4 Myths About ADHD: Thoughts for an ADHD Therapist
“They just need to try harder” or “They are just being careless and lazy” are common things I have heard about people who are showing signs of ADHD. There are a lot of misconceptions about ADHD that are not only not helpful but they cause harm to those that have ADHD. ADHD looks different in children than it does in adults, which often leads the clients I work with to not believe they have ADHD. My clients end up being convinced they are just flawed, lazy, or stupid because why else can’t they do things like everyone else?
ADHD can impact so much of a person’s life, especially their relationships. I understand how difficult it is to understand how the brain works in people with ADHD and how that impacts their lives and behaviors. People with ADHD can’t control how their brain works but they can learn to manage it but they fail to reach out for support because of all the misconceptions about ADHD. Working with a therapist to manage ADHD can make a difference.
Common misconceptions about ADHD
This is really only scratching the surface of all the misinformation and beliefs about ADHD. ADHD is a misunderstood diagnosis so there are so many more myths out there but I am sharing just a few.
1. ADHD isn’t a real diagnosis
People really struggle to believe that ADHD is a legitimate mental health diagnosis. I know a lot of people see children with ADHD symptoms and chalk it up to poor parenting or kids just being kids. I work with adults with ADHD rather than children but if these adults with ADHD would have understood how their brains worked earlier maybe they wouldn’t be losing so much confidence in themselves. ADHD is a real diagnosis that impacts how dopamine is routed in the brain. Understanding more about the brain and ADHD will help you understand how real this diagnosis is.
2. ADHD can just be controlled with more willpower
Tasks that are considered “normal” for non-ADHD people take so much more effort for those that have ADHD. I know it’s easy to believe these people are just looking for an excuse and should just try harder. This isn’t the reality of what’s happening in the brain for ADHD. People with ADHD don’t have the right amount of dopamine to be able to complete tasks and trying harder isn’t the solution. There are certainly ways of being able to manage completing tasks but just trying harder isn’t the solution.
3. People with ADHD are just lazy
Along the same lines as having more willpower, most ADHD people wish they could make themselves do the things they need to do. People with ADHD have been labeled as lazy and unmotivated. The truth is it’s difficult for people with ADHD to do things again because of how their brain works. People with ADHD are notorious for starting a project but not being able to finish it. This is something that can be learned to manage but it will look different from people who don’t have ADHD.
4. Only men have ADHD
While I only work with men who have ADHD, it doesn’t mean that they are the only ones who experience symptoms of ADHD. Women experience ADHD but it often goes unnoticed and it also might manifest differently than it does in men. ADHD is a diagnosis that impacts all genders. In general, women tend to present more with inattentive symptoms while men tend to present more with higher rates of impulsivity and hyperactivity. This is not a hard and fast rule by any means but demonstrates an example of why ADHD can be missed in women.
Online ADHD treatment can help
Having ADHD is difficult to manage on your own. It can be frustrating to feel like it impacts your life in negative ways. You don’t have to keep trying to figure this out on your own. Online ADHD treatment can make a difference in helping you manage your symptoms. You can learn to utilize your strengths and stop feeling like there’s just something wrong with you. Online therapy in Utah makes it so you don’t have to worry about traveling to another appointment but you can experience the convenience of meeting with a therapist for ADHD from your home or office.
Start working with an ADHD therapist in Utah
You don’t have to keep struggling with ADHD or wondering if you have it. You can learn to manage it better and therapy can help. This Utah Counseling Practice has an ADHD therapist who specializes in ADHD treatment. To begin counseling follow the steps below:
Meet with a therapist for ADHD
Begin ADHD treatment
Other Mental Health Services Available in Utah
ADHD treatment isn’t the only counseling service provided at this Utah Counseling Clinic. Other mental health services provided by Marcus Hunt Therapy include counseling for anxiety, EMDR therapy, PTSD therapy, marriage counseling, premarital counseling, LDS marriage counseling, and depression therapy. Schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation to see how I can help.
About the Author
Marcus Hunt is an associate marriage and family therapist at Marcus Hunt Therapy in Utah. He has a bachelor's degree in behavioral sciences from Utah Valley University. Marcus also has a master's degree in marriage and family therapy. He enjoys working with men who struggle with feeling rejected and losing confidence. These can be symptoms of ADHD in disguise. Marcus was diagnosed with ADHD as a graduate student and lived most of his life without knowing it. He wants to be able to help men who have the signs of ADHD be able to manage their lives better and stop believing there’s something wrong with them. When Marcus isn’t doing therapy he enjoys spending time with his wife and two dogs outdoors near the Spanish Fork River Trail.