According to the CDC, ADHD is a common disorder that affects 9% of children under age 18 in the United States. Despite its prevalence, ADHD is often misunderstood. With October being National ADHD Awareness Month, let’s learn about the types, myths, and treatments for ADHD.
What is ADHD?
ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. It is a disorder that makes it hard to pay attention and control impulses, and often causes restlessness and exaggerated mood changes.
ADHD used to be known as attention deficit disorder, or ADD, but this term is no longer valid. Instead, ADHD is now classified as three different types:
- Inattentive Presentation, where you have trouble paying attention
- Hyperactive-Impulsive Presentation, where you are restless and have trouble controlling your behavior
- Combined Presentation, where you have both symptoms
Myths About ADHD
Unfortunately, there are many ADHD stigmas and misconceptions about the disorder. One of the most common is that people with ADHD are lazy. This is not true. If you have ADHD, you put in as much effort as anyone else, but it might take you longer to get the task done because you have trouble organizing and prioritizing. You might also have trouble stopping yourself from getting sidetracked, which can cause a lot of frustration.
You might also hear that ADHD is only a childhood disorder, but as many as 50% of people with ADHD have it into adulthood. ADHD symptoms can look different as you get older, which can make it harder to recognize. The stress of adulthood can also make symptoms worse.
Living With ADHD
It’s normal to have trouble concentrating occasionally or to feel restless. But if you live with ADHD, these behaviors are more severe, happen more often, and interfere with your job or social life.
Common ADHD symptoms include:
- Easily distracted
- Forgetfulness
- Trouble concentrating
- Trouble finishing tasks
- Trouble with organization and planning
- Hot temper
You might fall behind with your work or have trouble with your personal relationships, which can lead to a lot of stress and worry. In fact, many people with ADHD also live with other emotional and mental health problems like depression and anxiety.
Treatments for ADHD
The treatment for ADHD is therapy and medication. After your diagnosis, your doctor will give you a prescription for drugs like Ritalin and Adderall. These medications stimulate brain activity that helps increase your attention span and lower your impulsivity.
Medications can be costly, but there are ways to find savings. Use RxLess to get a discount on your ADHD medication. You can use these discounts at CVS or Walgreens or wherever you get your prescriptions.
