Understanding ADD/ADHD

You, your child, or someone you love may struggle with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). According to the Centers for Disease Control, this common mental health concerns affects over 5% of children. ADHD in childhood has immediate and far-reaching effects.1 Better understanding this mental health issue helps you address its impact on your or a loved one’s life.

What Is ADD/ADHD?

ADHD is a behavioral issue. It is a mental health issue. It is observed in patients of all ages but generally develops during childhood. Children and adults with ADHD have trouble paying attention. Attention-deficit disorder, ADD, refers to one of three types of ADHD. The clinical term for ADD is ADHD, Predominantly Inattentive Presentation. This subtype involves symptoms of procrastinating, lack of focus, and trouble planning. However, it does not include the same impulsiveness, hyperactivity or fidgeting as other forms of ADHD.

WebMD explains that individuals with ADHD may also do the following:

  • Be disorganized
  • Lack focus
  • Have a hard time paying attention to details and a tendency to make careless mistakes
  • Have trouble staying on topic while talking, not listening to others, and not following social rules
  • Be forgetful about daily activities
  • Be easily distracted by things like trivial noises or events that are usually ignored by others2

These symptoms impact childhood learning and development. They impact adult functioning and overall well-being. Undiagnosed or untreated ADHD can have far-ranging effects on health and happiness.

ADHD, Stigma, and Mental Health

There is stigma attached to an ADHD diagnosis. Children with an ADHD diagnosis are seen as difficult, defiant, or simple “bad kids.” Children with ADD may not be diagnosed at all. ADDitude Magazine explains, “Individuals with inattentive ADHD rarely get the treatment they need. This leads to academic frustration, apathy, and undue shame that can last a lifetime.”3 Without accurate information and support, children with ADHD often live and grow up with stigma. This impacts self-esteem, mental health, and even physical health. It can lead to individuals self-medicating ADHD symptoms or emotional issues with drugs or alcohol. Denial and drug use are not real solutions to ADHD, but some people may feel they are the only options available to them. These feelings are real and valid, but they do not reflect reality. There are many resources for addiction recovery. There are many pharmaceutical and drug-free options for managing ADHD symptoms.

Treating ADHD, Addiction, and Co-Occurring Issues

ADHD is rarely a standalone disease. The National Alliance on Mental Illness explains, “Around two-thirds of children with ADHD also have another condition. Many adults are also impacted by the symptoms of another condition.”4

These conditions include the following:

  • Learning disabilities
  • Conduct disorder, persistent destructive or violent behaviors
  • Anxiety and depression
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Sleep disorders
  • Substance abuse

Overlapping symptoms complicate the diagnosis and treatment of any one issue. Ignoring certain issues means they are likely to surface again or trigger a relapse of a co-occurring concern. For instance treating addiction without treating ADHD means individuals may return to drug use when impulsivity or other ADHD symptoms become too much to handle without support. Integrated treatment addresses all co-occurring mental health and addiction concerns. This allows for complete and comprehensive healing. It reduces the likely of relapse and greatly increases well-being and quality of life. ADHD can be treated through medication or through various therapeutic options. Addiction is similarly approached from both medical and mental health angles.

Call Black Bear Lodge at 706-909-9811 to learn about integrated addiction treatment for yourself or a loved one. We understand the impact ADHD has on your life and your addiction. We offer the in-depth care you need to manage symptoms and find a happier, healthier life.

ADHD in Adults

ADHD is a common learning disability. It is often seen as a childhood problem, but that misunderstanding of the disease is quickly changing. Many adults struggle with ADHD and its associated problems. NPR.org shares that study that “suggests that the rate of ADHD among adults may be significantly higher than previously thought. The authors found a prevalence of 8.2 percent, which is almost double the 4.4 percent rate reported in a 2006 study.”5

If you have ADHD, you are not alone. If ADHD affects your mental, physical, social, and emotional health, you can find help.

What Does Adult ADHD Look Like?

There are three types of ADHD. These include hyperactive-impulsive, inattentive, and combined type. The first makes it hard to sit still or fully develop plans before acting. The second involves trouble focusing or paying attention. Individuals with ADHD may experience any or all symptoms of the disorder at any given time. Experience of the disorder can change as you grow older or find yourself in different environments or situations.

The National Institute of Mental Health6 explains, “ADHD symptoms can change over time as a person ages. In young children with ADHD, hyperactivity-impulsivity is the most predominant symptom…In adolescence, hyperactivity seems to lessen and may show more often as feelings of restlessness or fidgeting, but inattention and impulsivity may remain. Many adolescents with ADHD also struggle with relationships and antisocial behaviors. Inattention, restlessness, and impulsivity tend to persist into adulthood.”

