ADHD: A New Perspective on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is a topic that has been on the lips of specialists, parents, and teachers in recent years. And no wonder – according to 2011 CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) data, 11% of kids aged 4-17 and 4% of adults in the United States have ADHD. That’s a lot.

To put it in perspective – 6.4 million kids with ADHD in the US is equivalent to three Houstons. And 9.8 million adults? That’s more than the entire New York City plus Philadelphia. Impressive numbers, right?

Where did it come from?

It turns out that our ADHD-like traits could have been really useful in the past. Imagine you’re on a hunt 10,000 years ago. Who’s the first to notice movement in the bushes or a herd of antelopes on the horizon? Bingo – the person with ADHD.

Quick reactions to changes in the environment, detecting slight movements, or noticing details – all of this could have been crucial for survival. People with ADHD, with their heightened alertness and tendency to seek novelty, could have been the real stars in ancient communities. Something like today’s influencers, only instead of likes, they were collecting food and protecting the tribe.

How does it work in the brain?

Okay, time for some scientific meat, but don’t worry – I’ll try to explain it so it’s clear:

1. Involuntary attention – this is the automatic focus on stimuli that stand out from the environment, such as sudden movement, noise, smell, or bright colors. In people with ADHD, this type of attention is particularly sensitive.
2. Voluntary attention – this is the conscious focus on a task that requires mental effort. This type of attention is limited and can be exhausted, which is especially noticeable in people with ADHD.

To illustrate how the brain of a person with ADHD works, imagine a pot of popcorn. ADHD is as if someone forgot to cover the pot with a lid – the kernels are shooting in all directions at once, and you’re trying to catch them all! Each kernel is a new thought, impulse, or stimulus, and a person with ADHD has to deal with this shower of ideas and impressions.

Another interesting comparison that particularly resonates with me is imagining ADHD as a TV where someone is frantically flipping through 36 channels. The problem is, you’re not the one holding the remote. Imagine trying to watch a movie while an invisible person keeps changing the channel every moment. This is how a person with ADHD often feels – bombarded with a constant stream of changing thoughts and stimuli over which they have limited control.

These comparisons help understand why people with ADHD may have difficulty concentrating on a single task, but at the same time can be incredibly creative and quick to react to changes in their environment. It’s not a flaw, it’s just a different way the brain processes information.

ADHD in today’s world

Okay, but what’s the point of being great at hunting mammoths when we now live in a world of Excel and endless meetings? This is where the problems begin. What was once an advantage can now be a real nuisance:

• Staring at a monitor for long periods? Challenging.
• Planning months ahead? Often mission impossible.
• Sitting quietly in an open-plan office? Can be difficult.
• Controlling impulses? Often problematic.
• Keeping a tidy desk? Not always achievable.

But hey, it’s not all bad! People with ADHD also have their superpowers:

• Creativity? Often above average.
• Stepping out of the comfort zone? Easier than for others.
• Quick recovery from failures? Often masters in this field.
• Hyperfocus on interesting topics? Oh yes, they can get totally absorbed.
• Passion and engagement? Full throttle.

Challenges

Unfortunately, life with ADHD isn’t always rosy. Many people experience stress and difficulties in everyday life. Worse still, society often doesn’t understand what’s going on and labels them as “losers” or “lazy.” This can lead to serious mental health problems. It’s high time society understood that ADHD isn’t an excuse, but a real way the brain functions.

ADHD and addictions

Studies show that people with ADHD are more prone to addiction problems. According to a meta-analysis published in 2021 in “Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews”:

• People with ADHD have a 4.7 times higher risk of substance addiction compared to people without ADHD.
• About 23% of people with ADHD struggle with substance abuse, compared to 8.3% in the general population.
• The risk of alcohol addiction is 1.7 times higher in people with ADHD.

ADHD and depression

The co-occurrence of ADHD and depression is also a significant problem. According to a study published in the “Journal of Attention Disorders” in 2022:

• People with ADHD and co-existing depression have greater difficulties in social and professional functioning than people with only ADHD or only depression.
• About 18.6% of adults with ADHD also suffer from depression, compared to 7.1% in the general population.
• In children and adolescents with ADHD, the risk of developing depression is 5.5 times higher than in peers without ADHD.

Cultural aspect

It’s interesting how ADHD is perceived in different cultures. A 2020 study published in Culture, Medicine, and Psychiatry showed that:

• In some African cultures, traits associated with ADHD are seen as positive and adaptive.
• In Japan, where conformity is highly valued, ADHD is often seen as a more serious problem than in Western cultures.

How to help?

If you have someone with ADHD in your environment (a parent, teacher, friend), here are a few tips:

1. Support their strengths instead of constantly pointing out mistakes.
2. Be curious about their thoughts and ideas – they’re often truly inspiring.
3. Take them for a walk in the forest – you’ll see how it clears their head.
4. Help them build self-esteem – it’s really important.

Summary

ADHD is a complex issue, but it’s time to stop treating it as a flaw. It’s simply a different way the brain works, which has its pros and cons. Instead of trying to “fix” people with ADHD, maybe we should create a world where they can use their potential?

Who knows, maybe it’s these “scattered” and “hyperactive” people who hold the key to solving problems that the “normal” world can’t handle? After all, as Einstein (who reportedly also had ADHD) said: “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

Interesting facts about ADHD

1. ADHD and creativity: Studies suggest that people with ADHD may be more creative. According to a study published in the “Journal of Creative Behavior”, people with ADHD scored higher on creativity tests, especially in categories of originality and fluency of thinking.
2. Caffeine effect: In people with ADHD, caffeine can have a calming effect, contrary to its stimulating effect in most people. Some use it as a form of self-medication.
3. Seasonality of diagnoses: There’s a phenomenon called the “relative age effect” in ADHD diagnoses. Children born at the end of the school year (e.g., in August in the UK) are more often diagnosed with ADHD than their older classmates.
4. ADHD and sleep: People with ADHD often have a “delayed sleep phase” – their natural circadian rhythm is shifted, making them “night owls”.
5. Hyperfocus: Although ADHD is associated with concentration problems, people with this disorder can enter a state of hyperfocus – intense concentration on an interesting task, often losing track of time.
6. Evolutionary advantage: Some researchers suggest that ADHD traits may have been evolutionarily beneficial in hunter-gatherer societies, helping to quickly respond to threats and find new food sources.
7. Famous people with ADHD: Many well-known individuals have been diagnosed with ADHD or are suspected to have it, including Albert Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci, Walt Disney, and more recently – entrepreneur Richard Branson.
8. ADHD and entrepreneurship: A 2018 study showed that people with ADHD are more likely to start their own businesses and may be more inclined to take business risks.