There are a lot of misconceptions floating around when it comes to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which is why October 2015 was dedicated ADHD Awareness Month to educate the public.
ADHD, a “wildly misunderstood neurological condition that affects 15 million Americans,” is characterized by fidgeting and short attention spans, but impacts people young and old, male and female, to a much greater degree than these outward symptoms.
As October comes to an end, we want to share a portion of a blog post about caring for someone with ADHD from A Plus. The complete list contains 15 things to keep in mind. Here are our top five:
- Impulsivity can affect large aspects of his or her life. Becoming distracted and working on something new is one form of impulsivity, but people with ADHD have no problem acting on elaborate schemes to see the world or drop out of college, either.
- People with ADHD won’t necessarily seem unorganized. While the system they create doesn’t always help, people with ADHD may create systems with planners, highlighters, sticky notes and calendar reminders, because they know without it, they will not remember meetings or appointments. Just because it is there, doesn’t mean they will remember to use it.
- “It’s not just for kids.” In fact, there are many adults with ADHD who will not be diagnosed until they have already graduated from college. While it may seem more prevalent in childhood, it does not end at age 18.
- People with ADHD may forget the details. People with ADHD like to think big picture and get to the solution without worrying about how to get there. Remember the instructions in math class to “show your work?” But instead, you used a calculator? Sometimes, this is more efficient, but there will also be circumstances where the details really do matter, and people with ADHD may forget about them until it is too late.
- “It’s a real disorder, not something that can be fixed ‘with self-control.’” Somehow, ADHD has earned a reputation as being over-diagnosed in recent years. Remember, it is a real neurological disorder with symptoms similar to those of anxiety and depression, which means only a doctor can decide which treatment is best for you or someone you know who is suffering from inattention or hyperactive-impulsivity.
To see the complete list visit A Plus.
You can also check out resources here to help spread awareness, or educate yourself, friends or family. If you or someone you love has recently been diagnosed with ADHD, you can find more information at the National Institute of Mental Health or by visiting the Behavioral Health Center at St. Elizabeth Healthcare.
