ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, operates at a fast pace. Many have found that their ADHD is not as much a deficit as it is a gift. They can process faster, think faster, conceptualize faster, are more creative, can connect the dots, and implement differently than other people. The brains of those with ADHD seem to move so fast that sometimes the individual doesn’t feel they can keep up. Getting distracted, being unorganized, and feeling impulsive to act on every energetic whim can get in the way of being productive and successful. People with ADHD aren’t out of control. Instead, a better way to view it is that they have more to control than most people. Inexhaustible energy and ideas is a gift, not a detriment. Learning to balance the energy and creativity of ADHD with organization and manageability tools can create success.
Health.com asserts that ADHD is not a behavioral disorder but a brain disorder. Though there are disordered behaviors and a brain that thinks too fast, the way that the brain differs between people with ADHD and “normal” brains is significant. “Brain scans revealed that five brain regions in those with ADHD were smaller than in those without ADHD,” the article explains. “The greatest differences were seen in children,” it adds.
Typically, the article describes, “ADHD is characterized by inattention, overactivity, and impulsivity that can interfere with learning and relationships.”
Criticisms Of ADHD
Research like the brain scans reported by Health.com is significant in differentiating fact from fiction about ADHD. There was a spike in the diagnosis of and prescribing of medications to treat ADHD in recent years. The disorder as a whole, including the scientific and psychiatric community, faced much criticism. Overdiagnosing, getting kids hooked on stimulant medication, and more were assigned to the idea that “difficult” or “challenging” hyperactive behaviors were simply being labeled as ADHD.
Treating ADHD
Early intervention for ADHD can mean teaching a child how to cope with compulsive feelings. ADHD and many of the stimulant medications used to treat ADHD are considered precursors to substance abuse. Substance use disorders and ADHD have a high frequency of co-occurring.
Treating co-occurring ADHD and substance use disorders in adulthood is possible with expert clinical treatment and healing holistic modalities. Avalon Malibu is a leading mental health treatment facility, providing transformational treatment. For a confidential assessment and more information, call 1 888-958-7511.
