How do I know I have ADHD?
Updated: Sep 15
Doesn't everybody have a little ADHD?
Whether diagnosed or not, many people joke that ‘everyone has a little ADHD,’ but this can unintentionally minimize what it's like to actually live with it—or discourage someone from seeking support. Not everyone has ADHD. Some people share certain traits, but for those with ADHD, those traits can significantly impact daily life in challenging ways.
Everybody has some of the challenges, feelings and behavior associated with ADHD sometimes.
The question to ask yourself is, do these challenges affect your life and how much?
Sometimes life's situations or circumstances lead to Executive Function (EF) challenges that wouldn't otherwise be present, but when you have ADHD, EF challenges are your constant companion.
What are symptoms of ADHD?
Symptoms or signs of ADHD are different for everyone.
Boys and girls, women and men, are different depending on your age and other traits such as sensitivity, anxiety, and Autism, to name a few.
Executive Function challenges (managing yourself and your resources) are associated with ADHD and cause life to feel much more difficult as a result.
Executive Functions include:
Task Initiation
Time Management
Planning and Organizing
Working Memory
Focus and Attention
Impulse Control
Emotional Regulation
Self-Monitoring
Setting and Achieving goals
What executive function challenges do you notice in your own life?
ADHD can feel like you're out on a limb without a net, and never knowing there is such a thing as a net!
Do you need a diagnosis?
My own diagnosis came as a relief, finally knowing what had been "wrong" with me my whole life. I like to do things my way and no longer see my challenges as something "wrong" with me, but instead, I understand that wiring differences come with challenges and also some amazing qualities!
In addition, being diagnosed led to a realization that there are people who just get me, and that I'm not alone in my challenges.
I later discovered that along with my challenges, I had other traits in common with my tribe such as curiosity, creativity, deep emotional connections, the ability to hyperfocus, take risks, have a strong sense of adventure, and think outside the box to name a few.
A diagnosis often provides clarity about your different brain wiring and the knowledge that you aren't lazy or incompetent, but even excel in ways you hadn't acknowledged before. A diagnosis can help a person to realize there is a reason for their challenges.
You may also find a new found sense of power over your life and hope.
Online tests for ADHD
Take a look at my blog post, and these sites to find out more about your brain.
Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale: ADHD Symptom Checklist
Symptoms and Diagnosis of ADHD: DSM-5 Criteria for ADHD
ADHD Symptoms and Tests: from ADDitude Magazine
Inside the ADHD brain, symptoms manifest differently in girls vs. boys, children vs. adults, and within the 3 types of ADHD: inattentive, hyperactive, and combined.
Here, find ADHD symptom tests, plus quizzes for related conditions like ODD, autism, OCD, learning disabilities, rejection sensitive dysphoria, and more.
Now what?
A variety of supports are much more available now than in the past.
What would be different in your life if you found the support you need?
There are coaches, support groups, books, podcasts, classes, magazines, Youtube videos, meetups, websites, games, strategies, and apps to name a few.
Remember:
You are not alone
It's never too late
There are no failures, only clues
Somebody else's success is not your failure
Every step is forward!
"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else
is the greatest accomplishment." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
If you're wondering whether you or your child might have ADHD, a quick quiz can be a helpful starting point. A free online ADHD quiz can give you some preliminary insights into common symptoms and help you decide if a more in-depth assessment is needed.