We have created an ADHD Self-Assessment Workbook designed to help you understand ADHD and how its symptoms can affect your life. It should be used alongside your diagnosis process to inform your medical professional.
Learn moreMaximizing Health and Happiness with ADHD: Expert Tips and Strategies
When we talk about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), certain stigma are often associated with it 🙁 Many believe that being diagnosed with ADHD can only lead to problems, struggles, and challenges. They may say that having ADHD can only bring stress and anxiety to your life, particularly when managing your symptoms. Sometimes it feels like people see us as a broken machine that needs fixing, and we'll never be able to reach our full potential.
The misconceptions of our society can also add fuel to what we are going through. Instead of having someone to help us with our struggles, we shy ourselves away and develop some sort of “behavioral training.” 😢
However, we aren't exactly sure if these coping mechanisms can help us manage our ADHD symptoms more. For all we know, it can be one of the contributing risk factors that can affect us, especially when it comes to our health. With these questionable coping mechanisms, we sometimes feel we are about to treat ADHD to the best of our capabilities. But on the contrary, these behaviors can agitate us more and cause our mental health condition to worsen 😨. This can also hinder us from living a healthy life and achieving our desired happiness.
What Does ADHD Have To Do With Health and Happiness?
Certain mental health conditions can affect our perspective in life 🤔. For example, someone with an anxiety disorder may not be able to interact with other people as much as they should or want to. In contrast, someone with bipolar disorder may have difficulty managing their moods and have difficulties in social skills training. Those with depression may also have a different set of brain chemicals that can affect their daily activities.
Similarly, some people diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) may experience complex situations that may affect their happiness level and, consequently, their health. When someone with ADHD “gives into” their impulsive behaviors, they can satisfy the production of their brain chemicals, specifically dopamine and norepinephrine. This can make them extremely happy for the time being, but it can also lead to difficulty managing emotions or activities that they need to initiate 😓.
As ADHD affects how our brain works, it can also make us commit careless mistakes because of our inattentive behavior. When we are easily distracted or have difficulty sustaining attention, we are prone to miss important details and everyday tasks. This can cause stress and frustration, possibly leading to low self-esteem and self-worth.
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Understanding ADHD and Its Effect on Our Health
To give you a brief background, ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, previously known as Attention Deficit Disorder. This mental health condition affects a person's executive function, or how they think and process information. A lot of people with ADHD tend to have difficulty focusing, sustaining attention 💫, and become impulsive in some situations.
Aside from these characteristics, a mental health professional can diagnose ADHD in an individual depending on the symptoms they often experience. Some people have a predominantly inattentive presentation of their ADHD traits, where they have trouble focusing on details or paying attention to the task. Some have the predominantly hyperactive and impulsive behavior of their ADHD traits, where they often display disruptive behavior 🏃 and are more prone to taking risks without thinking about the consequences. Lastly, some people can exhibit both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive behaviors, making it harder to manage their condition.
But how do these ADHD symptoms affect our health? Let's try to relate the things we do that can affect our overall wellness and happiness.
Mental Health and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
As ADHD has been recognized as one of the most common mental health conditions, it is important to understand how it affects our overall well-being. According to reports, ADHD diagnosis can co-occur with different mental health conditions or be an onset of other mental disorders. Up to 50% of adults with ADHD are also diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. In comparison, some children with ADHD are at risk of developing a mood disorder, learning disabilities, as well as other mental health conditions 🩺.
A child's symptoms related to ADHD can cause low self-esteem that can affect the upbringing of their emotional intelligence. Especially when partnered with problematic parenting and lack of emotional support, some children with ADHD might come to feel isolated and misunderstood. This can lead to difficulties in relationships with family, peers, and even colleagues when they reach adulthood 😭.
When our mental health is affected by ADHD and other environmental factors, we tend to experience behavior problems brought on by being irritable or having difficulty controlling our emotions. We can become overwhelmed with activities or tasks that seem simple to others, making us feel frustrated or hopeless. These feelings can affect our motivation to do anything, leading us to isolate ourselves from the community 😥.
That's why having a concrete plan for treating ADHD is essential to prevent long-term consequences to our mental health, whether it is a combination of medications, therapies, or lifestyle changes. We should also be aware of the possible risks and benefits when considering ADHD treatments to get the most out of them.
How Does ADHD Affect Our Physical Health?
Younger children affected by ADHD can sometimes be picky with their food. Sometimes, because of our tendency to be sensitive to external stimuli, we can get easily overwhelmed by certain smells, textures, or tastes. This can lead to having limited food choices and not getting the proper nutrition needed for our bodies. An ADHD child's behavior can be affected by not getting the right nutrition and, when untreated, can hinder their physical growth 📈.
For those with adult ADHD diagnosis, social and environmental factors can also trigger us to be more impulsive and make poor decisions like skipping sleep or not eating correctly. If we cannot manage the hyperactive symptoms of ADHD, having a healthy lifestyle will most likely be harder to maintain 😞.
Our discipline to respond to hunger or diet can also be affected. When we eat foods like sweets and caffeine ☕, our dopamine needs might be satisfied. However, our bodies will be more likely to take in unhealthy food than nutritious ones. Too much sugar 🍩 or coffee can cause complications not only to our central nervous system but can also cause health problems like heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.
Having your ADHD treated using ADHD medications 💊, behavior therapy, or any other intervention can help relieve the symptoms and, more often than not, promote overall wellness. It is important to remember that ADHD treatment is not a one-time solution but rather an ongoing process of learning how to manage your condition to be healthier in both body and mind.
Managing ADHD Symptoms is the Key to Healthy Lifestyle
It's easier said than done 👌. However, the most basic approach to address our mental and physical health is to understand and manage the symptoms of ADHD. Knowing how to cope with the condition can help us create a lifestyle that can prevent or lessen its effects on our bodies.
Managing symptoms can attract positive behaviors, engage us in activities, and encourage us to care for our bodies. From dieting to exercising regularly, we can use different interventions to reduce symptoms like hyperactivity or impulsiveness that come with ADHD. Doing so will allow us to lead a more productive and positive life where we can manage our condition better.
Finding our own set of support can also contribute significantly to our health 🤗. Surrounding ourselves with a positive attitude can prevent us from attracting negative outlooks. When we have a supportive network of family, friends, and professionals who understand ADHD symptoms, coping with it can be much easier. Plus, our confidence and self-esteem can be improved.
With a supportive mindset from our family members, friends, and professionals, we can better overcome the physical consequences of ADHD. Along with our efforts to manage our symptoms and live a healthier lifestyle, we can lead fuller lives despite having a mental health disorder 💗.
We also have a wide range of articles that can help you to be more aware of the possible risks and benefits of ADHD treatments. Along with valuable information, we provide the resources you need to get the best possible treatment for your condition.
ADHD & Health FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What are the three types of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder?
The three main types of ADHD are Predominantly Inattentive, Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive, and Combined type, which has both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms at almost similar intensities.
Can ADHD affect a person’s mental health?
Considering ADHD itself is a mental health condition, the answer is yes, it can. Reports say people with ADHD are more likely to experience anxiety. Because of their symptoms, they might also be stressed frequently. Furthermore, ADHD can coexist with other mental health conditions, possibly aggravating its symptoms.
Can ADHD affect a person’s physical health?
Depending on how you manage your symptoms, ADHD can have an impact on your physical health. For instance, if you’re unable to sleep well because of hyperactive thoughts, you may be at risk of becoming sleep-deprived. That, in itself, can already cause health problems when it’s regularly happening. Also, when you have ADHD, you may become impulsive, and hence, might make decisions that can endanger your health (substance use, etc.).
