Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and adhd treatment in Camden

In my opinion and experience this is one of the many misleading diagnostic terms in mental health. attention deficit hyperactivity disorder has certainly attracted much more attention from the scientific community in recent years, and there is a trend in pop science to be either overly critical of attention deficit disorder symptoms in adults or evidently an over-identification as evident on certain social media where everyone states to have ADHD. As tempting as it may seem to join this debate I will just make some comments based on my experience. 

I would like you to ponder the question, 'what would happen if I or the person I love (who has ADHD) would not have a so-called 'attention deficit' and they had even more attention to go around? 

Yes, I know, a pretty scary thought indeed. Hence, in my experience I do not find a deficit of attention, but rather an abundance of attention - heightened attention! But it is perhaps highly variable compared to neurotypical others. A person with ADHD may attend to how they feel, what they think of a task, the reasons why it's not right, the cow outside their window, the frowning of their colleague over in the corner, what they will do tomorrow, AND trying to have a conversation with you at the same time. This can be highly distracting and disruptive in some tasks and in some environments, but equally a significant asset in others. Not determined by a faulty or deficit brain, but rather on the basis of the task and environment. 

In my experience, in adhd treatment we can often find accommodations and strategies to improve focus - with or without medication. And people rarely contact me to improve their focus. Most people I assist who have heightened and variable attention have difficulties with their emotions. 

Together we find ways to battle the inner bastard, the constant 'I'm not good enough' or the 'why can't I just stay happy?' The 'boring monster' is also a formidable opponent for many, a forever present state of under-stimulation. 

I often suggest mental and behavioural ways to change the negative and deficit view of themselves to a strengths-based approach where these same symptoms can be helpful and lead to great success. 

For adults and teenagers there are often associated issues such as alcohol and other drugs (in particular marijuana and/ or alcohol) with statements such as 'I always seem to need something to feel okay' or the variant of 'I need something to switch the motor off'. In my experience and professional opinion, people with ADHD are prone for these types of problems due to the role of dopamine and neuro chemical differences in the brain, impulse-control issues, as well as the noted emotional difficulties.

The DSM 5 TR describes the symptoms of ADHD in a rather static way, meaning the symptom descriptions make little to no room for variability and change. However, in my experience a person's symptoms of ADHD may fluctuate greatly in their life. For example, with a good amount of excitement, new and novel tasks, and appropriate supports by people around them there are few if any problems. However, the same person may have lots of symptoms during times of boredom, routine and sameness of life, or when others around them are not available to assist with life admin tasks.