OMG do I have ADD??
I’ve been experiencing focus issues lately and some days I struggle to keep organized. Is it one more annoying indication of aging? Is it stress induced? Is it my lack of a structured 9 to 5 existence? When I mentioned my concerns to a friend who is a little older than I am, she said, “I get it - it’s happening to me too! I think maybe I have ADD.” My ears perked, and eventually I did a little online research. And what I kept encountering was a bit worrisome. A lot of online chatter about adult onset ADD/ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).
Based on what I’ve been reading online, some of my behaviors are listed as “symptoms” and that concerns me. If I visited a doctor, could I potentially leave the office with a diagnosis of adult onset ADD (I don’t have the “H” in the equation) and maybe a prescription?
I found the following information on Healthline.com:
“A wide range of behaviors are associated with ADHD. Some of the more common ones include:
having trouble focusing or concentrating on tasks
being forgetful about completing tasks
being easily distracted
…and
“Someone who is having difficulty focusing might:
make frequent mistakes or miss details when studying or working
find it hard to maintain focus when listening, reading, or holding a conversation
have trouble organizing their daily tasks
lose items frequently
be easily distracted by small things happening around them
Check. Check. Check. Check. I can fit myself into many of these scenarios. (Side Note: Look into why Multi-Tasking is no longer the fabulous trait we believed it to be when we featured it on our resumes all those years ago. Pssssst… OUR BRAINS ARE NOT DESIGNED FOR IT.)
The thing is though, my brain wildly resists the idea of wanting and or receiving a diagnosis of ADD.
My own common sense tells me what is causing my behavior challenges:
A world that changes so rapidly and is documented digitally from so many sources, that I could consume information all day and still not be able to keep up.
Aggressive drivers swerving around me on the highway.
People in public places having very inappropriate and loud shouting matches with one another.
Learning there are dangerous toxins in our air and water and it’s next to impossible to avoid them.
A 24/7 Breaking News cycle with nothing but ominous predictions about the future.
LIVING THROUGH A PANDEMIC.
I could easily go on, but basically I feel like my reality and dream state have shifted. If I manage to stay asleep at night, it is very restful, while the nightmare state seems to prevail more in waking hours. I am a sensitive soul, and I’ve learned sort of late in life that regardless of how much I research and worry, I have little control over what’s attacking my peace from the outer world. Fortunately, I have learned to go within for the solution I seek.
A lot of people haven’t realized this about themselves. They automatically think there is something wrong with them. Because of societal conditioning, when we notice we are out of sorts, we are trained to call the doctor for an appointment - one that is woefully three months out. Vulnerable souls who place their trust outside of themselves then wait for the expert to step in and handle the problem.
When people visit a doctor, they are looking for a diagnosis and a cure. And why not? We pay high healthcare and insurance fees and so we expect answers in exchange for our money. In lieu of a cure, we might accept medicine to help mask uncomfortable or disruptive symptoms.
When I did some Googling, I found statistics reflecting current trends in ADD and ADHD in adults.
From ADDitudemag.com:
Adult ADHD diagnosis rates are rising (123.3 percent among adults)
Still, ADHD is thought to be underdiagnosed in adults.
ADHD has no cure, though it can be managed.
The article from ADDitudemag.com goes on to say that it is frequently linked to mental health conditions like anxiety and mood disorder. Substance abuse is mentioned as another common link.
I am not a psychologist nor am I a student of psychology, so my statements here are my opinions. I go deep in my own journey to understand my patterns of behavior that are not serving me, and may even cripple me in some way. According to everything I’ve learned, we have “wounds” that trip us up and may be unconsciously forgotten, rooted in childhood. A young brain with limited life experience is often unable to comprehend and effectively process a harmful situation or event, leaving behind a traumatic “scar” that follows them into adulthood without their conscious knowledge. Other wounds may have developed generationally. This means that the wounds of our ancestors may transfer familially in our DNA. Look up “epigenetics” for more info on this. I don’t want to wade in too deep here but this is important.
If we get sick gradually (both individually and as a society) over years and years, can we reverse the trend and return to wellness on a guided path? Some gurus say wellness can be achieved far more rapidly than the time it took for us to get sick. But even if this isn’t likely, we can improve the health of our children and future generations by the actions we take individually right now. By cleaning up our own messes, and improving our daily choices, collectively we will begin to heal and shift to a society of wellness.
And so while my personal lack of focus can be annoying and even problematic, can I honestly say I have done everything in my control to support my body’s physiology? It’s not an easy question to ask because it may turn into shame if the answer is no, and that is likely to exacerbate the problem. I think it’s important to be forgiving with yourself, but also to accept responsibility for making an effort before automatically leaning into the expertise of a medical professional.
Where to begin? There are many options and we can start small, through mindful eating, exercising, serving others with a grateful heart, etc. Regarding diet, there is a lot of newer research proving that processed foods increase inflammation, including in our brains! Another reason for my brain fog? It’s likely. That is a powerful prompt for me to clean up my diet.
I personally believe that meditation offers the biggest bang for the buck. It is free! And honestly if you just stick with it, it becomes simple and eventually a treasured part of your day. There really is no downside and it’s worth the effort you put in. Among the benefits that meditation provides are improved sleep, a peaceful inner feeling which is helpful for focus, and the ability to “hear” a whisper of a clue about where to look for answers.
Scrolling back to the original premise I encountered online… the one that stated the ADHD/ADD diagnosis rate is rising in adults, I think awareness is key. It’s important to pay attention to the signals your body is sending you. It may be a slippery slope to take on an official diagnosis that then becomes part of your identity. I am always a supporter of people seeking healing that speaks to their individual needs, and I am not here to dissuade anyone from finding a qualified professional to help them tease out the root cause of their health challenges.
Being aware of how our medical system traditionally operates is eye opening when you stop and think. Doctors want to successfully treat you, and for many, that means a path of testing, diagnosis, and medicating. They have an endless list of “customers” and want to address patients’ symptoms quickly and efficiently. I think the future of healthcare will have a wider lens to look more completely at the whole body and mind, so that more time and consideration for each patient upfront will result in effective care plans that may include alternative methods, potentially avoiding costly prescriptions that don’t work so well. What we don’t need are medications that alleviate symptoms caused by other medications. Anyone who has had to take several medications concurrently knows the mental toll this takes.
Ultimately it’s important to trust your inner voice and guidance, and it will intuit what your body needs. We’ve all been conditioned to rely heavily on professional opinions and solutions, when our own intuition might guide us on a path of wellness. These are stressful times we are living in. Recognize this and honor your body for the blessing it is. Often a body is simply craving gentle self-care. Meditation is a good place to start as it improves our ability to listen to subtle nudges and cues that feed intuition, thus allowing more aligned decisions about healthcare. Your body is a miracle! Treat it as such.
