What is ADHD?

ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, which is a mental condition. People with ADHD have differences in how their brains develop and work, affecting their attention, ability to stay still, and self-control. Usually, we associate ADHD with kids, and it’s often diagnosed by the time they’re around 7 years old.

But did you know that adults can have ADHD too? According to experts, around 8.4 percent of children and 2.5 percent of adults have ADHD. There are seven main signs of ADHD in adults:

1. Making careless mistakes and not paying attention to details.
2. Avoiding tasks that require a lot of mental effort.
3. Having trouble focusing on tasks.
4. Not seeming to listen when spoken to directly.
5. Getting easily distracted.
6. Being disorganized or messy.
7. Forgetting things easily.

You might have heard of ADD, which stands for Attention Deficit Disorder. While it’s similar to ADHD, there’s a difference. ADHD includes the “H” for hyperactivity – this means being overly active or restless. But in ADD (or what experts now call ADHD, inattentive subtype), the hyperactivity symptom is absent. People with ADD can be calm and quiet, not necessarily hyperactive.

To treat ADHD, you can consider medications or therapy, and sometimes a combination of both works best.

If you think you or someone you know might have ADHD, it’s a good idea to visit a psychiatrist or psychologist. Remember, seeking help is important, and it’s better to address it sooner rather than later.

I’m wrapping up this topic here, but I’d love to hear your thoughts too. Feel free to share. Until next time, stay safe and take care. 

22 thoughts on “What is ADHD?”

  1. I have known people with ADHD and have once even considered I might have it myself! It might be hard to manage at first but with proper knowledge and medication I’ve seen a lot of people become quite successful. Thanks for sharing!

  2. Such a great topic that is not explored enough. I know adults who manage their symptoms by becoming almost obsessive compulsive about where things belong and routines.

  3. Enriqueta Lemoine

    Sometimes I have trouble getting focused. However, if I’m super busy this fades. I know kids with ADHD and it can be hard for parents and people around,

  4. I’m ahead of summer camps and in one of my camps there’s a kid that has ADHD. This is great info to let others know a little bit more about it.

  5. My hubby, who is over 50, has ADHD and has been receiving treatment for many years. With counseling and medication he has learned how to better maintain focus.

  6. Sometimes I get teased for being hyperactive to the point they’d call it ADHD. No, I don’t have it. I’m really just hyperactive and gets excited easily. On a serious note, this issue should be taken seriously. Once they notice a child being extra, they should seek professional help to have it managed. Untreated ADHD can pose a tremendous amount of psychological, financial, academic and social burden to the individual and the family as well.

  7. Mama Maggie's Kitchen

    This is really an interesting and powerful blog. Thank you for sharing your thoughts about ADHD. I know some people with this mental condition.

  8. I am an avid mental health advocate ad love your post. I worked with someone who had ADHD, but was not receiving treatments. It can be challenging to say the least.

  9. Fatima D Torres

    We have a friend who suffers from this, and it’s not easy to watch them go through some of the treatments.

  10. We thought my son had ADHD when he was in elementary school and he took meds for a while. But as he got older, he seemed to be better with organization, memory, and paying attention in class so we took him off the meds. It can be complicated, right? I have several work colleagues who were diagnosed with ADHD as adults. They hate that they had to struggle so much without help when they were younger.

  11. It’s great to write about these things on the web Moni.
    Sometimes people search things and unable to find what they need. if something a doctor said. I always search things on web,Thanks for sharing these type of stuff through your website.This really helps people.What you are doing is great!

  12. I know my ex said she had ADHD. It was difficult to understand what this meant fully with all of the different struggles she had. Then again it might have been a mix of issues and not just ADHD. This is useful information and good to know you can still have it as an adult.

  13. Great post Moni on a matter that many people do not really understand. I’ve known several people who’ve lived with ADHD for years, but they just didn’t know they were suffering from the condition. Knowing about their condition years ago would have helped them manage their lives better. Thanks for spreading awareness on ADHD.

Leave a Reply to Sabrina Must Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Scroll to Top