ADHD is a relatively common mental health diagnosis that impacts the brain. It is actually categorized as a neurological disorder, and individuals can be diagnosed at any age. Recently, more information has come forward on how ADHD affects the brain.
Your attention deficit diagnosis may have been given to you as a child, but as we age, ADHD shifts and changes. In fact, neurodivergent brains are hardwired to adapt in unique ways. Neurodiversity and neurodivergence are umbrella terms for neurological disorders like obsessive-compulsive disorder, autism, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. These umbrella terms are used to outline how brains can differ from neurotypicals.
What ADHD isn’t
You may know of ADHD as you remember a classmate who couldn’t sit still in second grade and was frequently in trouble for their distractions. Maybe you were that kid. For years, this was the classic presentation of ADHD; many doctors, teachers, and psychologists believed it was a diagnosis for young males and that it was something they would outgrow. Unfortunately, the medical wisdom of the 1990s was incorrect on both counts. Even the name attention deficit hyperactivity disorder assumes a deficit of attention AND hyperactivity, which furthers misleading stereotypes. Most importantly, ADHD isn’t anyone’s fault.
What ADHD is
ADHD is a neurological disorder that has three common presentations: hyperactive, inattentive (formerly known as ADD), and mixed presentation.
Hyperactive type: Endless energy and a solid need to fidget; this presentation of ADHD challenges social and behavioral norms. For this reason, education systems are often catalysts for hyperactive-type testing.
Inattentive type: Formerly known as attention deficit disorder, or ADD, Inattentive type ADHD impacts organization and distraction. Due to the shift in personal responsibility from elementary school to high school, middle school may be the first indication of inattentive behaviors, if caught at all.
Mixed type: As the name suggests, the mixed type combines hyperactive and inattentive types. Researchers believe crossover is more common than fitting squarely into the hyperactive or inattentive categories.
Individuals with ADHD are often innovators, engineers, and creatives. Additionally, the ADHD brain excels at hyper-focusing, working well under pressure, and adapting to adversity. With that said, you may find difficulty with executive functioning skills, such as:
Time management
Self-control
Working memory
Emotional control
Decision making
Task initiation
Planning
and, Cognitive flexibility
How does ADHD affect the brain?
Size
One of the fundamental biological differences in an ADHD brain is that it is often smaller than brains of similar ages without ADHD. Without getting too stuck in neuroscience, the cerebellum (controls motor functions), amygdala (emotional processing), and hippocampus (emotion center) are the regions most impacted by ADHD. Researchers have also found that the prefrontal cortex, or the decision-making part of the brain, may mature more slowly. This may be why many with ADHD feel paralyzed by decision-making.
Neurotransmitters
Neurotransmitters are chemicals that help relay information throughout the brain and body. You should know a few of these chemicals and their impact. Generally, the following neurotransmitters are lower in ADHD brains: dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, and GABA. These chemicals are connected to shifts in mood, risky behavior, reward-seeking, and impacts on reaction and regulation.
Mental health
Not all individuals who are diagnosed with ADHD see mental health impacts. However, many diagnosed with ADHD also find that they have other symptoms, such as anxiety or depression. This is called comorbidity. While an ADHD diagnosis may answer larger questions about motivation and emotional regulation, it may not answer all of your concerns.
If you’re new to the world of attention deficits, or you’ve been around for a while, remember that time can change presentations of ADHD. If your symptoms are changing or you’re looking for ways to cope with your symptoms, enlist the help of a therapist. We know it can be challenging to make the next move, but our office is just a call away. Don’t hesitate to reach out to learn more about ADHD Treatment.