ADHD: How to recognize it and support a person with it?
By Amanda MataijaÂ
ADHD, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, is a behavioural condition that makes focusing on everyday requests and routines challenging.
So how to recognize someone with ADHD?
Some of the most common symptoms include troubles concentrating, staying organised, poor attention to details, making realistic plans and often, thinking before acting. They can also be spotted, fidgety, noisy and unable to adapt to changing situations.
What are the three different ADHD types?
ADHD is recognized in three different types:
- inattentive type
- hyperactive-impulsive type
- combination type
Inattentive type patterns of behaviour focus on easily getting distracted, having poor concentration or organisational skills. Hyperactivity type people would show inability to never slow down, talking and fidgeting often and also difficulties on staying on task, while impulsive type is often associated in interrupting others and often taking risks.
How to support someone with ADHD?
1. Learn about it!
One way of dealing with ADHD is definitely learning about it. Learning makes it easier to recognize how it is affecting your partner/family member or a friend. Understanding what triggers certain ADHD flare-ups would as well contribute to better recognizing and therefore supporting your loved one.
2. Help them organise!
One of the most significant symptoms of an ADHD person is their organisation skills. Poor organisation can also lead to a lot of frustration, so why not help your ADHD person with better planning. Showing them how to develop routine, set reminders or better organise their finances and schedule can actually help them on a large scale!
3. Distinguish person from symptoms
Saying ”Oh you are so irresponsible” or ”You are so forgetful, you always forget things that I am saying to you” for sure won’t do any positive improvements on a person and would lead to more anxiety and frustration. Learning and recognizing ADHD symptomatology would help distinguish it from the individual itself.
4. Recommend them mental health support
Saying ”Oh you are so irresponsible” or ”You are so forgetful, you always forget things that I am saying to you” for sure won’t do any positive improvements on a person and would lead to more anxiety and frustration. Learning and recognizing ADHD symptomatology would help distinguish it from the individual itself.
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