Common ADHD Myths That Aren’t Helping Anyone

ADHD stands for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and the condition affects several people here in the US. But contrary to popular opinion, people with ADHD aren’t necessarily always bouncing off the walls or fidgeting all the time.

ADHD has many symptoms, and according to the American Psychiatric Association, some symptoms people experiences are much more subtle, like difficulty controlling impulses or in staying organized or focused.

But like other mental health concerns, ADHD also has a plethora of misconceptions surrounding it. Here are some ADHD myths you can ignore:

Myth No. 1: Only Young Boys Are Likely to Have ADHD

Reality: This is a very common misconception, believed by people everywhere, but it has little basis in truth. The fact is that ADHD doesn’t discriminate between different age groups or genders—people do.

Little girls with ADHD are typically not as hyperactive, and they experience and exhibit ADHD very differently and in more internalized and subtle ways. Therefore, they don’t get diagnosed as often as hyperactive little boys do.

Myth No. 2: People with ADHD Just Need to Try Harder at Focusing

Reality: ADHD is a real medical condition; it’s not just a person being lazy or unmotivated. Many people think curing ADHD is as simple as just working harder and forcing yourself to focus and pay attention.

The truth is, asking someone with ADHD to “just focus harder” is like telling a visually impaired person to try harder at seeing—it’s out of their control! ADHD isn’t a problem with someone’s personality or attitude; it’s the way their brain is structured and wired.

Myth No. 3: ADHD Goes Away on Its Own

Reality: While it’s true that ADHD can evolve over time, the symptoms typically don’t disappear completely just because one gets older.

Usually, symptoms change or lessen when people learn how to manage them better, but for most people, ADHD remains a real problem until they take medication or therapy to ease the symptoms.

One approach for treating ADHD that’s become popular in recent years is hypnosis therapy. During hypnosis, your trusted expert will reach into the recesses of your mind and subconscious to trigger a change from within.

ADHD hypnosis has proven effective in some cases and is definitely worth trying. We offer hypnosis for ADHD in Rochester—book a free consultation today!