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home / 世界杯决赛2022

more adults being diagnosed with adhd

the prevalence of adhd is one of the highest for any condition in psychiatry and is estimated to affect five per cent of the population.

by jody robbins

oct 22 2022
read time 5 minute read
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carola tiltmann, manager of the learning disabilities and adhd network. courtesy, anya maves jpg
when i told a friend i was writing about adhd and looking to interview adults for this article, her first response was: “why bother? you can just interview yourself. ha ha!”
yet, haven’t we all procrastinated instead of immediately starting a task or found it difficult to focus or repeatedly misplace our car keys? there are many reasons one can sit in a mental fog or be easily distracted. lack of sleep and perimenopause come to mind, but adhd is different.
the acronym stands for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. in adults, the most common presentation is primarily inattentive, but people can also present primarily hyperactive-impulsive or combined.
“it impacts the brain’s ability to regulate executive functions which are needed to plan, focus and execute decisions,” explains carola tiltmann, manager of learning disabilities & adhd network in calgary.
symptoms that make life difficult for those with adhd generally fall into the four categories of: impulse control; overwhelming feelings (inability to regulate emotions); difficulties with distraction; and challenges with organization – both time management and keeping an orderly physical space.
while tiltmann recognizes these behaviours happen to everyone once in a while, an individual should seek help if enough of these symptoms make life difficult daily.
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“if the symptoms are affecting personal relationships in negative ways (lots of arguments or recriminations because of lateness, impulsive spending, emotional sensitivity, etc…) or if your work life is suffering (you have to put in a lot of extra hours to finish, frequently get reprimanded), or if your children are affected by your inability to remember schedules or important school days, then you need help,” she states.
the prevalence of adhd is one of the highest for any condition in psychiatry and is estimated to affect five per cent of the population. those of a certain generation, however, may still think it’s something you grow out of.
dr. michael zwiers, registered psychologist and adjunct assistant professor, university of calgary. courtesy, u of c
dr. michael zwiers, registered psychologist and adjunct assistant professor, university of calgary. courtesy, u of c jpg
“it was once considered a childhood condition. the belief was that as they entered adulthood, they’d get better. young adults were switched from a pediatrician to a psychiatrist who’d ween them off adhd medications and then diagnose them with anxiety, depression or borderline personality disorders,” acknowledges dr. michael zwiers, a psychologist at lighthouse psychology services.
adhd is also incorrectly thought of as a disorder that primarily affects males. female diagnosis has increased considerably in recent years. according to dr. zwiers, the ratio was 1:10 for females vs. males, but current estimates are that women account for half of all adult diagnoses.
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that’s mainly because females present differently, and those who get the treatment process started (teachers and parents) tend not to notice girls’ issues, especially if they’re not causing trouble.
“females are socialized to fit in, so they can become skilled at hiding their impairments. with adhd, females tend to present as primarily inattentive rather than being hyperactive or impulsive. they may have the feeling something’s not right or they’re not reaching their potential,” says dr. zwiers.
that’s how jodi holliday felt for decades, but struggles resulting from working at home during covid led her to seek a diagnosis in her late 40s.
“after being diagnosed, things fell into place. i had answers and my internal narrative changed. before i had this negative idea of myself: “why can’t i get this done? why am i so bad at this?” then i realized that ongoing negative self-talk was my brain working against me. there are ways of getting better,” she shares.
diagnosis leads to understanding, which is critical according to tiltmann.
“many people with undiagnosed adhd think of themselves as failures and a diagnosis helps to reframe their experiences. diagnosis also leads to treatment which should include behavioural strategies and/or medication,” she says.

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while anyone can self-diagnose with an online quiz, a formal diagnosis can be especially validating, helping to explain some of the challenges one may have faced in life. a formal diagnosis can also help people access accommodations, supports and services provided under human rights legislation.
assessment for adhd can be conducted by a family physician or psychiatrist. however, it’s most commonly completed by a psychologist, although there are fees associated with a psychological assessment.
while medication isn’t necessarily required to treat adhd, it is often seen as part of a multi-modal intervention plan. the extent to which one is impaired in their daily functioning (e.g. disorganization, time management, task completion) often determines if pharmaceutical interventions are needed.
 
calgary author james fell says his adhd was impacting his work-life balance. jim wells/postmedia
calgary author james fell says his adhd was impacting his work-life balance. jim wells/postmedia jim wells/postmedia
for calgarian james fell, adhd medication was recommended as a treatment option to achieve a better work-life balance.
“i don’t need medication to work. i need medication to stop working. i’m at my computer by 7 a.m. every day, pounding away for five to six hours straight. i’ll take an eight-hour ritalin at noon, which kicks in an hour later. it’s what allows me to stop working for the day,” he shares.

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for fell, taking adhd medication has been life-altering.
“ritalin has allowed me to step away and have balance. now i’m able to watch a movie without looking at my phone the whole time. i was good at getting things done before, but now i’m able to do those mundane tasks that have to be done without worrying what i’m missing out on,” he says.
fell, a bestselling author whose blog post on adhd has been adapted for a ted x talk, realizes his creativity is linked to his adhd.
“my ability to write in a wild style is because my brain is all over the place. but there’s a heavy cost associated with it. i work harder, longer and more intensely. i’m not grateful for adhd, but i am more accepting of who i am. it has a sort of superpower about it – with a lot of kryptonite.”

adhd resources

learning disabilities & adhd network is a resource hub that guides individuals who have or suspect they have adhd or have been diagnosed. visit: ldadhdnetwork.ca
the network offers a free ‘neurodiversity in the workplace’ lunch & learn for employers to better understand neurodiversity and how to support these individuals at work.
the canadian adhd resource alliance has guidelines for physicians on diagnosing adhd: caddra.ca/download-guidelines/

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