Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects the brain’s executive function, attentional processes, energy levels, and impulses. It is estimated that around 3.6% of boys and 0.9% of girls have ADHD in the UK, and among adults the prevalence is around 4.4% (adhduk.co.uk). Symptoms begin in childhood but do often continue into adulthood.

ADHD symptoms are usually separated into two strands: symptoms of inattention, and symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity. People with ADHD can present with either or both types, and it is not a requirement for diagnosis that they experience both.

Symptoms of inattention include:

• Difficulty holding attention on a single task
• Difficulty listening in conversation
• Difficulty following through on instructions, work and chores
• Difficulty making mind and body work together
• Forgetfulness
• Difficulty in organising and prioritising tasks
• Being easily distracted and losing focus

Symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity include:

• Restlessness and fidgeting
• Excessive talking
• Difficulty staying sat down when it is expected
• Difficulty waiting their turn
• Interrupting others in conversation

ADHD often co-occurs with autism, a form of neurodivergence sometimes referred to as AuDHD. This can lead to heightened experiences of the shared characteristics between the two conditions, such as sensory differences, difficulty regulating emotions, specific interests, and executive dysfunction. People with both autism and ADHD may also find the traits of each competing with each other, which can be exhausting or overwhelming.

ADHD can come in three main types, based on the symptoms listed above. These are:

• Predominantly hyperactive-impulsive presentation
• Predominantly inattentive presentation
• Combined presentation

Of these, combined presentation is the most common, and is the case for around 50-75% of people with ADHD.

If you are experiencing symptoms of ADHD, you may find that seeking a diagnosis provides clarity and support that you need.

A GP can refer you to an ADHD specialist such as a psychiatrist, who is able to assess your symptoms and history to potentially confirm a diagnosis.

In the assessment, the specialist will consider how your life is affected, particularly education, work, and social interactions. For children, how you are affected at school is particularly important, and for adults, they will ask about how the symptoms impacted you during childhood.

Diagnoses for ADHD have been on the rise in recent years, and on the one hand this may lead to an increased strain on the NHS to provide assessments. But understanding what it means to have ADHD, and how it affects the brain, is often incredibly important for those who have it. Therapist Saul Hillman says:

“There are countless articles now suggesting we are in the midst of an ADHD overdiagnosis crisis. I would argue the opposite: what we are seeing is the long-delayed correction of a massive underdiagnosis. That doesn’t mean every diagnosis is perfect, nor that every difficulty stems from ADHD — and that isn’t the point. It is a distraction. I’m also not naïve enough to suggest the pandemic didn’t unsettle something fundamental, or that excessive social media use doesn’t mimic some ADHD-like symptoms. We simply don’t yet know enough. But uncertainty should not be weaponised to invalidate people’s lived realities.”

ADHD is a common form of neurodivergence, and shouldn’t stop you from living the life you want to. It affects everyone differently, and consulting a medical professional such as a psychiatrist or a GP, or a therapist or counsellor, is a good way to work out what works best for your own needs.

The NHS recommends several broad strategies to manage ADHD:

• Regular exercise
• Healthy sleep schedule
• Balanced diet
• Reasonable adjustments at work or school, e.g. a quiet personal workspace, or extra clear written instructions
• Talking therapies such as CBT or mindfulness
• A medical ADHD specialist may prescribe medicines

Living with ADHD can provide challenges, but you are never alone. There are many support groups, articles, and guides available to help – including from Welldoing therapists who often specialise in working with clients who have ADHD. Leanne Maskell shares tips for looking after yourself pre-diagnosis, and author Jessica McCabe offers advice on staying organised with an ADHD brain.

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder, as opposed to a mental health condition. However, it often presents alongside conditions like anxiety and depression. Living with ADHD can sometimes mean you feel out of control, like people don’t understand you, or out of sync with your own body and mind. Equally, criticism and lack of understanding from people around you can contribute to feelings of shame or low self-esteem.

Therapy can be a great way to process these feelings, and find a space to remind yourself that everyone’s brain works differently. Many psychotherapists and counsellors on Welldoing are experts in working with clients with ADHD and are well equipped to understand the specific struggles you might be experiencing. You can use the search filter to find a therapist who has ADHD as an area of expertise.