Dispelling a Few Myths
Anyone who questions the validity of ADHD probably hasn’t lived with or loved someone with ADHD. If they have, “ADHD isn’t real.” is often a salacious statement that draws many impassioned responses from those on either side of the fence. October month is ADHD Awareness Month. It’s my favorite time to celebrate a little louder. I love the superpowers that come with these brain differences. If the world took a little time to embrace all of the wonderful qualities of our out-of-the-box thinkers, my heart would be 1000x happier. To kick off ADHD Awareness Month, I want to address some of the negative messages this tenacious tribe navigates with more regularity than I believe any one human should.
Let’s discuss and dispel these 6 myths that I hear more than I wish. ADHD brains are often wired to be deeply intuitive, feel emotions intensely, may struggle to filter all of the data coming at them, and have some of the most intense passions and creative minds around. We could all use a little perspective beyond the norm.
MYTH #1: ADHD is not real.
FACT: Fake news? Nope. ADHD is very real. Because you cannot see it by simply looking at someone it is harder to recognize and understand. ADHD is not a disorder of intelligence or moral conduct. It is a neurobiological brain difference. Quite simply, ADHD brains are wired differently. One of the best parts is that, when playing to their strengths, these super-fast brains often have a superhuman ability to focus and create and move mountains. When life is less interesting, they seek out the #goodstuff that drives their motors. And sometimes they need a little help staying on the tasks that don’t really ignite them! “Just do it!” isn’t how they are wired.
MYTH #2: It’s over-diagnosed.
FACT: According to the CDC, roughly 11% of US children are diagnosed with and adults report just below 5%. Many experts in the field would argue that ADHD is under-diagnosed (and in adults under-reported). Dr. Russell Barkley’s most recent study on ADHD & Longevity would suggest that we need to be more aggressive in diagnosing earlier in life so that we can offer interventions sooner. Interventions, strategies, education, and modifications earlier in life can lead to better outcomes in adulthood both mentally and physically because we are addressing developmental differences earlier and creating successful strategies that lead to productive habits and rituals in adulthood.
MYTH #3: It’s a creation of big pharma.
FACT: This is not a phantom diagnosis conjured up by drug companies. Big Pharma didn’t exist in 1902 when British pediatrician Sir George Still first described ADHD as an “abnormal defect of moral control”. While Dr. Charles Bradley noted an improvement in the behavior and performance of young patients who were taking Benzedrine in 1934, it wasn’t until 1955 that Ritalin was introduced as a pharmacological form of treatment for ADHD. Not every brain responds well to medication either. Roughly 30% of ADHD patients do not find medication helpful or tolerable. Those who do can speak volumes to the positive impact that medication has had on their life. Oh, and those adults mentioned above - less than 25% of them seek treatment as adults.
MYTH #4: Your child being diagnosed with ADHD is just a sign of bad parenting.
FACT: Parent shaming is seriously unproductive in any forum. Bad parenting does not create ADHD. In fact, parents are the key to helping young children learn to manage their ADHD. Some of the most creative, patient, tolerant and exhausted parents I know have children with ADHD and/or a myriad of other health impairments. ADHD parents tend to become some of the most educated and nimble parents, and this is not always by choice. More often, our fast-brain kiddos keep us on our toes and foster a next-level ability to respond on the fly to the shifts we witness in our kids. We are loving hard and sometimes crying harder. Every parent could use a little support now and then. Let’s leave judgment day for the courtrooms.
MYTH #5: It’s a diet issue. (aka - “Just stop feeding your kid sugar.”)
FACT: I like to believe that the “just cut the sugar” commentary is a veiled judgment often meant to be helpful. It’s not helpful. If removing sugar from your diet magically “cures” your ADHD, then you don’t have ADHD. That said, diet, sleep, and exercise are all optimizers for brain function. This makes them even more important for ADHD brains. Cutting the sugar, red dye, gluten, dairy, etc. may yield a positive result because your child has a sensitivity to that particular food or additive. For some reason, food sensitivities are more likely with ADHD, but they are not certainties. Put on your detective hat - you might find that making shifts helps manage the symptoms. Then again, you may not.
MYTH #6 It’s a childhood condition. “You’ll grow out of it.”
FACT: Growing out of ADHD is not guaraunteed. ADHD is chronic and pervasive. Many of those ADHD symptoms in childhood can improve, morph or lessen as the brain matures - chances are greater with earlier diagnosis and treatment. Did you know that multiple twin studies demonstrated that stress increases the likelihood, presence and severity of symptoms? By the way, 2/3 of all children diagnosed with ADHD report symptoms persisting into adulthood. So why does society still struggle to recognize adult ADHD? Perhaps it is related to the fact that “adulting” often breeds choice. Adults are able to more often choose activities/work that they like, which is where ADHD brains thrive. Every adult with ADHD that I know would like for you, dear reader, to know that they are still managing symptoms by the minute, and also by the scenario. The success in the management of those symptoms greatly impacts what the rest of the world observes of this hidden brain difference.
You all know how much I love differently wired brains. They push the envelope and force the rest of the world to think, act and dream bigger. They challenge boundaries. They exude passionate living. ADHD brains are some of the most trusting, amazing, loving, forgiving brains in the universe. So, before you go believing those blanket statements that dismiss that which you may not understand, I invite you to get a little curious about the how, why and when for the people in your life that are just a little different. If you are already in my camp, I encourage you to share this with someone who might benefit from a new perspective.
ADHD is one of many “invisible” differences. Within these differences is an opportunity for growth and appreciation. For me, October is not simply a month of awareness. It is a celebration of all of the characteristics that I appreciate. What do you appreciate about the diverse brains in your world?
And if you want to learn more, come to Philadelphia this November for the International Conference on ADHD.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
Common Statistics: https://www.additudemag.com/statistics-of-adhd/
Medical Links: (AAP) https://www.aappublications.org/news/2019/09/30/adhd093019; (NIMH) https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd/index.shtml; (CDC) https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/index.html
Faraone, S. V., & Larsson, H. (2018). Genetics of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Molecular Psychiatry, 6(11). Retrieved on June 10, 2017 from https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-018-0070-0