ADHD Is Not an Excuse, Its an Explanation

You’ve probably heard, whether in passing or somewhere online, about ADHD. If you’re unaware of what ADHD is, it stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. What it is is a chemical imbalance in your brain and unfortunately one of the most common psychiatric disorders. Many people assume that people with ADHD are lazy, or cannot put forth any effort in anything they do. In the eyes of some people, ADHD may also seem like just another excuse for those affected to be irresponsible and slack off, but symptoms of ADHD are not always easy to explain to people who can't look into the eyes of someone with a neurological disorder. ADHD is both subtle and prominent at the same time and can be difficult–especially for women–to get a true diagnosis. If you find that you or someone you know can relate in any way to some of these symptoms, you may want to due some research for yourself or speak to a medical professional to learn more about it. 

Types of ADHD

According the DSM V, or Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders, a reference book used by mental health professionals to diagnose mental health conditions, there are three ways ADHD presents itself in individuals. Some people display a predominantly hyperactive-impulsive presentation marked by excessive talking and energy, a predominantly inattentive presentation marked by a lack of focus and disorganization, and a combined presentation that holds both types with varying severity. These presentations can slow over time, but recently in the ADHD community some mental health professionals have suggested moving away from those classifications. Some believe that the categories focus too heavily on people without ADHD experiences instead of individuals directly affected by the disorder. There is also the belief that ADHD is too fluid to be categorized so rigidly, and thus different presentations can occur for a multitude of reasons.

Medication Shortage 

Currently, there is a shortage of medication prescribed to those with ADHD, the most well-known being Adderall, which is commonly used both medically and unfortunately, recreationally or for enjoyment. The stimulant is also sometimes used by athletes and students to improve performance or for weight loss and partying. It is also important to note that Adderall is a highly addictive drug with serious side effects and should be handled responsibly as it can only be prescribed by a pharmicist. Unfortunately, the misuse of the drug has also given individuals with ADHD and narcolepsy, who rely on it to function, drug-seeking stereotypes. The surplus of diagnoses in recent years has played a large factor in shortages of this medication.

Throughout history, studies on men and women with ADHD have differed significantly, with most cases overlooking symptoms in women, which led to unfair characterizations (of women) labeling them as “lazy” or “dumb”. As a consequence, it is notably difficult for women to receive proper treatment for ADHD because of prejudice, again resulting in women being misdiagnosed or completely neglected and struggling throughout life with no clear reason as to why. The prevalence of stereotypes about people with ADHD is still around today, and there was also a highly held belief in the medical community for years that ADHD was generally a male-only disorder.

Women with ADHD tend to mask their symptoms better than their male counterparts, leaving them unnoticed and undiagnosed. While it's believed that there are more cases of women experiencing more of the inattentive type of ADHD than the hyperactive type, that is incorrect; many women report experiencing “internal” hyperactivity. With the similar symptoms they do exhibit, ADHD in women tends to be expressed differently than in men. Men tend to experience more “external” disorders caused by ADHD, like alcoholism, while women are more likely to experience internal disorders like eating disorders.  

People with ADHD share many of the struggles people without ADHD experience but with much stronger intensity. Those with ADHD report a feeling of being kept “on the edge”, never knowing the next time they’d forget something; whether that could be as little as leaving your phone in the fridge or forgetting to turn off the stove in your kitchen. One universal struggle for all people with ADHD is being forgetful, but being forgetful is not as simple as it seems. People with ADHD are much more prone to making past mistakes because while their brains can remember the situation and the outcome, they tend to forget the impact that was caused by the outcome. 

The difficulties for people with ADHD can be way more problematic than losing your keys or wallet.