ADHD, or Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is a common neurodevelopmental disorder. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about one in 20 people has ADHD.
ADHD has been extensively researched by physicians for more than 60 years. It’s listed as an officially recognized condition in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) by the American Psychiatric Association (APA).
Despite all that, there are still many myths that circulate about ADHD. These myths can be dangerous. Often, they discourage those struggling with ADHD symptoms from seeking treatment and can make those with ADHD feel broken.
The best way to dispel these myths is with science-backed ADHD education. Let’s examine some of the more persistent myths and debunk them with the facts about this common condition.
We provide therapy and expert medication management for ADHD. Learn more by contacting Elite DNA today.
Debunking ADHD Myths
Myth 1: ADHD Isn’t Real
This might be the single most damaging of all ADHD myths.
ADHD is a very real, extremely well-studied medical disorder. ADHD has been extensively researched for decades. Physicians have recorded observations of ADHD symptoms in medical studies for more than 250 years.
Like many mental health conditions, ADHD may not present obvious physical signs. It’s hard to imagine someone else’s brain operating differently from our own — since we can only experience our own neurological processes.
ADHD is a real condition, verified and documented by extensive research, with new insights into the condition being discovered all the time.
Myth 2: Just Try Harder
This harmful ADHD myth says that people with ADHD can overcome their symptoms with some extra work and focus.
This is the equivalent of thinking you can change the color of your eyes by going to the gym more often.
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects attention and focus. It affects how dopamine is regulated in the brain. This can make it difficult to maintain focus on repetitive or uninteresting tasks. It might also make someone seek new or novel experiences to stimulate dopamine production.
But it isn’t due to a lack of mental activity. ADHD brains are as active, if not more so, than neurotypical brains. At times ADHD can lead to someone being hyper-focused, becoming so fixated on something that they can’t shift their attention.
Working harder or trying to focus more won’t resolve ADHD symptoms. This myth typically makes those with ADHD feel frustrated and inadequate.
Things that do help with ADHD are education about the condition, professionally managed medication, and therapy focused on developing coping strategies.
Myth 3: Children with ADHD Are Hyperactive
ADHD can present itself in different ways.
- Predominantly inattentive.
- Predominantly hyperactive with impulsive behavior.
- A combination of hyperactive-impulsive and inattentive.
When someone is predominantly inattentive, they may have difficulty focusing, but this doesn’t mean they’re hyperactive.
Myth 4: ADHD Only Affects Kids
ADHD is often diagnosed during childhood. But the condition continues with them, lasting into adulthood. Symptoms of ADHD may change over time, becoming more or less severe. But the condition doesn’t go away with adulthood.
A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that ADHD diagnoses in adults are growing at four times the rate of those in children.
This doesn’t mean adults are developing ADHD. More likely, an ADHD diagnosis in adulthood means someone has had the condition since childhood but was only diagnosed later in life due to better diagnostic testing and less stigma around ADHD.
Myth 5: Bad Parenting Causes ADHD
This ADHD myth is not only false but also extremely harmful.
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition. It can’t be caused by parenting.
Believing that ADHD might be caused by parenting can lead to guilt and shame. It can prevent parents from seeking a professional medical diagnosis for fear of judgment — and it can severely damage the relationship between a parent and an ADHD child.
No specific causes have been identified for ADHD, but it’s believed to be a combination of genetics and environmental factors.
With help from a qualified mental health professional, parents can learn techniques to support ADHD children and help them manage their symptoms more effectively.
Myth 6: ADHD Medication Makes Children Drowsy and Zonked Out
There are two primary kinds of medication for treating ADHD: stimulants and non-stimulants.
It might sound odd to treat a condition characterized by restlessness and impulsivity with a stimulant. However, stimulant medications are extremely effective at helping with focus, concentration, and impulse control.
Stimulants are the most common medication option for ADHD symptoms.
In cases where a patient experiences side effects from stimulants, non-stimulant medications may be prescribed.
In some cases, drowsiness can be a side effect of stimulant medications. Psychiatrists and Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNP) closely monitor ADHD patients being treated with stimulants and other medications. If a patient experiences side effects, they will adjust the dosage, or prescribe a different medication if needed.
Myth 7: ADHD is Different from ADD
ADD, (Attention-Deficit Disorder) is an outdated term used for the primarily inattentive presentation of ADHD symptoms.
The term was coined before research showed that inattentiveness was one of the ways ADHD presented itself. Current research shows that this isn’t a different condition, just a different expression of ADHD.
The discontinuation of the term ADD is due to a better understanding of ADHD that recognizes attention difficulties as a symptom disorder even when hyperactivity or impulsivity aren’t present.
Myth 8: Medication Can Cure ADHD
ADHD is neurodevelopmental. Brain imaging studies suggest the condition involves small physical differences in the brain, rather than being a behavioral condition. It’s not a curable condition, even with medication. But ADHD can be well managed with the proper support.
It’s similar to treating nearsightedness with prescription eyeglasses. The glasses help you see better, but they don’t cure nearsightedness.
ADHD medications are beneficial for managing symptoms, increasing focus, boosting concentration, and reducing impulsive behaviors.
Our brains continue to change throughout our lives. As such, ADHD medications need to be monitored and adjusted to accommodate those changes.
Treatment options for ADHD not only include medication, but also therapy, lifestyle changes, and coping skill development. However, it’s important to remember that these are intended to manage symptoms, not cure the condition. The most effective treatments are tailored to the specific needs of each individual.
ADHD Treatment at Elite DNA
Elite DNA provides diagnosis, treatment, and expert medication management for ADHD.
We deliver a detailed evaluation and diagnosis, and our clinicians will develop an ADHD treatment plan to address your unique symptoms and needs.
Treatments at Elite DNA usually involve a combination of modalities, which might include managed medication, talk therapy, occupational therapy, social skills training, and mindfulness.
During ADHD treatment, you can expect to receive support and strategies to manage symptoms. Your provider will work with you to keep track of your treatment’s effectiveness, make adjustments, and manage medications if needed.
Our full suite of Care Coordinators, Psychiatrists, Medical Staff, and Therapists are ready to help.
Are you ready to manage ADHD and live the life you want? Contact Elite DNA and get started!
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