Attention deficit issues.. is it ADHD or not? A dive into a common Mental Health issue.

A common assumption made is that if you are having attention issues are you struggling with Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)? ADHD or also ADD (attention deficit disorder without hyperactivity) is a neurological brain disorder that is developed at birth. Most of the time, people with ADHD will struggle as a child or during their adolescent years in school. The symptoms of hyperactivity tends to diminish over time but the attention difficulties can continue. Some individuals are able to develop systems to help with their day to day functioning and others are not. This is where the role of medications can be considered.

There are several other factors that can contribute to attention issues including substances (i.e. alcohol, cannabis, and others), stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and sleep deprivation just to name a few. It takes a highly skilled diagnostician to differentiate between the causes of someone’s attention or focusing issues. In addition, often times psychiatric illnesses are co-morbid, meaning if you suffer with ADHD for example you have a higher probably than someone without ADHD to also develop anxiety or depression. As one can see, this can become a complex treatment plan. If you would like to learn more about your symptoms and whether you struggle with any of the aforementioned mental health problems reach out to a Psychiatrist for an assessment.