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The Anxious Achiever

What We Still Don’t Understand about Adult ADHD

Mar 19, 2025
Dr. James Kustow, a London psychiatrist specializing in adult ADHD, shares groundbreaking insights into the condition. He discusses how ADHD is often misunderstood, particularly in women, and emphasizes its connection to emotional health. Kustow explores ADHD as a dysregulation disorder, affecting both mental and physical well-being. He advocates for a holistic approach, highlighting links to dysautonomia and hypermobility. The conversation also delves into effective trauma treatments and emotional regulation techniques, affirming the need for integrated care in managing ADHD.
01:05:16

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Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • ADHD is increasingly viewed as a collection of traits that impact functioning rather than strictly a disorder, encouraging comprehensive management approaches.
  • The interrelation between ADHD and physical health issues like dysautonomia highlights the need for integrated treatment strategies addressing both physical and mental health.

Deep dives

Understanding Adult ADHD as a Dysregulation Disorder

ADHD is characterized as a dysregulation disorder, meaning it disrupts the balance of various systems in the body, particularly in adults. This perspective acknowledges that while ADHD traits can exist without causing significant impairment, when these traits meet a certain threshold, they result in functional problems across multiple domains of life. The term 'disorder' is often debated, yet recognizing the condition as both a collection of traits and their impact on functioning can encourage more comprehensive management strategies. The complexity of ADHD also suggests that it may eventually be classified within a broader neurodiversity framework, where various neurodistinct traits interact.

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