Whether it is called ADHD, ADD, for a surprising number of people in our country and culture we seem to see it everywhere. If you or someone you care about has been told they have problems focusing you begin to wonder what is the problem. Or in fact is there really a problem at all. Well I am here to tell you that the answer is both simple and complicated at the same time. Simple in the fact that if you struggle to focus that is most definitely a problem. People need to be able to focus. Not focusing is therefore a problem. The complicated part is WHY is it difficult to focus. It can be anything from poor sleep to depression and maybe even some organic brain problem. Oh yes and it can be ADHD as well. Teasing out what is causing the problem is the only way to come up with a plan to remedy the problem. That is what Professionals are supposed to do.
Now the important thing in figuring out if ADHD/ADD is the cause is to understand better what it means to have ADHD. If you go to your medical doctor and tell them your tummy hurts will that be enough to make a diagnosis. No of course not. More information is needed to determine the most likely cause. With ADHD/ADD certain things must be present with the problems focusing. Some degree of doing and saying things without adequate forethought is required. Hyperactive or fidgety behavior may be present. But this is not enough. First and foremost you need to understand why people do these things. Many Physicians look at symptoms and then treat. I look for causes.
Now for ADHD the cause is usually related to interest. If you are not interested you will have difficulty focusing. Now immediately people will say, “That is true for everyone” and they would be right. It is the degree of trouble that separates the ADHD from the other folks. This again can be challenging to tease out. Believe it or not ADHD is not something you have or don’t have. It has degrees of intensity. Many years ago only the very severe were diagnosed. Now milder and milder cases are being observed. In a nut shell the environment our culture has created has become far less friendly to those with ADHD traits. If I see a child or adult with ADHD traits I ask questions about their parents. If one of their parents don’t show signs of traits I take another look at them. Maybe I missed something. But I almost always find that at least one of the parents had or has traits of ADHD. Don’t worry if you have these traits it is not all bad. In fact it is actually very good in certain settings. In fact if you look at certain professions ADHD is almost a requirement. Police, Athletes, Emergency workers, artist, inventors, actor, comedians, and of course our military are full of ADHD people. It is not a matter of ADHD being over-diagnosed as much as the world is expecting unrealistic traits that they don’t possess. If you are 5 foot tall the NBA is not likely to happen, but a Jockey might work. What if the world ask you to do things you are not wired to do? Hmmm. If you think this might be your issue you can get help where you need it. But you don’t need it everywhere.
In subsequent blogs I will discuss why ADHD exist at all. It is actually a very useful thing.
Jeff Fry LCSW
360 Prospect Place, Alpharetta Ga 30005
866-525-2128