Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that affects your focus. It can make focusing on everyday tasks and routines challenging. ADHD doesn’t mean you can’t focus as a matter of fact, some cases of ADHD mean that the individual focuses intensely although this focus may be on something which isn’t a priority. Some people describe it as a constant feeling of being overwhelmed or paranoid. This is because the ADHD mind works differently, causing its victims to feel overwhelmed rather quickly. Subsequently, ADHD stress sets in, everything starts to shut down and hence procrastination.

For years, people with ADHD were stigmatised and labeled as lazy, procrastinators, flaky, or irresponsible. These labels only produced shame and prevented those with ADHD from seeking help. The purpose of this blog post is to help reduce the stigma.

Disclaimer: This blog post is for educational purposes and not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you believe that any of the points apply to you, please visit a therapist for a proper diagnosis.

Reminder: Do not let these labels prevent you from seeking treatment. Remember that these labels, whether they plagued you in the past or follow you in the present, do not represent who you are. You are more than that. So, if you ever need help, please reach out to a medical health professional for assistance.

Here are 4 signs that you might have ADHD.

• Short Attention Span

This point highlights a major similarity between ADHD and depression; short attention span. However, the difference between these two is motivation. A depressed individual has a short attention span due to low motivation to do anything however, someone with ADHD may be enthusiastic about his plans to study or to go to that concert however, due to his/her condition the individual feels overwhelmed quicker than the usual and might throw in the towel on his/her plans. Researchers believe that there is no definitive reason to explain why short attention span is a symptom of ADHD albeit, they speculate that it could be as a result of differences in brain structure.

ADHD does not necessarily mean the individual is incapable of being focused but rather the individual is distracted quite easily. ADHD can also make an individual hyper focused on something. This may sound rather paradoxical but this is also seen as having a short attention span or what some refer to as a selective attention span.

• Leaving Things Unfinished

As a result of short attention span people with ADHD are prone to leaving things undone. It could be projects, homework or chores. These could be put off for days or fall on the sidelines regardless of how enthusiastic you are to start them. Though frustrating and incredibly challenging, there are therapies that can help. Doctors typically prescribe medication as a form of treatment and depending on your ADHD, they may prescribe stimulants or non-stimulants to help you focus.

• Inability To Get Organized

Another sign that you might have ADHD is that you cannot seem to get organised. No matter how hard you try you don’t even know where to begin. Deadlines creep out of the blue and priorities seem to go out the window. But do not fret because there is hope. While calendars, planners and bullet journals may work for some, they may not work in your case. Alarms, however, seem to do the trick. Give yourself thirty minutes to an hour to complete something from your to-do list and after the alarm rings you move to the next item, wether you finished the previous item or not. That way you don’t get stuck working on one thing. Although, this is a pretty good strategy unfortunately it doesn’t work for people with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) as these individuals are perfectionists who prefer to take their hands off one thing before moving to the next.

• Poor Impulse Control

Poor impulse control is undoubtedly a major sign of ADHD. This doesn’t refer to going on a clothing spree. This is more like doing something you know you shouldn’t do, like running a red light or maxing out your card on something you know you don’t need. You many not even know why you do these things but you just do them and regret later. That’s what impulse control is, acting without any foresight. But impulse isn’t always dramatic, it can be as subtle as having distractions for your distractions, interrupting conversations, engaging in risky behaviour or throwing away money you barely have.

I hope this helps you and everyone else who reads this. If you’d want me to write on a topic that bothers you or anything you’d generally want me to write on please reach out to me using any of my social media buttons. Also I’d love to know your thoughts on this article and where you might agree or disagree. All entries are exclusively between myself and you, thank you and be safe!