Spooky myths are fun, especially during spooky season, unless they’re about our mental health. Those of us in the ADHD community are best prepared to dispel myths and remove the stigma attached to ADHD. Here are the top five we come across, plus all the facts you need to debunk them.
#1
MYTH: GIRLS CAN’T HAVE ADHD.
FACT: 5.6% OF WOMEN AND GIRLS ADHD
In fact, the percentage of newly diagnosed women with ADHD nearly doubled from 2020 to 2022. However, ADHD is often overlooked in both girls and women, with nearly 50-75% of cases missed.
Why? It turns out that males and females present with ADHD differently. While males might externally show impulsive and hyperactive behaviors, females tend to display inattentive symptoms. Females are also more likely to internalize their behaviors and mask their symptoms, making them harder to pick up during an evaluation.
#2
MYTH : ADHD ISN’T REAL. IT’S JUST LAZINESS OR TOO MUCH ENERGY.
FACT: ADHD IS RECOGNIZED AS A DIFFERENCE IN BRAIN DEVELOPMENT
Three of our country’s primary medical organizations, The National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the American Psychiatric Association, recognize ADHD as a difference in brain development. Research has also shown it is hereditary.
Those who are diagnosed with ADHD have lower levels of dopamine, a hormone in the brain that helps control reward and pleasure centers, while also regulating response and movement. With lower levels of dopamine, the brain is limited in its ability to stay motivated.
#3
MYTH: ADHD IS ONLY FOR KIDS AND WILL BE OUTGROWN.
FACT: MORE THAN 8.7 MILLION ADULTS HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH ADHD
Unlike pants or shoes, you can’t outgrow ADHD. If you were diagnosed with ADHD as a child, it’s likely that you’ll still have it in adulthood.
ADHD affects the brain and dopamine levels While treatment will help, it won’t make ADHD disappear forever.
That’s why it is important to get an evaluation for a diagnosis as soon as you can, so that you can factor your unique challenges and strengths into decisions about career, relationships, and more.
#4
MYTH: ADHD IS A STAND-ALONE DIAGNOSIS.
FACT: AT LEAST HALF OF THOSE WITH ADHD ALSO HAVE ANOTHER CONDITION
When multiple conditions are present, these are often referred to as comorbid conditions. Comorbid conditions exist in parallel and typically each requires its own specific treatment plan.
The most common comorbid conditions with ADHD are anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
At ADHD online, our online assessment not only evaluates a patient for ADHD, but also for anxiety and depression while our Mental Health Snapshot screens for a number of . We work with doctorate-level psychologists to determine not only the best treatment plan, but also any other factors impacting mental health.
#5
MYTH : ADHD CAN’T BE TREATED.
FACT: ADHD TREATMENT CAN INCLUDE MEDICATION, THERAPY, AND/OR COACHING
While there is no cure for ADHD, there are a number of different treatment options. Often these treatment options are used in combination to help manage symptoms.
Our mission at ADHD Online is to help diagnose and find the best treatment plan to conquer life’s daily challenges with ADHD. We offer a variety of treatment options, including virtual counseling and medication management.
These are just some of the myths surrounding ADHD. If you or someone you know hears additional myths or has questions about the information you are hearing, visit our resource library to get the facts.
Don’t be spooked this season by myths surrounding ADHD during ADHD Awareness Month, or any month.
¹ https://psychcentral.com/adhd/adhd-and-gender#prevalence
² https://www.epicresearch.org/articles/number-of-adhd-patients-rising-especially-among-women
⁴ https://www.additudemag.com/when-its-not-just-adhd/#:~:text=We%20now%20know%20that%20at,Anxiety
