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Submitted via IRC for TheMightyBuzzard
The textbook symptoms of ADD — inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity — fail to reflect several of its most powerful characteristics; the ones that shape your perceptions, emotions, and motivation. Here, Dr. William Dodson explains how to recognize and manage ADHD's true defining features.
The DSM-V – the bible of psychiatric diagnosis – lists 18 diagnostic criteria for attention deficit disorder (ADHD or ADD). Clinicians use this to identify symptoms, insurance companies use it to determine coverage, and researchers use it to determine areas of worthwhile study.
The problem: These criteria only describe how ADHD affects children ages 6-12, and that has led to misdiagnosis, misunderstanding, and failed treatment for teens, adults, and the elderly.
Most people, clinicians included, have only a vague understanding of what ADHD means. They assume it equates to hyperactivity and poor focus, mostly in children. They are wrong.
When we step back and ask, "What does everyone with ADHD have in common, that people without ADHD don't experience?" a different set of symptoms take shape.
From this perspective, three defining features of ADHD emerge that explain every aspect of the condition:
1. an interest-based nervous system
2. emotional hyperarousal
3. rejection sensitivity
Not precisely news but damned if it's not an interesting read if it has any relevance in your life.
Source: https://www.additudemag.com/symptoms-of-add-hyperarousal-rejection-sensitivity/
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 15 2018, @11:14PM (2 children)
This is really depressing. It fairly much describes my life.
I will never go in to get psychiatric help with a mental issue. The stigma is too much.
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Friday March 16 2018, @01:10AM
Nah, not really. I have a wicked case of it myself and I don't even mind talking about it here in the land of trolls and honey. Life really is much, much more bearable once you figure out a treatment regimen that works for you. Like I was on Adderall for years. Worked fantastically but eventually it ganged up with age and my love of deep fried foods and started causing blood pressure issues. Thankfully I started hitting the gym to keep from having to buy all new jeans and lower my blood pressure to boot. Turns out just an hour of exercise in the morning before breakfast and I have no ADHD-related issues that day, even without medication.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday March 16 2018, @01:45AM
Sometimes the stigma is the lesser of the two evils. But, it really depends upon the situation.
I can't personally recommend people going unless it's a severe illness as the way that mental health professionals treat the mentally ill is shameful.
ADHD in particular is an issue because there's so much ignorance about what it's like for adults, they want to treat it like it's the same disorder as you see in children, but due to the coping mechanisms and responsibilities that come from being an adult, it's more or less completely different.