Embracing Cognitive Diversity - ADHD
Kali had always been labelled as unreliable. At school, she could never remember to take notes home to her parents. If she answered the home phone, messages would not be passed on.
Now, she felt that she was letting down her boyfriend, employer and friends with her inability to remember commitments, tasks and chores she had promised to do, or items she had said she would buy.
Kali would often go into a room and not remember what she had gone there for. She would go to a shop and buy one of the things she was supposed to but, often, a dozen she had not planned on getting, so she would return home without some of the things that were needed that day.
She had tried to use lists and various apps and organizational systems but had not been able to stick with any of them. She had also started to realize that the reason she butts in and can appear rude in conversations is because, if she waits until the other person has stopped talking, she won’t be able to remember what she was going to say.
Kali also found that she had to try so hard to keep in mind what she wanted to say, that she could not pay enough attention to what the other person was talking about and would lose track of the conversation completely. Her poor memory was getting her down and she felt disappointed and frustrated with herself, sometimes feeling incompetent and a failure in life – Real-life story from the Adult ADHD Clinic.
What is ADHD?
Have you ever considered whether you might be experiencing a form of attention disorder?
Often, people find themselves leaving items behind when going out, struggling to maintain focus for an extended period, or becoming easily distracted during lectures. These experiences may be indicative of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
“Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder” (ADHD) is a condition that affects people's behavior. People with ADHD can seem restless, may have trouble concentrating, and may act on impulse.
Types of ADHD.
ADHD is classified into three types based on predominant symptoms of ADHD,
· Predominantly Inattentive Presentation (ADHD-PI or ADHD-I).
The defining feature of this type of the disorder is problems with attention and concentration. Individuals who suffer from this type of ADD/ADHD frequently have a difficult time listening to people’s stories, maintaining focus on the small particulars, completing assigned tasks, and being organized in their actions.
· Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Presentation (ADHD-PH or ADHD-H).
The Hyperactive/Impulsive type has restlessness and impulsiveness as its key characteristics. People with ADHD-H struggle to stay seated, often shifting in their seats, bouncing/bobbing, and talking on top of others.
· Combined Presentation (ADHD-C)
It is characterized by symptoms from both the inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive types. This is a more commonly diagnosed form of ADHD. People with ADHD-C are affected differently in terms of their distractions, activeness, or impulse.
Treatments for ADHD.
With ADHD impinging on different domains of life such as academics, employment, interpersonal relationships, and self-perception, it’s clear to see how this disorder can make life a bit more challenging.
People with ADHD, however, can be trained in these coping skills when properly diagnosed and treated. It is best treated early with a mix of medication, behavioral help, and educational support.
Persons with ADHD should collaborate with healthcare providers to create individualized management strategies tailored to their distinct circumstances.
The Stigmatization faced by ADHD patients. “It’s just an excuse for bad behavior, ADHD isn’t even a real medical disorder”; this is thought process of many members of society. The symptoms of ADHD, are mistaken for bad upbringing, self-choice negligence, lesser intuition and general disruptive behavior.
They are bullied, ignored, taunted, denied of opportunities, written off as incompetent and seen as lesser human beings from childhood till adulthood.
Kids with ADHD are prone to unwarranted disciplinary action from guardians and teachers who do not recognize the underlying medical condition they face. Proper medical and psychological treatment is not implemented.
The world continues to recognize ADHD and although more awareness has been provided and research made available, the social stigma remains against these function-impaired individuals.
Combating ADHD Stigmatization.
It should be understood that individuals with ADHD should not be subjected to bullying nor unfair treatment. It is a neuro-divergent condition not a manic illness.
ADHD should be fully recognized as a medical condition, children who show signs or symptoms similar to that of ADHD should be promptly diagnosed. Early discovery increases the chances of the affected individual learning to live with and treat their ADHD.
How do you know these signs and symptoms as an older individual? Awareness. There should be proper sensitization on ADHD– awareness campaigns and movements supporting these individuals and explaining their plight must be deemed necessary.
ADHD patients should not be afraid to come out with their story; a story shared helps the next patient understand themselves better and feel they have a society to relate to.
ADHD patients must not be disregarded as they are capable of working and thinking of innovative ideas and solutions. They can be scientists, artistes, specialists and so much more with notable examples being: Adam Levine (Maroon 5), Leonardo da Vinci, Howie Michael, and Bill Gates!
Learn to promote the interests of ADHD patients. Due to their condition, they venture into many things, as guardians, learn to support their interests and as friends, learn to celebrate them for their achievements. Also, make sure you don’t overly question their sudden change of interest when they start to switch to something new.
Most importantly, let them unapologetically be themselves, see them as individuals, human just like you, nothing more and nothing less.
I hope you learnt something about this special group in society, please feel free to comment, like this post and of course, share.
My inbox is open through the contact form if you have ADHD or know someone who does, and want to share your story.
Credit: Ojudun Ayomide (Introduction and treatment of ADHD)
Please support his group project on creating awareness about ADHD by following @hype_rsolution on Instagram using the link below.
Here are links to some insightful reels on ADHD on Instagram.
Happy new month to all my readers, and hurray, my birthday's on it's way!
It is having to reignite passion in something you love since it's become boring, there's a whole lot of chaos in an ADHD'ers head.
Trust me, you can't fully understand it
Its having so many interests you're never really good at any, a jack of many trades, master of none.
It's also the hyperfocus, finding interest in something and being so engulfed in it, you forget to eat and sleep.
It's being so excited, you start to vibrate or being so bored you can't even concentrate.
It's so much more, it's both a gift and a curse, its having so many solutions to a problem you start to forget what the problem itself is, it's thinking so fast you have to wait for others to catch up, it's also missing the whole problem and finding another problem.
Wow, I enjoyed it
I definitely learnt something today ❤️