244 A Beginner’s Guide to ADHD, Part 5: Busting ADHD Myths

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Jan 2, 2024

This podcast episode busts common myths about ADHD. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the diagnosis, educating others, and building self-trust and confidence. It debunks misconceptions about ADHD being an excuse or overly diagnosed. The podcast also addresses the positive impact of ADHD trending on TikTok, debunks myths about ADHD medication, and clarifies that not everyone has a little ADHD.

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ADVICE

Refuse The 'Excuse' Label

Don't accept "ADHD is an excuse" as dismissal; clarify it's an explanation for real struggles.
Say you'll work on supports but ask for understanding to improve the relationship.

INSIGHT

Awareness ≠ Overdiagnosis

Increased awareness means more people seek assessment, not that ADHD is overdiagnosed.
Kristen Carter argues ADHD remains underdiagnosed, especially in adults.

ADVICE

Defend Medication Decisions

Defer medical judgment to clinicians and protect boundaries when others criticize medication.
Monitor side effects with your doctor and weigh risks of treatment against dangers of not treating ADHD.

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When it comes to ADHD, there are a lot of myths out there. For instance, you may have heard (or believed) that ADHD is an excuse. I can’t tell you how often I see clients worry that they’re using it as an excuse while working to set their lives up for success.

Look: ADHD is NOT an excuse. It’s an explanation. It’s an explanation of why certain things are hard for you, why your memory sucks, why you’re terrible with time management, why you have exposed emotions.

Other myths like ADHD is overly diagnosed, ADHD medication is dangerous or addictive, and everyone has a little ADHD are common. They’ve created beliefs around the disorder that just aren’t true.

As a person with ADHD, it’s your job to be educated in the diagnosis so that you understand what you’re dealing with. This also allows you to teach those around you how they can best support you and your relationship.

Because here’s the thing: Just because there's more access to information and people are being diagnosed more readily, it does not mean that there’s an overdiagnosis of ADHD.

And no, ADHD medication is *not* addictive. In fact, when used correctly, it can actually help lower the risk of addiction.

Oh, and just because someone struggles with some of the symptoms common to ADHD doesn’t mean that they have the disorder. That diagnosis is reserved for those who experience symptoms to a debilitating degree.

So, if you’re ready to further educate yourself on what it means to have ADHD so you can speak the truth and bust myths when they come up, episode 241 of the I Have ADHD Podcast is for you.

For more education and support around your ADHD, I highly encourage you to check out my group coaching program, FOCUSED. Starting in January, you’ll have access to my brand new course called “How to Build Self-Trust (Even When You Have ADHD).” If you’re curious about what 2024 would look like if you finally trusted yourself, click here to learn more.

Come hang out with me on Instagram HERE.

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