ADHD looks different in adults than in children. It varies from person to person and over time. Co-occurring mental health or substance use issues can change how ADHD expresses itself and how and what you experience. Your diagnosis will involve talking with a mental health professional about your unique symptoms.

How Does Adult ADHD Affect Me?

Adult ADHD can affect your performance at work. It can result in making mistakes, missing or forgetting important information, and having trouble following through or completing tasks. ADHD can affect how you interact and connect with friends and loved ones. It can cause you to say inappropriate things or regularly interrupt people during conversations.

ADHD changes how you experience life. You may grow bored easily. You may wonder why you think and act like you do. ADHD can cause you to become frustrated with yourself or the world around you. It can begin to disrupt your mental health or to exacerbate other existing mental health issues. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA)7 shares, “Adults with ADHD are likely to have an anxiety disorder, depression, bipolar disorder, or other comorbid psychiatric disorder. (The term ‘comorbid’ refers to a condition that exists with another.) About 50 percent of adults with ADHD also suffer from an anxiety disorder.”

If you have ADHD and another mental health issue, you are not alone. You have options for support and treatment. However few people reach out for this treatment. ADAA continues, “Less than 20 percent of adults with ADHD have been diagnosed or treated, and only about one-quarter of those adults seek help.” This lack of treatment and help often leads to co-occurring substance abuse issues.

You may self-medicate mental health symptoms. You may seek to alleviate the boredom or frustrating ADHD causes. You are not alone in doing so, and you don’t have to be alone in finding a better way. Drugs and alcohol seem to promise quick solutions. However, they ultimately make mental health worse. Real hope and comprehensive healing comes from individualized addiction treatment.

Addressing ADHD, Addiction, and Mental Health in Adults

You can heal from addiction. You can find a better way to manage mental health. Choose integrated treatment. Black Bear Lodge offers care that addresses co-occurring mental health, physical health, and addiction issues. We provide in-depth assessments coupled with comprehensive care for body, mind, and spirit. Call us at 706-909-9811 today to learn more about our programs. You can learn to manage ADHD and mental health without drugs or alcohol. You can live a healthy, balanced, and drug-free life.

Understanding Combination Type ADHD

Mental illness is more common than most people think. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, more than 45 million American adults battle mental health disorders. But adults are not the only ones who struggle. The CDC reports that in 2012, nearly 11 percent of all American children, ages 4 to 17 had been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.8

ADHD Symptoms

The National Institute on Mental Health classifies ADHD as a condition that affects the mood, cognitive abilities and behavior of the diagnosed.9 Depending on the type of ADHD a patient has, they may be markedly overactive and unable to calm themselves at times. Others may have serious difficulty paying attention to the tasks even when it’s an activity they are interested in. For a select group, both sides of the spectrum apply.

The symptoms of ADHD are very diverse and depend on the individual. There are several subtypes of ADHD. These are: hyperactive impulsive, inattentive, and combined.

The Symptoms of Each of These Subtypes Include the Following

Hyperactive-Impulsive
  • Fidget and squirm in their seats
  • Leave their seats in situations when staying seated is expected, such as in the classroom or in the office
  • Run or dash around or climb in situations where it is inappropriate or, in teens and adults, often feel restless
  • Be unable to play or engage in hobbies quietly
  • Be constantly in motion or “on the go,” or act as if “driven by a motor”
  • Talk nonstop
  • Blurt out an answer before a question has been completed, finish other people’s sentences, or speak without waiting for a turn in conversation
  • Have trouble waiting his or her turn
  • Interrupt or intrude on others, for example in conversations, games, or activities
Inattentive
  • Overlook or miss details, make careless mistakes in schoolwork, at work, or during other activities
  • Have problems sustaining attention in tasks or play, including conversations, lectures, or lengthy reading
  • Not seem to listen when spoken to directly
  • Not follow through on instructions and fail to finish schoolwork, chores, or duties in the workplace or start tasks but quickly lose focus and get easily sidetracked
  • Have problems organizing tasks and activities, such as what to do in sequence, keeping materials and belongings in order, having messy work and poor time management, and failing to meet deadlines
  • Avoid or dislike tasks that require sustained mental effort, such as schoolwork or homework, or for teens and older adults, preparing reports, completing forms or reviewing lengthy papers
  • Lose things necessary for tasks or activities, such as school supplies, pencils, books, tools, wallets, keys, paperwork, eyeglasses, and cell phones
  • Be easily distracted by unrelated thoughts or stimuli
  • Be forgetful in daily activities, such as chores, errands, returning calls, and keeping appointments
Combined
  • People with this type of ADHD exhibit behaviors of both hyperactive/impulsive and inattentive. Combined is the most common type of the disorder.

