ADHD is often claimed not to exist. The opinion is that everyone sometimes has difficulty concentrating. They consider hyperactive kids as “kids just being kids”. These people are not incorrect, but are still seeing only some part of the picture.

A real fact is more complicated than words can convey. Certainly, everybody lost focus at some points. Unquestionably, everybody fidgets sometimes as well. Nevertheless, there is a big difference between normal human behavior and the everyday struggle of a person with ADHD. Also, the best way to get clarity is to get thorough ADHD testing from a professional. Let’s understand more in-depth about ADHD.

Is ADHD real or an excuse?

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is a neurodevelopmental disorder. It affects how the brain develops and functions. The brain of someone with ADHD works differently from that of someone without it.

Imagine that the brain has a control center. The control center balances tasks such as focusing on something, recalling tasks, suppressing impulses, and organizing ideas. This control center doesn’t work in the same way for people with ADHD. It’s not really broken. It’s just that it is functioning in its own way.

The emotional reality of living with ADHD

Many times, they are due to different brain wiring; they often feel they are lazy, not smart, and, in fact, defective. This emotional turmoil often overpowers inner peace and affects work, home, and family life. Therefore, necessary support and guidance are required to help them succeed in both their personal and professional lives.

Let’s understand better what living with ADHD looks like with an example.

For a long time, Tom believed he was simply lazy, academically challenged, and, despite being good at painting and music, incapable of achieving anything. Ever since he was a child, people had told him he had “something wrong with him,” that he needed discipline, and so on. Through movies or articles on child-related focus issues, many suggested he might have ADHD. However, his family believed that sometimes things fall apart. He, too, believed he had “faults,” which led to low self-esteem, procrastination, isolation, and self-comparison.

Tom’s daily struggles:

Every morning, Tom planned on having a good day. He preferred to set many alarms to be sure he would wake up on time, although it was usually not enough. Even with too many alarms, he still ran late most days. It was not that he liked to be late. Rather, he often ruminated that he does not get simple things done on time as others do. In this chaos, he skipped breakfast every day. His sleep cycle was not going well.

At work, Tom attended meetings where he tried to stay focused when his boss discussed important projects. However, he couldn’t. On the contrary, Tom’s mind had wandered from what he ate for breakfast to the movie he watched last week, then to whether he had locked his car. He returned to his senses only to realize that he had missed everything crucial. He nodded and pretended that he heard it.

People did not believe Tom:

Whenever Tom shared with his friends the troubles he experienced, they would mostly counsel him with the following statements:

• Everyone has chaotic mornings like this sometimes.
• I get distracted in meetings, too.
• You just need to try harder.
• ADHD is not real, and it is an excuse.

In the beginning, Tom believed them. He thought that he was just making excuses. He felt sorry and lazy. He worked very hard, but nothing changed. His trouble got even bigger.

Tom’s problems were different:

Tom’s friend Jake also got distracted from time to time. However, Jake can choose when to focus on important times. Jake’s every morning is not overwhelmed or rumination-filled like Tom’s. Jake can sit through a meeting and remember the main points.

Tom did not have control over when he wanted to concentrate. His brain ran through thoughts at a million miles per minute without his permission. He read a particular e-mail five times, and each time he did not remember any part of it. Jake does not have this type of focus issue with reading.

Also, whenever Tom tried to clean his room. His day went like this: he grabbed a book and started to read it. Next, he gets distracted by the thought that he still needs to do laundry. Thus, he begins washing the dishes but is drawn by the arrival of a text message. After three hours, the room is still a mess, the laundry has not started, and not even half of the dishes are clean. Although Jake struggles with these distractions, they don’t affect his daily life unless he’s having a difficult time (e.g., a fever, a work deadline, family problems).

Tom’s problems happened everywhere:

Some of Tom’s colleagues believed he was probably not attached to his job. However, Tom had the same troubles:

• Being overwhelmed by everyday tasks
• Getting bored during some conversations
• Making decisions on the spot that are later found to be hasty
• Feeling fidgety or agitated
• Missing important meetings or deadlines

Tom could not switch those problems of his on or off in any situation. He indeed desired to focus on an important task, but his mind would not support him.

Tom’s life got harder:

Tom’s boss often became annoyed with him. This happened because Tom would forget important deadlines or overlook details in projects. His boss thought that Tom was not interested in his job. Tom was deeply affected, but he could not convey it.

Tom’s girlfriend, Sarah, got angry with him for pretending to ignore her during conversations. She would share a critical point, but he would disremember it completely. So, Sarah thought that Tom did not pay attention to or even care about anything she said.

Tom felt terrible about himself. He thought he was disordered in some way. He witnessed his friends constantly living opportunistically, while everything seemed impossible to him. He chose to avoid social gatherings because he was afraid his words would come out wrong or that he would forget a lot.

Tom finally obtained help for clarity:

Tom read a post about ‘Better Understanding Your Focus, Energy, and Behavior Patterns Through ADHD Testing.’ He completed an online ADHD test quiz, which revealed he might have ADHD. However, seeking advice from a mental health professional wasn’t easy for him. On the day of his appointment, he felt uneasy, so he rescheduled for another day. 

However, after finally consulting and sharing his concerns with a psychiatrist, he felt better. His psychiatrist listened to his every inner turmoil. Based on his condition and viewing himself doing an online ADHD test report, the doctor prescribed ADHD testing for a correct diagnosis and to determine the severity of the symptoms. However, he felt the test was not necessary. Then, with much hesitation and after thinking to himself about her symptoms (which were causing significant problems in his daily life), he took the step of getting ADHD testing for clarity.

Tom underwent a diagnosis process that typically includes standardized ADHD testing, clinical interviews, collection of relevant histories and collateral documents (reviews of treatment, medical, developmental history, and a detailed written report). Based on the findings, his psychiatrist provides the opinion and personalized treatment recommendations, including strategies to overcome his unique challenges.

He understands that managing ADHD is like driving a car with multiple controls. Once he learned how his brain worked, he was on the road to finding ways to collaborate with it rather than always fighting it. His treatment journey is not smooth. However, with treatment and test-tried coping skill method, Tom can gradually learn to overcome its ADHD symptoms. 

The Takeaway

ADHD is indeed a real health issue for millions of individuals every day. Each person exhibits different symptom intensity and experience. For example, some complain about low focus, while some people feel that they are impulsive, some have a hyperactivity problem, and many have all. 

If someone thinks they have ADHD, a diagnostic test by a mental health professional should be their first line of action. With proper, specialized care, a person can understand and receive the necessary support. Nowadays, people have great access to take an ADHD assessment online from a psychiatric care platform like GABA Telepsychiatry. The board-certified online psychiatrist follows APA guidelines and standards of care, similar to in-person. It is important to note that a comprehensive ADHD testing process can take up to 1-2 weeks to complete. 

Benefits of online ADHD testing:

• Access to ADHD specialists without the queue waiting
• Comprehensive evaluations for proper diagnosis 
• Availability of effective treatment and support
• Continuity of access to online psychiatric care and specialized help with commuting

Note: Don’t misinterpret seeking psychiatric help as a weakness, defect, or a flawed person. Psychiatrists are medical doctors with high education (MBBS and MD) and extensive training and experience in assisting people with neurodisorder conditions (e.g., ADHD, autism, etc). They understand the root cause of the problem.