ADHD: What is it? and what can I do about it?

ADHD is a hot topic currently, and there is a lot of media coverage in relation to its effects and symptoms. Many people associate ADHD to feelings of inattention or feeling jittery and unable to sit still, but there is significant diversity in what people with ADHD experience. 

This article gives a brief overview of what you might expect to see in someone who has ADHD and how people can seek help gaining more understanding if its symptoms. 

What is ADHD?

ADHD, or Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, is defined as a neurodevelopmental disorder, meaning it occurs in your brain and usually begins in childhood. ADHD is defined as a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that “interferes with functioning or development”, as characterised by significant symptoms of inattention and or hyperacitvity. I get into what this looks like below, but the important message to take from this last sentence is: how do these symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity affect your day to day life, and is it bad enough to warrant investigating it? 

What might ADHD look like?

ADHD can present in a number of different ways, and this can vary depending on gender, stress levels, other neurodevelopmental or mental health concerns, plus other factors. More “typical” ways ADHD presents are: 

Inattention symptoms

• Making frequent mistakes on detail, or missing things. This may be especially prominent at school, work, or when there are time pressures. E.g. missing a question in an exam, or sending a text with a number of mistakes

• Often getting distracted by your thoughts or surroundings. E.g. missing parts of conversations or a page on a book due to thinking about something else 

• Not following through on a task or instructions. E.g. Not completing a task at work or school work

• Difficulty organising tasks and activities. E.g. may be messy, have issues organising attending a social event, or keeping belongings in order

• Losing items or forgetting where you placed them 

• Anxious towards or avoidant of tasks which require sustained attention. E.g. schoolwork, long meetings etc. 

• May be forgetful. E.g. of daily tasks, schedules, calling or texting people back. 

Hyperactivity symptoms

• Fidgety, or feelings of discomfort within the body which make you feel like you need to move around or stand up and move

• Difficulty sitting still for sustained periods of time

• May be “on the go” all the time and have difficulty engaging in one single task 

• May talk frequently, or interrupt others whilst talking

• Difficulty waiting for your turn

You do not need all of these symptoms to be diagnosed with ADHD, but you do need to have many. Just because you have some, does not mean you have ADHD and can often be explained by other circumstances. You may only have symptoms associated to inattention, or alternatively only associated with hyperactivity, many have both. You may also present differently at different times and depending on who you are. 

ADHD looks different depending on circumstances

As an example, female’s with ADHD often present on the surface with more mild symptoms of inattention, or may internalise hyperactivity symptoms due to conditioning and gender roles. E.g. “boys run around and play rough and little girls play nicely with dolls” (noting I do not align with these views). ADHD therefore may be missed in females for lengthy periods. ADHD is also often dismissed in young boys as just being “overactive” or “boyish”. 

It is also important to note that your symptoms may reduce significantly if you are experiencing a period of stability and calm. When life is stressful, symptoms will likely be more noticeable. It is important not to downplay your symptoms and seek the correct support.  

What can you do to help with ADHD symptoms?

First and foremost, it is important to take your symptoms seriously, and get the right assessment not only to gain diagnostic clarity, but also to understand the specifics of your symptoms, and how to best manage them. 

For children, there are three ways to obtain an understanding and diagnosis (through a psychologist, pediatrician, or child psychiatrist), and for adults, there are two ways (psychologist or psychiatrist).

Psychologist assessing for ADHD: A psychologist will complete an extensive psychometrically validated assessment of your symptoms. They will also take your history, and obtain the views of those who know you best. This creates a holistic picture not only to clarify diagnosis, but also to individualise recommendations that will help on a daily basis (e.g. writing lists, moving away from negative self-talk, and much more). Psychologists will also provide formal recommendations for education settings for children and adults (e.g. extra time on exams, special needs requirements etc). Psychologists may also recommend ongoing therapy. If you are diagnosed with ADHD and indicate you wish to try medication to treat it, psychologists will recommend you to a psychiatrist who can prescribe you medication (psychologists are not medical doctors therefore cannot prescribe medication). 

Psychiatrist assessing for ADHD: Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialise in neurocognitive and mental health. Psychiatrists will generally go through the diagnostic criteria with you, and if you meet a certain number of the criterion, they will diagnose you with ADHD and prescribe you medication. This usually does not come with a report or behavioral recommendations, although it may do in some cases.   

If you are concerned or interested about ADHD symptoms, talk to your GP about getting a referral for an ADHD assessment with a psychologist. 

A final word

Lastly, having ADHD does not mean you are broken, less functional than someone else, or have a major disadvantage in life. Managed properly, ADHD symptoms can be nothing more than a reference point for you, or can actually contribute to your life with creativity and excitement. I urge you to be empathetic to yourself, give yourself time, probably write some lists everyday, and try to educate yourself and those around you about your needs. 

Referral for assessment

If you wish to undergo assessment for ADHD with a psychologist, please contact us to book an appointment. You can also find other resources and articles on our website which may help. 

Jordi Tome - BA(Psych), MClinPsych

Clinical Psychologist 

Director, Jigsaw Psychology and Assessments www.jigsawpsych.com.au