Unmasking 7 Myths about ADHD Symptoms: What You Need to Know (2023)
Fostering Understanding, One Myth at a Time
This is a series focused on highlighting common ADHD myths. I will outline some rationale as to why I think each myth is either fully or partially false, before providing a mix of my personal response, coping mechanisms, and studies which address it. Let’s dive in…
Myth 1
“ADHD is an excuse”
Fact: ADHD is a real neurodevelopmental disorder supported by extensive research and recognized worldwide. (Source: CHADD - various studies at the bottom)
The notion that ADHD is an excuse for laziness or being work-shy still exists, and is wrong. I’ve experienced this with before, but a good way to counter this is by citing supporting evidence (hard to argue). I also use this analogy:
“Say there are 10 ADHD symptoms, such as inability to focus, brain fog, hyper-focus etc… everyone experiences these right? Now imagine these 10 symptoms as 10 volume dials, ranging from 0-100% (representing the level of intensity of the symptom) on a DJ soundboard. A lot of people may have 3-5 of these switched on at any given time, at 40-60%. This may fluctuate as life situations are dealt with. Now, imagine if 7, 8, or 9 of these dials were switched on most of time at 80% intensity. That’s what ADHD is like for me.”
Myth 2
“Only children have ADHD”
Fact: ADHD persists into adulthood. I myself am riddled with ADHD, and was diagnosed 14 months ago! It explains a lot of the feelings I had as a kid, neurodevelopmental disorder unbeknown to me. (Source: NIMH)
Myth 3
“Everyone has a little bit of ADHD”
Fact: What they really mean is “everyone feels a bit scattered or unfocused sometimes”, which is true.
Feeling distracted now and then is a part of being human. However, ADHD is a distinct condition with specific diagnostic criteria. Admittedly, pre-diagnosis I thought ‘maybe I DO have a bit of ADHD’ - so this thinking isn’t always harmful if it’s led by curiosity to understand oneself. (Source: ADHDIreland)
Myth 4
“Medication is the only treatment”
Fact: I’m gonna say it outright - medication HAS been a gamechanger for me. It’s provided me with a platform to implement strategies such as regular exercise, positive thinking, and therapy. However, I cannot rely on a pill to solve everything, it’s complemented by an ecosystem of good choices. Some choose not to medicate, and that’s fine too. All up to the individual. (Source: HelpGuide)
Myth 5
“All people with ADHD are hyper”
Fact: Whilst hyperactivity can be a symptom, it isn’t the only one. There are different ADHD subtypes, including the inattentive subtype, where hyperactivity may not be the main symptom - you can also be mixed. I am on the inattentive end, with difficulty focusing and recalling details. (Source: Healthline)
ADHD manifests differently in individuals. It’s important to know the details of your diagnosis so you can employ tactics that help you. For example, I forget important dates and double book ALL the time! So I keep my upcoming events in an Outlook calendar with reminders set up.
Myth 6
“If you have ADHD, you can’t focus on anything!”
Fact: People with ADHD can hyper-focus on tasks they find interesting. Individuals can also find it difficult to focus, so from my perspective, it isn’t a myth that inattentiveness is a symptom for some people with ADHD, but tarring all ADHDers is inaccurate.
Although maintaining focus can be a challenge, individuals with ADHD are capable of intense concentration on subjects (like me on this Substack). There are caveats to hyper-focus, as it can distract from important areas of life. It’s important to try to channel focus on things that matter to you, whether that’s a blog or honey badger facts. I do this by thinking of what I need across my physical body, relationships, and personal self. (Source: Verywell Mind)
Myth 7
“If you have ADHD, you can’t thrive”
BIG caveat here - this myth is something I have peddled to myself, rather then hear it much in the ether.
Fact: There are many success stories of people with ADHD.
I try to harness some of my attributes. For example, I can hyper-focus on my most important goals each morning (e.g. completing this list!!), which gives me a nice sense of accomplishment. Note: I keep a check on hyper-focus so I don’t overcommit at the detriment of other parts of my life. Planning what matters and setting a time limit (say, 2 hours) are healthy constraints for me.
Conclusion
It’s important to show empathy when responding to the above myths by considering the rationale behind the view. There may be some truth occasionally in a statement, but knowing what the person truly means first is key before responding.
Please share your thoughts:
What do you think of the above?
What other myths have you encountered?
Stay tuned for more ADHD insights next week!
*Disclaimer: content I write is based on my own personal experience as someone who has had ADHD, anxiety & depression for 15 years. Please make your own judgement on the content and my suggestions, as I am not a professional, but a 29 year-old man who wants to make sense of his muddled mind!*
Omg YES!! Thank you for this article!! There is such a lack of awareness about what it means to be ADHD. The DSM refusing to acknowledge our main symptoms really doesnt help matters! I think almost all my articles refer to this at some point
Whoaw, fellow inattentive subtype here! Makes my work as a nurse a little more complicated. Ok, A LOT more complicated, ha!