What is ADHD?

In its most basic explanation, ADHD is a condition where people may struggle with regulating their attention, being overly active, or acting impulsively. It often starts in childhood and persists into adulthood. There are three main types of ADHD based on the symptoms: inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive, and a combination of both (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th Ed), 2013).

In day-to-day life ADHD may rear its head in many ways. Like attempting a work task, but your mind feeling like a bustling marketplace full of thoughts of unrelated tasks, random ideas and worries flooding in, causing you to repeatedly lose track of what you were doing, and missing deadlines. It could show up when you’re rushing out the door, mindlessly placing your phone down for it to be lost minutes later, forcing you to begin your frequent, frustrating hunt as you start to panic over being late for dinner, again! Or, in a meeting, where you’re surrounded by important discussions, but the chair starts to feel confining, you feel restless and can’t help but tap your leg or get up to go to the toilet. These are just a few common examples, but ADHD can look different for every individual, especially when considering gender and age differences.

In the bigger picture, the consequences of untreated ADHD can be serious. It can lead to poor functioning at work, frequent job changes, difficulty with emotional regulation in relationships, difficulty managing finances, risky driving behaviours, substance abuse, and sleep issues (Barkley, 2021).

Don’t fear, ADHD is not all doom and gloom! ADHD is a unique way that some brains – that is at least 800,000 of Australian brains (May, et al., 2023), work. With increased understanding of how to harness your strengths and manage your challenges, people with ADHD can most definitely flourish.

What do I do about it?

If these examples, or to any other informative videos you may have come across online, resonated with you, you may be contemplating whether ADHD is a factor in your life.

ADHD is increasingly well understood by science, meaning that in today’s age there is improved access to answers and supports that may help you. ADHD is not something to be ‘cured’, but there is a breadth of medical, psychological, behavioural and lifestyle interventions that make it one of the most ‘treatable’ conditions.

The first step is to get evaluated. Whilst self-diagnosis can provide some assistance for individuals who for many reasons may not have access to assessment, only a professional evaluation can tell you for sure if you have ADHD.

A formal evaluation and diagnosis can open the door to evidence-based treatments, coping strategies, and a deeper comprehension of oneself. ‘Classic’ symptoms of ADHD can often be just the tip of the iceberg, with co-occurring symptoms or conditions like anxiety or depression also present. A trained professional will help you understand and manage the whole picture.

You can begin this process by enquiring with your GP or psychologist. During an initial appointment with a trained psychologist, they will help explore your concerns, answer questions, and guide you toward the next best step toward flourishing.