Thread by @Blue_Sails

Since it's #adhdawarenessmonth. Here's some facts:

ADHD is developmental disorder, like ASD. Whilst it can be comorbid with learning disorders such as dyslexia, and dyscalculia, etc, it is not a learning disorder itself. It's also not a behavioural disorder.

ADHD is classified in 3 presentations in both the DSM (4 & 5), and the ICD-10-CM and ICD-11.

Predominantly Inattentive (formerly known as ADD)
Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive
Predominantly Combined (Meaning you exhibit 5 or more symptoms from both PI and PH)

ADHD is NOT a childhood disorder. It's a developmental disorder meaning that an ADHD child will grow up to be an ADHD adult.

The percentage of children who show ADHD traits, and later grow out of them is incredibly small.

Here's a list of ADHD Myths:

additudemag.com/31-adhd-myths/
additudemag.com/adhd-myths-and…

*In addition to my first post. ADHD is also not a mental disorder. Unlike anxiety, or depression, etc. ADHD is a developmental disorder meaning that the ADHD brain literally develops differently. It's also hereditary.

ADHD shares an overlap of symptoms with ASD. And is often highly comborbid with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder).
There are many cases when an ADHD individual is misdiagnosed with ASD, or an ASD individual is misdiagnosed with ADHD.
However, it's also possible to be BOTH!

Executive dysfunction is a huge part of ADHD, and it impairs ALL of these areas.

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You can struggle with any, many, and all of these areas at any given time.

ADHD, contrary to its name, is not actually a 'deficit' of attention. In fact, it's too much attention. The ADHD mind is not able to filter out the constant influx of information it has to process: sensory info (sound, sight, touch, etc), academic info, memory processing.

additudemag.com/were-driven-by…
additudemag.com/secrets-of-the…
additudemag.com/understanding-…

Part of the ADHD experience is 'Hyperfocusing' on something that engages us. This is never necessarily something we 'enjoy'. But often triggered by something being novel, urgent, challenging, or interesting.

Hyperfocus can be good, and bad. It's a facet of executive dysfunction in that we get engaged with something, and then cannot 'switch tracks' without an external trigger.

Whether than engagement is homework, a book, folding socks, or scrolling twitter for 5 hours. You're stuck.

Whilst the emotional aspect of ADHD was removed from the DSM-3 in the 1980's(?). Emotional dysregulation factors in HUGELY with ADHD, wrt processing, and social understanding.

additudemag.com/emotional-dysr…

On top of this. ADHDer's experience something called Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD). Which is essentially an intense emotional reaction, to the perception of rejection or criticism.

additudemag.com/rejection-sens…
additudemag.com/symptoms-of-ad…
additudemag.com/rejection-sens…

Unlike anxiety, RSD is 'instant reaction'. There's no build up, worry. It hits like an assassin that jumps out the shadows & injures you.

After that immediate response, then comes the fallout: It can be get expressed as irrational anger, crying, or even a sudden depressive drop.

For this reason, ADHD often, because of its issues with RSD and Emotional Dysregulation, gets misdiagnosed as bipolar disorder, depression, or anxiety.

Just like ASD, ADHD people stim! We have issues with sensory processing, and filtering information. We're often understimulated and suffer chronic boredom which can present as depression. We also get overstimulated too, and experience sensory overload.

Bouncing Leg™️ anyone?

I've been doing some work collecting a document full of online, and physical stores, as well as DIY resources, for anyone looking for access to stim toys!

Which is linked here! It's so easy to hyperfocus on 'window shopping'. I wanted to avoid it!

docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d…

Stimming is self-stimulatory behaviour . It's commonly associated with ASD, but it's also a factor of ADHD that's often overlooked. Stimming helps to 1) self regulate and soothe, 2) improve focus by providing extra stimulatory input, and 3) It's also enjoyable.

Within ADHD, it's easily recognised and stereotyped as bouncing legs, tapping feet, clicking pencils, and 'fidgeting'.

"Why can't you stay still/be quiet!?" Has probably been yelled at you a thousand times. But we need to move, or we get overwhelmed really quickly.

additudemag.com/fidget-toys-fo…


what-is-stimming.org/so-what-is-sti…

Stimming improve student lives, and helps them focus. Unfortunately they're often banned in schools due to misuse by neurotypical kids who view them as actual toys instead of tools.

