How do I know I have ADHD?

3 min read

Doesn't everybody have a little ADHD?

I'm guessing that you, like others with ADHD, have heard this question from those you know when you inform them of your diagnosis.

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!

More Signs and Symptoms

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!

ADHDers are idea people who think outside the box

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.

ADHDers shine when they use their strengths

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.

Signs and Symptoms of ADHD that you probably didn't know!

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.