What is ADHD, anyway?
ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental (neuro, meaning brain and developmental, meaning growing up) disorders in childhood, so it is no surprise that many people are wondering if they have it.
But you may be wondering, what is ADHD?
ADHD is a brain-based condition caused by a lack of certain chemicals (ex., norepinephrine). ADHD commonly affects areas of the brain that control attention, social judgment, and executive functioning.
You will often hear ADHD discussed alongside executive functioning, which can sound like a scientific and intimidating word. Put simply, executive function is our brain's process of organizing thoughts and activities. There are seven areas of executive functioning and many people with ADHD often struggle with most of these 7 areas. However, this varies from person to person.
Seven Areas of Executive Functioning
Self-awareness is how we view ourselves and how others view us.
Restraint is the ability to control yourself. For example, eating ice cream despite being lactose intolerant.
Non-verbal working memory is the ability to store picture things in your mind. For example, trying to remember someone's face.
Verbal working memory is the ability to remember something said to you.
Emotional self-regulation is the ability to regulate your own emotions.
Self-motivation is the ability to get yourself to do something. For example, getting out of bed in the morning.
The last area is planning and problem-solving, which is coming up with different or new ways of solving a task or doing something.
Types of ADHD
There are three types of ADHD.
The first type is Hyperactive and Impulsive. This is what people typically think of when they think of ADHD. These individuals typically have trouble staying still and usually need to fidget with something to allow them to pay attention and have a lot of energy. They may also interrupt others, call out answers and have trouble with self-control.
The second is Inattentive. This is typically shown through the person making "careless" mistakes because they do not pay close attention to the task at hand. They usually have trouble listening to others and organizing tasks and activities. They may also appear forgetful, not remembering why they entered a room or misplacing items.
The last is Combined, which is a mix of both types. This is not a legitimate list of symptoms. If you think you have ADHD, you should reach out to a psychiatrist or your family doctor.
It's also important to know that symptoms can vary depending on the environment and the demands placed on a person. For example, individuals' symptoms will appear less if they are in novel or unfamiliar surroundings or engage in novel and exciting tasks.