ADHD has undergone a lot of changes in both name and terminology, with one of the first studied references to it in 1798! The medical aspect has around 80 years of research.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/P…
cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/ti…
verywellmind.com/adhd-history-o…
healthline.com/health/adhd/hi…

I even made a post documenting a lot of the diagnostic changes and terminology changes for ADHD/ADD on tumblr! maltedmilkchocolate.tumblr.com/post/176779186…

ADHD is one of the oldest researched developmental disorders. But there's still so much that is being learnt and discovered!

Medication! ADHD medication comes with huge stigma. This is due to the use of neurotypical people abusing it as a study/recreational drug, big pharma conspiracies, and more. There's a lot to unpack here, so instead let's discuss the ADHD brain.

Things like Concerta, help your brain use dopamine more effectively. Things like Adderall help produce dopamine, and things like Strattera help your brain use norepinephrine more effectively!

actuallyadhd.tumblr.com/post/894622295…

All these things are neurotransmitters which help with executive functions, which are some of the core disrupted symptoms of ADHD. Essentially, medication for the ADHD brain, is like putting on a pair of glasses for bad eyesight, or a prosthetic for a missing limb.

Just like with glasses, medication is a process of finding the right 'prescription', or in this case, the right dosage.
additudemag.com/adhd-medicatio…
You wont always get it right the first time, and some times you need to change dosage, or medication type, or from short/long release.

Medication doesn't work for everyone, but it works for most. As in the above links, ADHD medication is some of The most researched medication & is often the first go-to your psych will take.

However, these things usually work best in combination with coaching, or CBT.

ADHD medication protects the ADHD brain. It allows to manage our executive functions, to take back control of our lives, and improves our overall mental health.

additudemag.com/optimal-treatm…

If your medication isn't helping you. Go back, and talk with your psych. You can always tailor your treatment to your needs, and finding what benefits you most is often a work in progress. But DO discuss it if things aren't improving.

Whilst this is technically a 'Guide for Parents' it also has a lot of relevant information, advice, and steps, for anyone with ADHD.

additudemag.com/adhd-medicatio…

It's also important that if you have an existing mental health condition, whether that's a development disorder, or a mental illness, that you let you doctor know, because medications, and even bodies in general, can interact in unexpected ways.

The stigma surrounding these medications has often led to parents not allowing their kids access to the help they need. Or even just refusing to get them diagnosed when someones notices their struggles.
huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/what-is-…
liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.108…
drhallowell.com/stimulants-and…

Recently there was a Documentary on Netflix called Take Your Pills. Rather than focusing on any benefit ADHD medication had towards ADHD people, it contributed to the fear and stigma surrounding the medication.

This also sparked an amazing twitter trend #Itakemypills from @HowtoADHD where there's thousands of peoples stories and comments on their ADHD experience with medication, how it helped them, how it didn't. But real peoples experiences, and a positive voice for ADHD awareness.

All of the things that I link in this thread, are a direct response due to the stigma around medication. Because my own mother was not comfortable with me going on ADHD medication after getting a diagnosis. She was scared I'd become a drug addict, and my life would be ruined.

I've spent months and months, compiling resources, research, blogs, videos, a libraries worth of information on everything I can find regarding ADHD. And... none of it made a dent. None of it mattered.

Oddly enough, it was my mother's best friend, with 2 ADHD son's who did.

Stigma surrounding medication runs deep. Apparently to the point where everything I researched, still wasn't enough to reassure my own mother that this would improve my life. It took the words of another parent of 2 boys in highschool, and not the research of a 26 yr old adult.

I've been on Concerta for ADHD for about 3 months now. Whilst it hasn't improved everything, & I've had a wild ride of side effects. It has made a large difference.

My appetite returned. My brain fog cleared. I'm less depressed, and I'm getting work done sporadically. It helps.

And since it's #WorldMentalHealthDay, the topics surrounding medication are extremely important. It's not just the ADHD brain that needs support. But also those with anxiety, depression, bipolar, and a whole variety of health issues.

Don't forget. The brain is an organ too.

@ImpactADHD made a wonderful 'TADD Talk' on this for @adultadhd's TADD 2018: !! It's a great cover of all the various areas of executive functions and how they impact ADHDers!

@adultadhd (ADDA) is hosting some wonderful 'TADD Talks'. There's one a day for the entire month of October for #ADHDAwarenessMonth, and they're short, sweet, and to the point of the topics they cover! If you have 9 minutes to spare, I recommend them! add.org/taddtalks2018/