADD or ADHD symptoms. But medication doesn't always help everyone. And for the people that it does help, not every medication is going to work the same way. Sometimes all someone with ADD or ADHD needs is to have a counselor or just someone in their life that they can rely on and that they can go to for help or just as a support system. It is not easy to go through anything alone and even a little support and patience here and there can make a difference for someone who is struggling with these symptoms.

Conclusion

Both ADD and ADHD cause many issues with school, home, and relationships. There are ways to cope with these disorders as well as treatment options. More kids and teens are getting diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorders today than in past years because it often went unreported and not all symptoms are visibly noticeable. There have been many new discoveries and much research done about these disorders recently now that counselors and doctors are figuring out that there are problems with emotions caused by ADD and ADHD where emotions are difficult to measure for these purposes. There are many new treatments and there is a real chance that getting your ADD or ADHD recognized and starting treatment could make a real change in you are feeling about your life.

Resources Used

The ABCs of ADD and ADHD

What are neurological disorders?

Web MD

Kids Health

ADHD and Coexisting Disorders

Everything Is Awful and Im Not Okay

ADHD and Relationships

Misconceptions about ADD and ADHD

Further Your Learning

How To ADHD

Questions

1. What could help someone to focus once they know that they have ADD or ADHD?

2. How can you get move past the misconceptions that you often hear about ADD and ADHD?

3. What can you do to support a loved one with ADD or ADHD?

4. What would you like everyone to know about ADD and ADHD?