Sprout

ADHD

Definition

A neurological condition that effects everything I do and how I absorb stimuli.

Wikipedia:

" Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, and emotional dysregulation that are excessive and pervasive, impairing in multiple contexts, and developmentally inappropriate. ADHD symptoms arise from executive dysfunction. "

My Notes

This is a topic I talk about very often... I am specifically mainly interested in how this manifests in and effects women.

Personal Note

I am rarely finding, yet often searching, for any sort of articles or media that gives commentary on this topic in a legitimate way; which are respectful and do their research.
Here is some things I have found.
Reminder; this is meant to be for my future reference above all things. (absolutely a work in progress!)

"It has become clear that ADHD has a negative impact on patients’ (Health-related quality of life) and that this may be further exacerbated by, or may increase the risk of, other psychiatric conditions such as anxiety and depression... Impaired day-to-day functioning in domains such as educational achievement and interpersonal relations is the reason that most often underlies a patient’s or parent’s decision to seek medical advice."

"The persistence of ADHD to adulthood was linked to a 12.7-year reduction in (estimated life expectancy). Several background traits accounted for more than 39% of variation in (estimated life expectancy)."

Personal Note

Yes, you are reading this correctly and without any undue dramatics...we are dying earlier. However, it's important to note that it's better to see this more as "our neurological condition can pose a threat to our well-being" and less of a, I dunno, the ADHD becoming terminal and killing us. We are often prone to distraction in situations where we may need full focus. We live in a world made for...anyone but us, and we have to keep going dispite that. We feel so much more stress because of it, and often so much shame. It's not a stretch to realize this leads to not just severe depression but we are more often experiencing mental and physical damage from the stress as well. I know from my own experience the feelings of inadequacy, social isolation, and fried nerves put myself in a cycle of worse symptoms and my mental and physical state spiraling as a result. I feel that from my firsthand experience, if the cyles and spiraling can be cut; you can get back your life expectancy to something more average. I think when we get the help we need, and the accomodations that help us thrive, for long enough periods of time, we begin to not only heal completely but unlock our best traits. However, I think we deserve to be in our best environment even if we produce zero value. We deserve these things because we are human. Of course we deserve them in the context of causing zero harm to others, but I think framing our needs as trivial in comparison to "real" neurological disorders, whatever that means, is causing serious harm under the guise of defending others who are supposedly in more need. If we are losing years off our lives, do we finally deserve to be taken seriously? Can what we're going through, disputed as the name might be, finally be a legitimate hardship? What becomes doubly concerning is the crux of where being a woman and having ADHD meet, where we find ourselves given even less consideration for how we are uniquely affected, even though there's a lot to observe and consider since our experiences often reveal how women are socialized and how we adapt to survive our surrounding women-hating cultures. When a woman has something that would have held her back even in a fair society, there's a certain desperation much of us have that leads us to more intense ways of coping and medicating that I could easily say is worthy of study.

"It is generally accepted that, before their periods, many females experience demoralizing symptoms related to plummeting estrogen levels. They may feel insecure, tearful, irritable, confused (with tinges of paranoia), and, sometimes, hopeless. This is not the way these girls seem during most of the month, but the week before their period, they may appear troubled. It is thought that the Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) exacerbates ADHD symptoms, and ADHD amplifies the difficulties. During this time, many girls self-medicate with drugs, alcohol, food, and/or sex, which complicates the picture. After their period, they will likely have more hopefulness, better emotional regulation, and be more positive about interactions. They are less stressed and able to assess their world more accurately.

When a girl enters your office, how do you know which girl you’re seeing? Clinicians should always ask about menstruation cycles, what they are like, and where in their monthly cycle they are at the moment. Most girls have no idea that estrogen plays a large role in cognition, behavior, and ADHD symptoms, and won’t know why it’s relevant to discuss. This is not information that girls will volunteer without support, and exploring sexual activity and relationships is more intimidating if the clinician is male. This is not elective information, however; the impact of hormonal fluctuations is a core aspect in the lives of females."

"Research suggests that, for girls with ADHD, the experience of trauma is common. While the symptoms of ADHD and trauma can overlap, it is not unusual for both to be simultaneous challenges. There may have been an incident that has been difficult to get past, such as observing a violent crime or a rape. There is also chronic lower-level trauma that might include daily anxieties about home or school. One girl was both ashamed and protective when she described her daily experience of waiting to find out whether or not her father would be coming home drunk. She said, “I sit real quietly so I can hear his footsteps in the hall before he opens the door. It makes it so I can’t focus on anything else.” For girls who have had traumatic experiences, scanning their environment for danger trumps all else and skews their view of their world. The trauma-informed interview happens more often today, but too few clinicians ask about trauma directly. It is painful and intrusive unless handled with delicacy. Again, it is unlikely that girls will volunteer to discuss one of their most painful experiences with a stranger, especially a male. In many cases, even parents are reluctant to open that can of worms. Some girls have never told their parents, and some parents would shut them down if they tried. Protecting others, out of loyalty or fear, creates hypervigilance, and they may be more likely to confide their fears and feelings to a woman. Until their secret is revealed, their responses may seem incomprehensible and their needs obscured."

Six or more of the following symptoms in children, and five or more in adults, excluding situations where these symptoms are better explained by another psychiatric or medical condition:

Frequently overlooks details or makes careless mistakes

Often has difficulty maintaining focus on one task or play activity

Often appears not to be listening when spoken to, including when there is no obvious distraction

Frequently does not finish following instructions, failing to complete tasks

Often struggles to organise tasks and activities, to meet deadlines, and to keep belongings in order

Is frequently reluctant to engage in tasks which require sustained attention

Frequently loses items required for tasks and activities

Is frequently easily distracted by extraneous stimuli, including thoughts in adults and older teenagers

Often forgets daily activities, or is forgetful while completing them.

Sources

Linked from

Garden Home

Medication

ADHD medication that is commonly used and my thoughts

Resources

Website resources I consider helpful for ADHD

Blogs and Webrings

Places on the indie and personal web that talk about ADHD that I find interesting.