A psychiatrist has dispelled popular myths about attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a disorder associated with the atypical development of brain structures responsible for attention, impulse control, and behavior. The opinion that ADHD is laziness and lack of self—discipline is a misconception, Yulia Gubenko, a psychiatrist, psychotherapist and head of the expert work department of the Psychiatrist Online project, told Izvestia on May 24.

According to the expert, people with ADHD really have difficulty concentrating, organizing things, and completing tasks. But it's not a lack of effort—it's the way their brains work.

"ADHD is not about motivation, but about impaired regulation of attention, impulsivity and control of actions. A person may want to cope, but the brain literally does not allow him to do it," explained Gubenko.

Another myth is that ADHD is only seen in children. Previously, it was believed that the syndrome "passes" with age, but modern data suggest otherwise, the doctor emphasized. In adults, symptoms often change shape: there is less hyperactivity, but distraction, forgetfulness, procrastination, and emotional instability persist. Many people learn about their diagnosis only after diagnosis, often in adulthood.

Some people mistakenly believe that ADHD is a fashionable excuse. However, the therapist clarified that although interest in the topic has grown, this does not make the diagnosis "fashionable." Often, after seeing popular videos or posts, people really recognize their long—standing difficulties in them and go to a specialist to figure it out.

"Self-diagnosis based on videos in social networks is often erroneous, because it takes into account individual symptoms rather than the overall clinical picture. This cannot be a path to self-understanding, but to delusion. Only a psychiatrist can conduct a full-fledged assessment of the condition and distinguish ADHD from, for example, anxiety disorder, depression or the effects of stress," the expert added.

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ADHD occurs due to a combination of a number of factors, including heredity, an imbalance of dopamine and norepinephrine (affects attention and motivation), disruption of the prefrontal cortex, responsible for controlling behavior. Chronic stress in childhood, emotional instability, low self-esteem, and internal stress due to failure can also affect the formation of the syndrome.

Among the social factors of ADHD are the harsh demands of school or work, which are difficult to cope with, lack of support in the environment, parenting methods, family atmosphere, stigmatization — when a person is told that he is just lazy.

The doctor clarified that it may be more difficult for women with ADHD because their symptoms are often less noticeable: they manifest themselves in the form of forgetfulness, procrastination and concentration problems, rather than overt hyperactivity, as in men. In addition, social expectations from women, especially in childhood — to behave more calmly, to be more obedient, to be more organized and attentive — can exacerbate stress and anxiety. Hormonal changes can also worsen the symptoms. This makes diagnosis and treatment more difficult, and women often seek help later.

Gubenko noted that medication and cognitive behavioral therapy, skills training - self—regulation skills training, psychoeducation for the patient and family are used in the treatment process: understanding the nature of ADHD, learning interaction strategies, reducing feelings of guilt and tension in the family.

Earlier, on May 16, Anastasia Egorova, a clinical psychologist, business psychologist, and author of the Cognitive Navigator methodology, told Izvestia that with constant stress, the body becomes more vulnerable to diseases every day. In case of threat or heavy load, it activates protective mechanisms. The sympathetic nervous system and the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, which secrete stress hormones, are activated.