Not Just Bad at School: The Inattentive Disorder

The Inattentive Disorder

STORY BY SEAN KELLY DESIGN & ILLUSTRATION BY HEATHER L. MACYAUSKI

Writing this article is one of the most difficult things I’ve done lately. Ironically, that problem is exactly what this article is about: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Unless you have ADHD, you may have some misconceptions about what this condition is; even those who have been diagnosed still learn new things all the time. After my recent diagnosis in 2019, I am learning a great deal of information on ADHD, and have found that everyone’s experiences are different. If you are a college student like me who also struggles with ADHD, you might learn something here, too.

Let’s identify what effect ADHD has on the brain. ADHD is a deficiency of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Dopamine is usually known as the chemical that causes pleasure, but in reality,

it is more closely related to the brain’s reward-motivated behavior. Because the brain lacks the necessary dopamine needs, it searches wildly for sources to provide the chemical. Once the brain finds a source of dopamine—usually some fun activity or a similarly enjoyable thing—it tends to latch onto that source, resulting in a very intense focus that may lead to burnout, or cause the individual to ignore other needs in favor of the stimulating activity. For example, using food as a source of dopamine can lead to unhealthy eating habits.

I mentioned that writing this article was difficult for me, and this is the reason why. Writing is something I really enjoy, but it is a very low-stimulation activity. I find it harder to do low-stimulation activities like writing, which require the brain to work but give it little reward in return. It turns out that more people have this problem than I realized. The national resource center on ADHD, CHADD, in Lanham, Maryland, states, “Approximately 10 million adults have attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).” This is a huge number, even though it only includes adults. “Symptoms continue into adulthood in more than three-quarters of cases,” states the CHADD website. ADHD is a condition that can affect people of all ages and origins, and it can continue past childhood, sometimes going undetected for entire lifetimes.

Popular media often portrays ADHD stories quite incorrectly. They show characters getting distracted by every little “shiny” thing, or never listening when others talk. These depictions may lead people to misconceive ADHD as something it’s not. While there may be some truth in these portrayals, half-truths can be just as harmful as untruths.

These depictions most commonly show the inattentive aspect of ADHD. Inattentiveness is more complex than hyperactivity. On the surface, inattentiveness may be identified by someone having trouble focusing on a task, being very talkative and jumping from topic to topic, or asking for repetition frequently. In reality, these issues run deeper. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “research does not support the popularly held views that ADHD is caused by eating too much sugar, watching too much television, parenting, or social and environmental factors such as poverty or family chaos.” ADDitude, a well-known and reputable online database and magazine for ADHD, says that the “inattentive” portion of ADHD has shifted to a broader concept: Executive Function Disorder, or EFD.

Many people with ADHD experience EFD. Executive dysfunction is “a brain-based impairment that impacts a person’s ability to analyze, organize, decide, and execute things on time. It causes assignments to be lost, deadlines to be missed, and projects to overwhelm.” It’s also described as “chronic difficulties in executing daily tasks.” Executive function can be loosely defined as the ability to self-regulate and get things done. As the name implies, executive dysfunction causes difficulty in managing executive functions.

In my personal experience, executive dysfunction works handin-hand with ADHD. I often find myself in a state of “attempting to work,” and feel that I have to focus on one project and can’t do anything else until that assignment is done. The problem is that I’m also unable to start on that assignment, and so I become “stuck” in this state of executive dysfunction, unable to do anything at all. “Russell Barkley, Ph.D., who has been at the forefront of exploring the relationship between ADHD and EFD, says, ‘It is not that the individual does not know what to do. It is that somehow it does not get done.’”

I had a short Q&A session with Sara Reynolds, a Junior student and Visual Arts major who also has ADHD. She provided some answers and advice that may be helpful to people with ADHD.

How does executive dysfunction most commonly affect you in your daily life?

“My executive dysfunction can make it difficult to get things started, if I spend too much time doing something I enjoy, it’s harder to get to the things I don’t enjoy.”

Reader, it is important to remember that everyone’s experiences with these conditions are different, and everyone struggles in different ways. If the difficulties mentioned here don’t line up with your own, don’t worry. That doesn’t mean you don’t struggle in other areas.

Did you have any difficulties in getting your diagnosis? If so, what were they?

“I got lucky with my diagnosis. My mother taught children with ADHD when she was a teacher and the doctor that diagnosed me had a child with ADHD, so they were very familiar with it.”

In response to this, reader, if any of these issues sound familiar, consider pursuing a diagnosis. Sometimes, receiving a diagnosis can be hard. Women with ADHD are sometimes overlooked due to the gender stereotype of the “bubbly and airheaded girl.” It also may not be as easy to receive a diagnosis for adult ADHD, as adults show symptoms differently than children. But don’t be discouraged, and don’t hesitate to ask for help. Getting an official diagnosis is a big step toward a better understanding of yourself. An official diagnosis can help put you on the right track to learning to function with ADHD and counter against executive dysfunction. Sometimes, strategies may take a long time to figure out, and you may need to “trick your brain,” or do things a certain way to avoid situations where executive dysfunction may occur.

What strategies do you have to help manage your ADHD? Do you take medication, and if so, how does your medication interact with your strategies?

“My strategies for managing my ADHD are to write everything down and have a schedule, setting up tasks with times of the day. Occasionally I take medication to assist me with days where I have a lot to get done and this can help me get things done faster, sometimes completing tasks ahead of time until I eventually burn out at the end of the day.”

Here, Sara brings up an important point to remember. Medication is not a cureall, and it will not magically remove your condition. When a qualified physician prescribes medication, it is certainly a big help, but without proper strategies, it will not fix any problems. Some people are not helped by medication even if they take it. Everyone is different, and medication should not be treated as a magic cure.

Living with ADHD does not have to limit you or keep you from reaching your full potential. With knowledge of how your brain works, combined with strategies to combat the condition, and sometimes with the proper medication prescribed by a psychiatrist, ADHD becomes something that is manageable and understandable. I once thought I had no abnormal conditions or disorders, but now I realize that having conditions or disorders such as ADHD is not abnormal at all. There are so many people who are like me, and I take great comfort in that knowledge. Discovering things about yourself is rewarding in many ways, and it can lead to a happier, healthier life. Even if college has been a surprisingly difficult experience, know that success is still within reach.

Sean Kelly is a Senior English student who enjoys both reading and writing, both for school and in spare time. He likes midwestern gothic, audio drama, and bookstores.

Resources

If you struggle to keep focused on tasks, feel the need to stay on the move, or have super-human focus, you’re not alone! In addition to offering some more helpful information on ADHD, the National Institute of Mental Health recommends seeking a professional evaluation that could help you find the best way to succeed with your situation.