The ADHD Brain

Formerly known as ADD or Attention Deficit Disorder, is a neuro-behavioural disorder commonly characterised by hyperactivity, inattentiveness, impulsivity or any combination .

It is not just prevalent in children but also among adults. Worldwide studies now show that up to 5% of the adult population struggle with Adult ADHD.

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) already recognised Adult ADHD as a genuine medical condition with a specific cluster of symptoms and they have issued clear guidelines on the best evidence-based treatments.

In the past attention deficit hyperactivity disorder often went unrecognized throughout childhood. Before the 1980’s very few people were even aware of ADD/ADHD.

Instead of recognising your symptoms and identifying the real issue, your family, teachers, or other parents may have labelled you a dreamer, a slacker, a troublemaker, or just a bad student. Even many doctors were not aware of the condition.

But when we are passionate about something our ability to hyperfocus and work tirelessly is almost superhuman!

When we work with our unique brain we can be so capable of success. Our natural risk taking brain can be reframed as entrepreneurial or daring. Daydreamers are creators and innovators.

Our hyperactivity is energy and drive
Our big emotions means we are passionate and empathetic caring for others and have a strong sense of social justice. We keep our heads in a crisis when everyone else is losing theirs.

People with ADHD can be found in emergency services and any roles that rely on our amazing brain. We make natural leaders, have the ability to communicate with anyone. We are innovative creators (so many successful business owners credit their success due to their ADHD brain.

Never a dull moment, always up for adventure and we often have a quirky but amazing sense of humour. All of these are qualities that make us amazing people to be around.

Alternatively, you may have been able to compensate and mask the symptoms of ADD/ADHD when you were young, only to run into problems as your responsibilities increase.

The more balls you’re trying to keep in the air-pursuing a career, raising a family, running a household-the greater the demand on your abilities to organise, focus, and remain calm.

This can be challenging for anyone, but if you have ADD/ADHD, it can feel downright impossible.

Studies show that people with ADHD have an increased risk of also suffering from other psychological problems: particularly depression, anxiety and substance abuse.

This is often because their ADHD went undiagnosed and untreated in childhood and this can then have a secondary effect on mood, developing self-esteem, anxiety or worry.

Some adults develop coping strategies such as people pleasing behaviours that mediate against or lessen some of the symptoms, but these often result in harm in other ways.

Sadly our lack of understanding can also lead people with ADHD to be more susceptible to being vulnerable to toxic relationships.

It’s much easier to convince someone who has been criticised or made to feel less than that they are somehow not worthy of love and respect.

The ADHD brain seeks escape. Every time we think, we engage our executive functions, a set of cognitive processes that allows us to plan, organise, remember information, and initiate action toward a goal, maintain habits and regulate our emotions.