Understanding ADHD

lolasquires7
May 6
3 min read

Updated: May 7

ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is a mental disorder that has affected many children and adults. Adhd is a genetic disorder that can be passed down through a family; however, other factors can be seen as the cause for ADHD in many people. Studies from NHS, say that 8% of people in the UK have been diagnosed with ADHD, with around 5% being children and the other 3% being adults

Contrary to popular belief, ADHD isn’t actually the lack of attention, it is a hyper focus on everything, which makes it very hard for someone with ADHD to focus on one specific thing. This can cause people with ADHD to become very stressed and overwhelmed if many things are happening at once.

Symptoms of ADHD can include:

Having a short attention span and being easily distracted
Making careless mistakes – for example, in schoolwork
Appearing forgetful or losing things
Being unable to stick to tasks that are uninteresting or time-consuming
Appearing to be unable to listen to or carry out what you may consider ‘simple’ instructions
Constantly changing activity or task
Having difficulty organising tasks
Fidgeting

If somebody has ADHD, they are more likely to experience a mental health problem. These include anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and antisocial behavior. These are some of the other consequences someone with ADHD might experience;

Social isolation
Decreased scholastic and job performance
Inability to form lasting bonds with others
Increased risk-taking behaviors
Depression
Family disruption and stress
Risks for accidental injuries
Antisocial personality disorder

The positives that can come from having ADHD

Some positives that can come from having ADHD can include being very energetic; people with ADHD may often have a lot of energy to channel toward success. People with ADHD might also turn impulsivity into spontaneity. They might be more open and willing to try new things. People with ADHD have a different perspective on life with ADHD. This may encourage them to approach tasks and situations thoughtfully. People who have ADHD might be seen as original, artistic, and creative. Lastly, they may become hyper-focused. They may intensely focus on a task so much that they don’t notice the world around them. They might work on something until its completion without breaking concentration.

How ADHD can be treated and how to help someone who has ADHD

Make sure that the people you know have ADHD, are feeling ok and that they are completely clear on a task, for example, by asking them to explain the task to you, you can then correct them if they get it wrong and explain what is actually happening.

For parents, make sure your child is given the right amount of attention to their ADHD, as ADHD can become a big part of the child's life, how they communicate and learn.

For teachers, take into account that this child thinks differently and might not understand at first, but this doesn’t mean that they are lazy, just that they have difficulty understanding at the same speed as other pupils.

For the person with ADHD, there are medicines that can be taken to help with the difficult parts of ADHD; for example, methylphenidate can help with everyday ADHD symptoms, and melatonin if the child is having problems sleeping. These medications should only be taken after a proper diagnosis, as they can have harmful side effects for individuals without ADHD.

For school things like splitting up tasks, doing homework or sitting down to eat, use 15 to 20-minute slots with a break in between each slot to make sure you can work effectively. Writing a to-do list to make sure you keep on tasks and finish on the deadline, and putting it somewhere easy to see.