Understanding ADD and ADHD: genetics, challenges, and unique strengths
This first article has been a long time coming, partly because I was struggling to decide which would be the perfect, most important message for my debut.
There are two equally vital aspects I want people to understand about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD):
ADHD is a genetic and neurological condition.
When managed correctly, it can be a strength.
Let's dive in!
ADHD does not come from a lack of discipline and is not caused by the social environment.
ADHD is a condition caused by genetic and neurological factors. Studies have found that:
ADHD has a high heritability rate (more than >70%)¹
Lower levels of dopamine receptors can be seen in two main regions of the brain of people with ADHD²
ADHD is not the outcome of the social environment³
I am starting with this because for me learning this helped remove a lot of the shame and pressure I put on myself.
The nature of the condition makes it wildly misunderstood and overlooked: well-known symptoms of ADHD are forgetfulness, inability to focus, fidgeting, impulsivity, lack of motivation, and procrastination.
…But everyone struggles with these things every once in a while, right?
Yes, everyone struggles with some of these issues sometimes. But for people with ADHD, this happens very often. This means that they must constantly look for strategies to compensate or readjust to overcome setbacks - an exhausting daily struggle.
I used to tell myself that everyone faces these challenges, and I simply needed to try harder. Now I know I am not wired like everyone else, and trying harder will not bring me the results I need. What changed my life was learning that I need to try different - not harder, but different.
For that, I needed to stop relying on the toolbox everyone else was using and develop my own toolbox. Putting in extra effort to remember something isn't as effective as jotting it down for later reference, setting calendar reminders, or leaving visual cues on my desk.
And even these strategies are not foolproof: sometimes the desk is so full of visual cues, that one more just gets lost. Or the calendar is overwhelmingly full. And … where did I write that thing down?!
Finding a bunch of different strategies for every situation is a challenge. A challenge I am happy to take on.
Looking for a better way to do something next time is empowering and it is so much better than beating yourself up for not trying hard enough.
ADHD is not a curse. You can learn to see and use it as a strength.
Yes, people with ADHD have a different brain wiring and yes, that can be a pain in certain contexts. But with the right treatment and understanding of the condition, it can become a real asset.
Here are a few strengths that studies have shown ADHD brings⁴:
Hyperfocus
People with ADHD can often hyperfocus on tasks and see them to completion without breaking concentration.
Yes, you heard me right.
Although distractibility is a hallmark of ADHD, when there is interest (genuine, intrinsic interest) in a subject, people with ADHD can often have a laser-sharp focus on the topic and block out all external stimuli.
This is what helps me learn so fast: whenever something piques my interest, I will hyperfocus on it (sometimes forgetting appointments, or…eating) until I know everything there is to know about that subject… Because if I don’t do it now, I might get distracted by a new, shiny subject and forget the first one even exists. 😊
Creativity and problem-solving
I often like to describe what’s going on in my head by comparing my thought process with a popcorn machine: new ideas popping up all the time. Sometimes so fast, that by the time I start developing on one idea, 3 new ones come up. It’s like constant brainstorming in there!
Non-linear thinking is a strength of mine. A manager once told me that one of the things they appreciate about me is the fact that I can always bring a different, valuable perspective to our team meetings.
As a person with ADHD, my high energy is not always physical, my brain moves at a super high speed. Dr. Edward M. Hallowell describes ADHD as having a turbocharged mind – like a Ferrari engine, but with the brakes of a bicycle.
Understanding ADHD and working with a doctor, therapist or coach can help train those breaks. It definitely helped me!
High energy
Not managed properly, hyperactivity could, in some contexts, be disruptive. But channeling that high energy can result in fantastic outputs at school or work.
One of my managers asked me at some point: Carmen, do you ever sleep? You’re doing so many things – when do you have the time?
Yes, I do sleep - I prioritize it so that, when I have interesting projects to handle, I have the fuel and can use my high energy and hyperfocus to achieve a week’s worth of work in a day.
Having a lot of energy to burn is especially useful in environments where movement is encouraged. Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps and Olympic gymnast Simone Biles are just two examples of people who used their high energy to excel in their respective fields.
Courage, spontaneity, and sense of adventure
Acting on impulse can make people with ADHD fun to be around, as they are often very spontaneous, willing to try new things, take risks, and break free from the status quo.
Spontaneity also helped me at work: at some point in my career, I was working on a digital transformation project affecting multiple European countries. Whenever a challenge appeared in one of the local teams, I would board a plane within hours and go support them in solving the issue.
Courage and the willingness to take risks are some of the reasons why adults with ADHD are more likely to initiate entrepreneurial action than those without ADHD⁵. I myself never thought that I would be an entrepreneur. And yet here I am, having founded my own coaching and training company after learning about my own ADHD and understanding how to manage it.
I hope this already gives you a first glance into how impulsivity, hyperactivity, and the inability to shift focus can sometimes be assets.
And yes, all the strengths above come with a big risk. The risk of overexerting yourself, the risk of poor nutrition, and lack of sleep. This is why it is crucial to learn how to properly manage your energy and what self-care looks like for you.
Adopting a strengths-based approach can be a game-changer for individuals with ADHD. Especially if you, like me, did not know about your ADHD for years and now have to unlearn years (or decades) of shame, guilt, and pressure.
I know how exhausting this process can be, especially if you don’t know where to start from or where you can find reliable information. That’s why this post is the first in a series that will tackle topics like motivation, procrastination, structure & and organization, hypersensitivity, and other ADHD-relevant topics.
My goal is to show you that most of your ADHD symptoms can, in the right circumstances, be strengths.
Stay tuned and let me guide you on an enlightening journey to explore the intricacies of ADHD, shedding light on science-backed strategies to turn your ADHD into a strength!
[1] Faraone, S.V., Larsson, H. Genetics of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Mol Psychiatry 24, 562–575 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-018-0070-0
[2] Volkow ND, Wang GJ, Kollins SH, Wigal TL, Newcorn JH, Telang F, Fowler JS, Zhu W, Logan J, Ma Y, Pradhan K, Wong C, Swanson JM. Evaluating dopamine reward pathway in ADHD: clinical implications. JAMA. 2009 Sep 9;302(10):1084-91. doi: 10.1001/jama.2009.1308. Erratum in: JAMA. 2009 Oct 7;302(13):1420. PMID: 19738093; PMCID: PMC2958516
[3] Kleppestø TH, Eilertsen EM, van Bergen E, et al. Intergenerational transmission of ADHD behaviors: More evidence for heritability than life history theory. PsyArXiv; 2022. DOI: 10.31234/osf.io/prdn4
[4] Sedgwick, J.A., Merwood, A. & Asherson, P. The positive aspects of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a qualitative investigation of successful adults with ADHD. ADHD Atten Def Hyp Disord 11, 241–253 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12402-018-0277-6
[5] Lerner, Daniel & Verheul, Ingrid & Thurik, Roy. (2019). Entrepreneurship and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a large-scale study involving the clinical condition of ADHD. Small Business Economics. 53. 381–392. 10.1007/s11187-018-0061-1