Years later, Raj is now 21 years old, and similar problems are faced by him still. Being worried and feeling hopeless about his future, he decides to seek counseling from a psychologist. The Psychologist after taking his case history and understanding his symptoms, suggested that he take an assessment to better understand where this behavior that still persisted comes from. He was then diagnosed with ADHD, a second most common mental disorder among children that may be carried into adulthood if left untreated. ADHD often goes unrecognized throughout childhood. This was especially common in the past, when very few people were aware of it.

Now, What exactly is ADHD?

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder aka ADHD refers to a persistent pattern of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. People with ADHD have difficulty completing or staying on a task, they move constantly and find it difficult to suppress their impulses. These among many other symptoms may have a great impact upon many aspects of an individual’s life, including academic difficulties, social skills problems, and strained parent-child relationships.

Once regarded as a childhood disorder, ADHD is now seen to be continued into adulthood. As children move into their adolescent years, if their condition is untreated they show a wide range of behavioral, academic and interpersonal problems that create difficulties in day-to-day activities.

According to a 2021 study by the Global Health Epidemiology Reference Group, “Globally, it has been estimated that approximately 5% of children and adolescents are affected by ADHD.”

You must be wondering what causes such behaviour?

The exact cause of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is not fully understood, although a combination of factors is thought to be responsible. ADHD can be both due to heritable and non-heritable factors.

How to know if your child or you may have ADHD? Take a look at these two pictures to look out for signs in Children and Adults:

ADHD that is undiagnosed or diagnosed but left untreated can have wide-reaching effects and cause problems in every area of your life.

Physical and mental health problems

• substance abuse

• Anxiety

• chronic stress

• Tension

• compulsive eating

• low self-esteem

• neglecting important check-ups

• avoid asking for help

Work and financial difficulties

• career difficulties

• Underachievement

• trouble keeping a job

• difficulty following corporate rules

• meeting deadlines

• sticking to a 9-to-5 routine

• managing finances may also pose a problem

Relationship problems

• fed up with constant nagging from loved ones

• becoming hurtful and resentful

• being misunderstood

• often called irresponsibility

• called insensitive

“The wide-ranging effects of ADHD can lead to embarrassment, frustration, hopelessness, disappointment, and loss of confidence. You may feel like you’ll never be able to get your life under control or fulfill your potential. That’s why a diagnosis of adult ADHD can be an enormous source of relief and hope. It helps you understand what you’re up against for the first time and realize that you’re not to blame. The difficulties you’ve experienced stem from attention deficit disorder—they are not a result of personal weakness or a character flaw.” says Melinda Smith, M.A. and Robert Segal, M.A in an article by helpguide.org

Article Written by - Priya Vijayran (MA Psychology, Reiki Master & Clinical Hypnotherapist)