Adult ADHD
Adult ADHD is unfortunately poorly researched. I will be adding new information regularly to this page as it becomes available. Many adults are misdiagnosed with other conditions and given incorrect treatment and medication, particularly women. I will do my best to collate all the latest research and present it here and I will do everything in my power to raise awareness of undiagnosed adult ADHD through talks, podcasts and my social media channels. Please follow me through my various channels .
Welcome to the ADHD Club
You are certainly in good company when you are part of the ‘Neurospicy’ Community.
These are just a few celebrities who have confirmed they have ADHD or are thought by psychiatrists to posses neurodivergent traits from studying their behaviour. I believe there are many more that at are either currently not diagnosed or not disclosing it publicly.
Everybody once in a while forgets where they put their keys or may occasionally zone out or may express other neurodivergent traits but ADHD is debilitating and affects each and every part of your life. It is a constant awareness of everything you do. It is a constant awareness of everything around you. You are always hyper vigilant. It does not give you a break.
Behind their larger than life personalities I’m sure many are fighting internal struggles. If you look at the people in the collage many have had public meltdowns and many suffer from addictions and severe depression.
I’m also pretty sure each and every one of them wouldn’t achieved what they did professionally without the gifts that ADHD brought to their life. .
ADHD gives you unique ‘superpowers’ but if it’s left unchecked it has the power to destroy you.
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Copyright 2023 -Artwork Created by Shalin Kapoor
What is Adult ADHD?
OVERVIEW
ADHD is an abbreviation for ‘Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder’. It was previously know as ADD, ‘ Attention Deficit Disorder’. It is a condition that affects ‘behaviour’.
ADHD in Adults has been poorly researched. Many adults have passed through the net as they, like me, have somehow managed to get through life by engaging coping mechanisms such as ‘masking’. However this comes at a considerable cost both mentally and physically.
The cause of ADHD is unknown but there may be a genetic predisposition.
It is a neuro-developmental disorder. There is a difference in the brains of people with ADHD compared with those without the condition.
ADHD Behavioural problems are categorised into 2 types.
1.Innatentiveness (difficulty concentrating and focussing)
2. Hyperactivity and Impulsiveness
I was diagnosed with Combined Inattentive and Hyperactive variants. I scored extremely high in both categories. I also believe I have Autistic traits which is common (AuDHD). Through my social media videos and posts I will attempt to shine a light on the symptoms of having both.
Females with ADHD are mainly of the ‘Inattentive’ variant and are less likely to show disruptive behaviour at home and school which explains why they are often not diagnosed as children.
There is no cure but there are various types of medications that can help manage the condition together with psychological therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
It is one of the most common mental health disorders and is part of the ‘neurodivergent’ family of conditions which includes Autism. ADHD has many co-morbid conditions associated with it which I will touch upon later.
Causes of ADHD
The causes and risk factors for ADHD are unknown. Research is ongoing and it shows that genetics play an important role. It strongly runs in families and sometimes adults are diagnosed after their child has been assessed and diagnosed. It is also common for siblings to have the condition.
Brain scans have shown that certain areas of the brain may be smaller in those with ADHD, whereas other areas may be larger.
Studies also show that people with ADHD may have an imbalance in the level of neurotransmitters in the brain, or that these chemicals may not work correctly.
Other possible causes are
-Brain Injury
-Premature Delivery
-Low Birth Weight
-Mothers Alcohol and Tobacco Use During Pregnancy
- Exposure To Environmental Risks Such as Lead During Pregnancy
Symptoms in Adults
Research into Adult ADHD is still in its infancy. The symptoms are difficult to define and vary with each individual. Also there may be overlapping conditions at play.
I believe the difficulty in defining symptoms is because adults have spent the majority of their life developing strategies and coping mechanisms to ‘survive’ in a neurotypical world.
I had masked so much that I didn’t know who I actually was. If you are a neurotypical (“normal”) person you may have difficulties in understanding this but I will try my best in my social media posts to best describe my 50 years of experience living with undiagnosed ADHD.
Hopefully through sharing my stories I can raise awareness of Adult ADHD and remove the stigma associated with mental health conditions.
Some of the adult ADHD symptoms suggested by Specialist Psychiatrists are:
-Carelessness and lack of attention to detail
-Continually starting new tasks before finishing old ones
-Poor organisational skills
-Inability to focus or prioritise
-Continually losing or misplacing things
-Forgetfulness
-Restlessness and edginess
-Difficulty keeping quiet, and speaking out of turn
-Blurting out responses and often interrupting others
-Mood swings, irritability and a quick temper
-Inability to deal with stress
-Extreme impatience
-Taking risks in activities, often with little or no regard for personal safety.
Adult ADHD and other concurrent conditions
The following conditions can occur alongside Adult ADHD
-Depression and Anxiety
-Personality Disorders
-Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
-Bipolar Disorder
-Autistic Spectrum Disorder
-Dyspraxia (Affects physical co-ordination)
Diagnosis of Adult ADHD
ADHD doesn’t just appear later on in life. Individuals diagnosed with ADHD have had symptoms since birth.
An ADHD Consultant Psychiatrist will conduct an in depth interview with you and ask questions about your childhood. They will request school reports and will ask for observations from your parents and older siblings about your childhood behaviour.
The Consultant will also ask about current symptoms and the impact it has on your life. After collating all this information and using diagnostic tools the Specialist will make a diagnosis. if you have 5 or more of the symptoms of ‘Inattentiveness’ or 5 or more of ‘Hyperactivity’ and ‘Impulsiveness’ a diagnosis is made.
In my case I had well above 5 for both categories.
Treatment of Adult ADHD
ADHD cannot be cured as it is a neurodevelopment disorder. The brain is essentially wired differently compared to neurotypical brains.
Medicine and therapy can make life for an adult ADHD sufferer more manageable.
Just the diagnosis alone can make a difference for adults as they become aware of their limitations and can concentrate on their strengths rather than battling against it in an attempt to appear neurotypical.
Confirming you have ADHD can be a relief as you begin to stop questioning your behaviour in the past. Everything all of a sudden begins to make sense and this can be overwhelming at the beginning.
MEDICINE USED IN ADULT ADHD
1. Stimulant medication such as methylphenidate, lisdexamfetamine, dexamfetamine. These work by increasing activity in areas of the brain that play a part in controlling attention and behaviour.
2. Non Stimulant medication such as atoxemetine which increases the amount of noradrenaline in the brain. They are known as ‘selective noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors’ (SNRI’s). Noradrenaline communicates between brain cells, so increasing this chemical can improve concentration and control impulsive behaviour.
These medicines can come with a lot of side effects such as weight loss, agitation and trouble sleeping.
THERAPY FOR ADULT ADHD
1. Psychoeducation.
2. Behavioural Therapy
3. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
DIET AND EXERCISE
For me personally good diet and regular intense heavy weight training has been the best form of treatment for me. My symptoms are significantly reduced. I get into the zone at the gym at push myself to the limits. I have also drastically improved my diet by cutting down on fatty foods and sugars. Protein has been shown to improve symptoms of ADHD. These measures have significantly improved my general mood and reduced my anxiety significantly.