I Think I Have ADHD. Now what?
Do you ever feel stuck or overwhelmed because you cannot meet the everyday demands of life? Do you find yourself looking at others and questioning how they are able to juggle so much with ease? Does the idea of having an organized home or office seem completely unrealistic for you? Are you struggling with poor memory, focus, and concentration? Are your relationships and/or friendships suffering from your inability to keep up with commitments? Do you thrive in a world of controlled chaos but then feel easily upset at the same time? Perhaps people have jokingly said to you that you must have ADHD! Well, maybe it’s true.
If you found yourself saying, YES to the above questions I hope you find relief knowing you are not alone! According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition, (DSM-5), the essential feature of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development.
To further understand if this applies to you please keep reading to learn more about how this neurological condition impacts our executive functioning.
In the past six months have you experienced difficulties related to inattention at work, home or in your social setting because of any of the following?
Are you careless? Overlooking or missing important details? Failing to submit or turn in inaccurate work?
Do you have trouble staying focused throughout meetings or conversations? Do you read a paragraph and then need to read it again because your mind was elsewhere?
Are you easily distracted during a conversation, even when being spoken to directly?
Do you start tasks and then lose your focus; perhaps you rarely finish? Are you easily sidetracked?
Are you disorganized and messy? Do you miss deadlines?
Do you avoid tasks that require sustained mental effort like paperwork or reviewing lengthy reports?
Are you frequently searching for everyday items like your phone, glasses, or keys?
Are you easily distracted by random things (movement, sound, voices)? Does your mind frequently wander?
Do you find yourself forgetful in daily activities like returning calls, keeping appointments, or paying bills?
If you said, YES, YES, YES to several of those questions, let's keep going to see if you relate to any associated hyperactive or impulsive qualities too.
Do you find it difficult to be still? Are you often fidgeting, or taping your hands or feet? Maybe you squirm in your chair a bunch?
Is it hard to stay seated when you are expected to during class or meetings?
Do you feel restless or on edge most of the time?
Are quiet activities like sitting through presentations or movies painful for you?
Are you always on the go? Does being still for extended periods of time make you feel uncomfortable?
Have you been told you talk too much or even at inappropriate times?
Perhaps you ignore or miss normal social cues and interrupt others?
Is it difficult for you to wait your turn while inline or in traffic?
Are you intrusive? Do you insert yourself into conversations or activities otherwise not related to you?
If you continued answering YES to all my questions, keep reading for a better understanding of ADHD. Guess what, if you only related to one segment of questions keep reading because you might be in for a surprise. If this article does not apply to you I am fairly confident you’ve thought of two or three people in your life that fit this description to a tee!