This article is aimed at any parents or teachers out there who may be unsure if the person in their care is living with ADHD or a mental health issue, what the difference is between the two, and how we can best support them.
ADHD
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, more commonly known as ADHD, is a neurological condition that can affect an individual’s behaviour. Someone with ADHD may seem restless and experience difficulty concentrating. Majority of cases are recognised during childhood between the ages of 3 to 7, but it can get to adulthood before an individual is diagnosed (NHS).
Due to the misunderstanding of ADHD, it is commonly misdiagnosed as better-understood conditions such as bipolar disorder, anxiety or depression. Misdiagnosis is so high in the UK it is estimated individuals with ADHD will go through 3 to 4 misdiagnoses before they reach a diagnosis of ADHD.
ADHD vs mental health issues?
It can be extremely difficult to differentiate ADHD from other mental health issues, there is no blood test or brain examination available that can give you an answer, a doctor, psychiatrist or other medical professionals must identify ADHD through observing the child’s behaviour.
ADHD shares many symptoms as other conditions, which makes it even harder to form a conclusion. To add to the complications, research suggests anywhere between 60%-100% of children with ADHD may have additional mental health issues including anxiety, depression and disruptive behaviour disorders.
It is important to understand that mental health issues often arise when neurological disorders such as ADHD are left unmanaged or undiagnosed, but will improve once the ADHD has been identified and treated. This means although it can be difficult to separate the two, focusing on the ADHD can aid in reducing the co-occurrence of neurological and mental health conditions.
Practical tips to support
1. Educate yourself on ADHD
ADHD and mental health disorders are complex topics and affect everyone differently, there is unfortunately no ‘one size fits all’. If you are recently discovering someone is close to a diagnosis, find out all you can about their disorder and how it can impact different areas of their life. The more you know and understand the disorder the better you can support someone.
When researching, try not focus on what the individual will struggle with throughout their life, instead, focus on the strengths that come with it. For instance, people with ADHD are often very creative and are able to think outside the box. If you are wishing to support someone with ADHD, you are already making the right steps by reading this article!
2. Be open and honest with the individual
As daunting as it may be to have a conversation about how the child is feeling and coping with their disorder, it can be empowering for them to learn why they feel the way they do. It can help them understand themselves better and understand there is a medical reason behind it. If you are taking this step to talk with your child, ensure you:
- Use language that is easy for them to understand.
- Gently discuss things they may struggle with so they are aware, but then talk even more about what they will flourish in.
- Ensure they leave the conversation understanding that it is something they were born with, and not caused by something that have done.
3. Be patient
Your child did not choose to have ADHD or a mental health condition, their behaviour will reflect their condition and this can sometimes be hard for the people around them. This is not intentional from the child and you probably know this already.
Try remember, your child is likely to be experiencing these same feelings and more themselves. Getting through the daily challenges of life can be difficult for anyone, let alone when you through a mental or neurological disorder into the mix.
Always try be patient with them and focus on them as an individual, not just the small part of their disorder. When days are tough, remember this.
4. Listen to their needs
It is a fantastic start to learn more about ADHD and mental health so you are able to better support your child, and you are likely to learn a lot with the plethora of information available online. However, ADHD and mental health disorders affect everyone differently and Google cannot tell you how it affects your specific child. The only way to find this out is by starting the open conversation with the child themselves.
Start a conversation with your child about how you can support them, they may even have their own ideas already about what support they would like at home or at school. If relevant, share this information with your school so the support can be extended in their education too, where possible.
5. Praise the positives
Having ADHD or a mental health disorder can be challenging for the individual experiencing it and make everyday tasks a challenge. Negativity needs to do one! It is common for these individuals to experience self-doubt towards simple tasks and lowered self-esteem.
You can help support them by praising the little things and offering encouragement when they need that little boost. Their disorder has meant they are likely to have experienced criticism over their behaviour, meaning negative feedback may send them further down a rabbit hole of self-doubt.
Next time your child feels they can’t do something and wants to give up, remind them of something they excelled in and equip them with the confidence that they can persevere.
Fun fact! Did you know swimmer Michael Phelps has ADHD and struggled to sit still at school, the routine of the pool helped with his ADHD and made him one of the greatest swimmers to ever enter the Olympics!
Round up...
As we can see, mental health disorders and ADHD, although different, can display very similar symptoms and therefore can be difficult to diagnose correctly and in turn, support. You cannot diagnose your child yourself and it is important if you are concerned about your child to get an official diagnosis rather than diagnosing yourself (unless you are a professional of course…. In which case, you probably wouldn’t be reading this article!). ADHD and mental health issues are not something to be scared of, they make us unique!
Before you go…….
If you are a parent of a child with additional SEND needs, or without additional needs, I offer a range of tutoring services to support children through their educational journey, using proven strategies to support them overcome any barriers to their learning. Currently working as a full time primary teacher and private tutor, I have great experience to help your child succeed, irrespective of their barriers.
Next up in this series... Autism in girls - Why is it so hard to spot?