Do you have ADHD?

By Thomas Etienne

Now and then, people ask me why I say this or that. It's true that what I say can sometimes be hurtful. There are even people who believe that I deserve to be punished. These people need to understand that what I have is a condition and that my behavior is one of many indications of ADHD symptoms. My impulsiveness has always been a major sign of my ADHD. I just can't stop to think about the consequences before I speak or act.

For example, I will answer before raising my hand. I will react to frustration by yelling or punching. I've read that these reactions come from the thalamus, a part of the brain that works like a door, and it will send signals to accept or stop my bad behaviors. When the brain senses a problem, something that is going to happen, the thalamus sends a warning to the frontal cortex.

This part of the brain is my control center that manages emotions, behaviors and decision making. In brains with ADHD, the door of the thalamus is damaged. This means that a person with this disorder may have trouble holding back a comment that could hurt the feelings of others.

Here are the signs you should look for :

Impulsivity

· Disorganization and trouble setting priorities

· Poor time management skills

· Hard time concentrating on one task

· Difficulty multitasking

· Unnecessary physical activity

· Difficulty planning things

· Lower tolerance

· Many mood swings

· Difficulty keeping up and completing tasks

· Anger

· Trouble handling pressure

Inattention

A child with inattention…

· does not pay attention to details in school assignments

· has difficulty staying focused on tasks or games

· does not seem to listen, even when spoken to directly

· has great difficulty following lessons and fails to complete school work

· has difficulty organizing tasks and activities

· does not like tasks that require concentration or mental effort, such as homework

· loses items needed for activities, such as school assignments, pencils,…

· may easily be distracted

· forgets to do normal daily activities

Hyperactivity and impulsivity

A child with symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity may…

· play or tap their hands or feet, or squirm in their seat

· have difficulty sitting still in class or in other situations

· be in constant motion

· run or climb in situations where it is not appropriate

· have difficulty doing an activity in silence

· talk too much

· give answers out of turn and interrupt the person asking the question

· have difficulty waiting for their turn

· interrupt other people's conversations, games or activities

For all these reasons, I ask you… Do you have ADHD?