Comment by alok-g
2 years ago
I have all the symptoms described (inattention type, not hyperactivity), including hyperfocus. A test my therapist had given me indicated that I do have ADHD. However, she told me that I do not actually have ADHD as my hyperfocus does not fit with "attention deficit", and there's alternative explanation for the symptoms from some other issues. Upon reading this post however where inattention and hyperfocus are both mentioned, I sense she may be wrong.
In my case, I feel sure that I did not have ADHD symptoms during childhood. These symptoms I believe have come extreme and unusual mental stresses I have been subjected for several years. However, there's not enough literature on ADHD coming during adulthood. Most, like the OP, say that it would have gone undetected during childhood. Some say that ADHD can develop during adulthood too. I have also read that Adult ADHD seemingly has a different mechanism than ADHD that develops during childhood.
In terms of what's working for me, nothing yet.
Is your therapist a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist? If not, I would take what she says with a great skepticism.
> I feel sure that I did not have ADHD symptoms during childhood.
That would be an instant disqualification of an ADHD diagnosis.
> I believe have come extreme and unusual mental stresses I have been subjected for several years
I am not a clinician nor do I know the full extent/magnitude of your stresses, but have you ever investigated (C)PTSD? If can mimic many ADHD symptoms.
> However, there's not enough literature on ADHD coming during adulthood. . . Most, like the OP, say that it would have gone undetected during childhood. Some say that ADHD can develop during adulthood too. I have also read that Adult ADHD seemingly has a different mechanism than ADHD that develops during childhood.
Based on what is commonly understood about the condition, it cannot come on in Adulthood. Similar to how there is no Adult-onset Autism. You're born with it or without it. Also, just because symptoms were not "detected in childhood" does not mean the symptoms did not exist in childhood. My symptoms were not detected in childhood, but oh boy, were the signs and symptoms there. I just grew up in the South East, US where stuff like ADHD just didn't exist, and I and plenty others were punished and ridiculed for our "daydreaming," "restlessness," "laziness," and "inappropriate behavior."
Personally, I am not sure if I buy the research on this topic though. Then again, I also think the label "ADHD" is just like "Cancer" -- a massive blanket-term for multiple similar conditions. So, who knows? It's not like there is a single biomarker that has ever been discovered that can be used to diagnosis the condition. It's all just professional opinions based on agreed upon patterns and heuristics.
Anyway, I hope you figure out something that works for you.
Thanks for a detailed response! Sincerely appreciated.
>> Is your therapist a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist?
Yes. Clinical psychologist.
>> That would be an instant disqualification of an ADHD diagnosis.
You could be right. That's what most literature says. However, there's some talking about ADHD developing in adulthood. I cannot say whether to trust or not; surely there's very little such literature.
>> ... nor do I know the full extent/magnitude of your stresses
I have been shouted upon by my wife at peak volume for hours at a stretch, about once every two days, for years, with her usually beating herself badly along the way, sometimes threatening with knives, and so on and on.
As I wrote in another comment here, I started facing these symptoms around 2011 and distinctly in 2012, when I was 35 years of age. Prior to that, I have always been a star performer, during childhood and at work, with no such symptoms to the best of my understanding.
>> ... but have you ever investigated (C)PTSD? If can mimic many ADHD symptoms.
My therapist did mention that to me and told me to read about it. I read about it on Wikipedia, but do not know enough myself to say either way. I'll talk to the therapist again on my next visit.
> and there's alternative explanation for the symptoms from some other issues
> I feel sure that I did not have ADHD symptoms during childhood
Both are hard requirements for the indication though. (at least in my country where they use the DSM, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders)
* Symptoms must not be attributable to other issues.
* ADHD must have been there all your life, so before a certain age (in my country 12yo) symptoms must have been there, and they must be acknowledged. Not necessarily that they were then attributed to ADHD, but they must have been present.
Source: i'm in the diagnosis currently. I'm 45 years old. I'm not a shrink. I'm currently actually supposed to finish my bookkeeping, hence I'm on HN.
The test I was given is called DIVA 2.0. It says it is based on DSM-IV criteria. I have no understanding of how DSM criteria evolved.
The DIVA 2.0 test notes, "Research has indicated that at adult age, four or more characteristics of attention problems and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity are sufficient for the diagnosis of ADHD to be made." I had seven out of seven characteristics for inattentive type ADHD.
I am sure I did not have the symptoms during childhood. I started facing these around 2011 and very distinctly in 2012, when I was 35 years of age.
Dr Gabor Mate's theory is that ADHD (and many others) is the body's response to childhood trauma.
Wouldn't that imply that everyone with ADHD had childhood trauma? I can see that explanation being true for some, but not all nor a majority of cases.
I'd be more inclined to believe trauma to the ADHD offspring's mother, while pregnant, would be more explanatory than the offspring's environment post-birth.
Thanks for the pointer. I'll find more about this.