Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

In this blog, we explore what Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is, the symptoms, the treatment, how it can affect your mental health and how you can support a loved one.

What is ADHD?

ADHD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is a disorder usually defined by how a person behaves.

A person with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder may show patterns of inattentiveness and/or hyperactivity or impulsivity.

Usually, said patterns of behaviour will interfere with their ability to function on a day-to-day basis.

Symptoms of ADHD in adults

Symptoms can be split into two main types of behavioural problems:

Inattentiveness (this is when a person has difficulty concentrating and focusing)
Hyperactivity and impulsiveness (this is when a person may present as hyperactive or display impulsive behaviours)

A lot of people will have issues that can fall into either of the above behaviours.

Around two to three in ten people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder have problems with concentrating and focusing, but not with hyperactivity or impulsiveness. This is a type of ADHD known as attention deficit disorder (ADD). ADD can sometimes go unnoticed because the symptoms are a little less obvious.

In adults, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder can be much harder to define as there isn’t as much research into adults with ADHD. Although it is believed ADHD must present in childhood, it can often continue into adulthood undiagnosed.

The key symptoms n adults, suggested by specialists are:

Carelessness and lack of attention to detail
Continually starting new tasks before finishing old ones
Poor organisational skills
Inability to focus or prioritise
Continually losing or misplacing things
Forgetfulness
Restlessness and edginess
Difficulty keeping quiet, and speaking out of turn
Blurting out responses and often interrupting others
Mood swings, irritability and a quick temper
Inability to deal with stress
Extreme impatience
Taking risks in activities, often with little or no regard for personal safety or the safety of others – for example, driving dangerously

Causes of ADHD

There isn’t believed to be one main cause. It’s considered to be a mix of genetic and environmental factors,

Some researchers believe that environmental factors may be a cause. They could include the below:

Their mother having consumed alcohol or tobacco while pregnant
Being born prematurely
A low birth weight
An exposure to lead (during pregnancy or at a young age)
Brain injury

Treatment

There are lots of different types of treatment for ADHD. The main types are medication and talking therapy.

Medication – medication offered for ADHD is also used for mental health problems, you can find out more here.
Talking therapy – A treatment offered for ADHD is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), which is also offered as a mental health treatment. CBT is a type of talking treatment which focuses on how your thoughts, beliefs and attitudes affect your feelings and behaviour.

You can find out more about these and how you can access them by visiting the NHS website.

ADHD and mental health

If a person has ADHD, they are much more likely to suffer from mental health problems such as anxiety and depression.

They may also struggle with sleep problems and substance abuse issues.

Supporting a loved one with ADHD

Supporting your loved one with ADHD can be tough. Several of the symptoms associated with ADHD can cause frustration or misunderstanding – it’s important to remember that your loved one will often feel the same way. The below tips may help you better support your loved one:

Learn as much as you can about ADHD – this will help you gain a deeper understanding of behaviours and symptoms.
Adjust your behaviour – once you have learnt about ADHD, this will hopefully mean that you are able to become more understanding of certain behaviours – a really great tip is to separate the person from their symptoms. For example, instead of becoming annoyed at your loved one for losing their keys or missing an appointment, you’ll understand that it wasn’t done intentionally, and you can chat with them calmly and patiently.
Developing a routine – this can be helpful, as the structure of a set routine can be beneficial to those with ADHD. Sit down with your loved one and plan out the things that need to be done. Together, identify any tasks that are particularly difficult, and explore ways of making these easier. For example, if your friend or family member struggles to remember appointments, they could set regular alarms to remind themselves. If your friend or family member struggles with money management, you could offer to help them with a monthly or weekly budget plan.

You can read our full article about ADHD Awareness here.

Further Help and Support

If you have a diagnosis and want to meet and talk with others in a similar position, or if you’re a friend or family member of someone with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and would like some more guidance and support, please follow the below links.

You can find a list of National Support Groups here.

For more localised support, AADD-UK has compiled a list of support groups across the United Kingdom, which you can find here.