To be diagnosed with hyperactive-impulsive ADHD, the patient must present with at least six symptoms that are noted in the hyperactive category and fewer than six in the inattentive category. For those diagnosed with the inattentive type of ADHD, the inverse applies. There must be at least six symptoms present in both categories to receive a combined hyperactive-impulsive and inattentive diagnosis.

Causes and Treatment

The root cause of ADHD is still unknown, but it is thought to stem from a combination of both environmental and genetic influences. Some research points to the disorder running in families while others note specific risk factors, such as exposure to toxic substances during prenatal development.

ADHD is commonly seen and diagnosed in the substance-abusing population. Many drug and alcohol abusers engage in these destructive behaviors in an effort to self medicate or hide the symptoms of an undiagnosed mental illness such as ADHD. Treatment for ADHD includes age-appropriate psychotherapy and medication. As with other mental illnesses, early diagnosis and treatment is key to living a normal and productive life. Dual diagnosis treatment facilities specialize in diagnosis and treating mental illness and addiction. Proper diagnosis and simultaneous treatment of these two disorders greatly increases the likelihood of a successful recovery.

Finding Help for ADHD and Substance Abuse

Substance abuse and mental illness often go hand in hand. The proper diagnosis and treatment of these co-occurring disorders offers hope for a life free from substance abuse. If you or a loved one struggles with drug abuse and you suspect mental illness is part of the problem, we are here for you. Call us at 706-909-9811 to speak to an admissions coordinator about available treatment options.

Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Type ADHD

When you have to work, it’s hard to sit still and focus. Your hands and feet have a life of their own, and move or tap just to find something to do. You interrupt or speak out of turn when talking with other people. Waiting in line for anything seems likes it takes an eternity. You must move or burst from excess energy.

For some this is an occasional experience. For others with predominantly hyperactive-impulse ADHD, these symptoms interfere with everyday life.

A recent analysis of parent-reported data from the National Health Interview Survey 2011–2013 found that 9.5 percent of children ages 4 to 17 had an ADHD diagnosis. The study also found that the rate of ADHD diagnosis had increased from 7 percent to 10.2 percent between 2012 and 2014.10 This rise in the rate of an ADHD-HI diagnosis among children means that a larger number of undiagnosed adults with ADHD is likely. Undiagnosed and untreated mental illnesses like ADHD-HI can often lead to experimentation with drugs and alcohol. This attempt to self-medicate or hide the symptoms of ADHD-HI can quickly lead to addiction. Knowing the differences between ADHD types and the symptoms of each can help you identify problems in yourself or a loved one and get appropriate treatment.

ADHD-HI Symptoms

Although the exact symptoms will vary from person to person, children and adults with ADHD-HI may show:

  • Lack of patience
  • Feelings of restless energy when trying to sit still
  • Fidgeting with hands or feet while sitting
  • Difficulty staying seated
  • Engaging in physical tasks with too much force or being too loud
  • Talking more than is appropriate or intended
  • Interrupting others, especially to answer a question that hasn’t yet been completed
  • Intruding upon the time or space of others
  • Difficulty taking turns or waiting for things11

When these symptoms make dealing with daily life, social activities, school or work impossible, it’s time to get help.

ADHD-HI and the Brain

Many of the symptoms seen in ADHD are linked to delayed maturity in its executive centers, which are responsible for organization, planning, paying attention and self-control. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the brains of people with ADHD mature in a normal pattern but an average of three years late.12 This means that for many children, time is a big part of the cure. But for those whose ADHD symptoms continue into adulthood, continued treatment is key to living a normal life.

ADHD-HI differs from predominantly inattentive type ADHD, in which people have difficulty focusing or paying attention. Brain wave scans of those with ADHD and those with ADHD-HI have found that the two diagnoses have distinct profiles. People with ADHD-HI showed disruptions to brain wave patterns associated with the output of physical movement, while people with predominantly inattentive type ADHD showed disruptions in patterns related to the processing of sensory input.

According to research in Journal of the American Medical Association, both types of ADHD are also related to abnormalities in the dopamine system of the brain, which is involved in attention, motivation, focus, curiosity, reward, and learning.13 This may be why for many people with ADHD, stimulant medications like Ritalin or Adderall that act on dopamine can be helpful.

Medication is most effective when combined with psychotherapy such as behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy teaches people how to observe, monitor and control their behavior. It also teaches how to praise or reward oneself for acting in a desired way, such as thinking before speaking. Therapy can be particularly helpful when the whole family gets involved, offering positive and negative feedback for wanted and unwanted behaviors.

Finding Help for ADHD and Addiction

We know how difficult it can be to bring yourself to get help for a mental health condition, but you’ve already taken the first step. At Black Bear Lodge, our treatment team is ready to design a specialized treatment plan for you or your loved one. Call us at 706-909-9811 today to find out more.

Sources

Dual Diagnosis

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