ADHD
Hi everyone!
Welcome back to Little Notes! <3
This week's topic is something which is already the centre of numerous debates currently: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). First off I thought I would talk about my personal experience and then branch out to the wider discussion.
Since I was around 15 I struggled with my mental health, but even before this I always thought I was different. From a young age I would get stressed over minor things or overwhelmed very easily. As I got older and hit puberty, real life stresses became too much. I burnt myself out quickly, and would be inconsolable over change of plans. GCSEs was when I and everyone around me realised something was not quite right. Naturally I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression and put into therapy and given colouring books to ‘destress’. This is not to say that everyone was wrong at the time because ADHD was not commonly known about, especially in young girls. It was only when I reached university I began to spiral further, the lack of routine, the freedom to go out and do whatever you want took over. I remember going to the doctors thinking I was displaying autistic symptoms and it came back to be ADHD (autism discussion is for another day!). Similar to a lot of women diagnosed this late, I was angry but also so sad for the younger me who had tried so many different coping mechanisms for nothing to work. I was really lucky when I got diagnosed that my best friend had been through the same thing the year prior. Fast forward to two years later I have finally started medication. It is mind blowing the difference, I am better at my job, I can sit and apply for jobs and I can have a conversation without a million things running through my brain. I am still trialling different medications currently but it is just amazing the difference it can make. I mourn for the person I could have been in school, could I have been a vet? Could I have achieved a first class in my degrees? Would I have been so anxious? I tend not to focus on these questions because ADHD was not diagnosed as much back then. I know my story is not alone as I see so many other women going through the same process.
As with many mental illnesses nowadays many suggest there is a ‘pandemic’ of overdiagnosis which I believe tends to come from the older generations who would just ‘get on with it’. This is obviously incorrect, with how the world is looking at the moment, the increasing pressure to perform the best, these diagnoses are more vital than ever, ESPECIALLY in women. Not only are women less likely to be diagnosed, they are less likely to be given medication once diagnosed. This is similar across all medical conditions. The ratio for diagnosis for boys to girls is 4:1!!! Part of this obviously comes from the fact boys exhibit ADHD differently but it still should not be the case. The wait times is something I know can not be helped currently but it is still astounding. In my personal experience it took 3 years from calling the doctors to then receiving medication. Once you know you have ADHD everything becomes more frustrating as you know there is an explanation for the majority of your behaviour.
The worst symptom in my opinion is ADHD paralysis. The temporary, overwhelming and non-medical state where individuals feel frozen or unable to start/finish tasks. This could be any tasks like replying to messages, showering or even eating. It often comes when there are too many tasks to do and it becomes too overwhelming to tackle any so you don’t. I suffer with this a lot especially when I do not have anything specific planned which is why my to do list is my best friend, but even this sometimes does not help. A lot of people believe ADHD is when you are loud, messy etc, but this is the area which is ignored or not well known because not many people see it. The wanting to get up and be productive but physically not being able to move as you are paralysed by the task. This also often comes when there are too many choices (decision paralysis).
People with ADHD are more likely to become addicted to things also, whether this be substances, alcohol or other activities. Studies show that 1 in 4 adults with ADHD will develop a substance use disorder and you are 2-3 times more likely to develop one if you have ADHD. This is because people with ADHD have lower dopamine levels. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter and hormone produced in the brain which acts as a chemical messenger between nerve cells. It plays a key role in the brain’s reward system for motivation, pleasure and is normally released during enjoyable activities. People with ADHD lack this dopamine so they have a higher drive for stimulation and immediate gratification which means they generally will have higher impulsivity and be more risk taking in order to achieve this dopamine. I never knew about this until I was diagnosed, it is INSANE!
Anyway, thank you so much for reading, I really enjoyed writing this one!
Until the next Little Note,
K
<3
Sources:
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(24)00010-5/fulltext
https://neurolaunch.com/adhd-male-vs-female-ratio/
