Helping teens and young adults with ADHD starts with breaking down some common misconceptions.
The topic of mental health is more common than ever before. Teens and young adults in the U.S. are more likely to identify and address their mental and emotional needs than previous generations — largely thanks to better availability of information and broader cultural shifts enabled by the internet and social media.
By and large, this visibility is a great thing! Unfortunately, public understanding of mental health still includes some common generalizations that can be more harmful than helpful.
Why are mental health myths so common?
By definition, most of us are neurotypical. This simply means that, while no two minds are exactly alike, most human brains operate within a standard range of variation.
Looking at the world through our own lens makes it hard to understand how different things might look and feel from the perspective of someone who is neurodivergent. It can be easy to form incomplete or incorrect assumptions — especially when much of people’s information comes in snippets or subjective experiences posted on social media.
This is especially true with conditions that are relatively well known, such as Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD). We often oversimplify highly complex topics for the sake of public discussion.
The danger of this, of course, is that those with conditions like ADHD end up being misunderstood (even by themselves), marginalized, and ultimately don’t end up getting the kind of support they need.
Working with teens and young adults with ADHD, there are three myths that we tend to hear over and over again:
Myth #1: ADHD is code for hyper.
Some of the most common misconceptions about ADHD come from the name itself: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. People hear “attention deficit” and assume those with ADHD are just easily distracted or can’t concentrate on anything. In fact, many teens and young adults with ADHD have no trouble focusing on the things that matter to them, but they may struggle with activities that offer little gratification (like homework).
Similarly, the term “hyperactive” often leads to the assumption that those with ADHD simply can’t sit still. Not true. Especially in young women, the busyness and constant noise associated with ADHD is usually internal. This myth makes it much harder to diagnose teens and young adult women because it is often overlooked until it can’t be ignored.
Myth #2: My child is just lazy.
Many concerns around ADHD in teens and young adults arise in relation to schoolwork. Unfortunately, ADHD remains broadly misunderstood in our larger school system because it is a form of neurodiversity. Traditional school systems, ways of learning and teaching are designed by and for those who are neurotypical.
If a teen or young adult with ADHD is struggling in a traditional school structure, it’s not because they are inherently “lazy.” Actually, quite the opposite. People with ADHD tend to have quick moving minds that can feel paralyzing. When misunderstood, this paralysis may appear to be laziness. Finding appropriate ways to manage these internal struggles and support alternative learning styles is far more effective than dismissing or reprimanding perceived “laziness.”
Myth #3: ADHD is only fixed by medication.
Prescription medications are the primary form of treatment used to manage ADHD in teens and young adults, and these medications can be highly effective. But ADHD can still make it difficult to stay organized, control impulsiveness, or plan for the future. These are skills that can’t be simply “fixed” with medication.
Instead, treatment is most effective when medication is combined with ADHD therapy. A licensed therapist can help teens and young adults with ADHD to better understand their brains, learn techniques to support executive functioning skills, and feel more empowered as opposed to being defeated by their unique neuro structure.
With any mental health challenge, it is important to remember our brains are far more complex than we often give them credit for. Individual experiences are unique and nuanced. The right therapist will work to understand your experiences and concerns and meet you where you are.
At Care Concepts Therapy, we’re here to help teens and young adults across the neuro-spectrum move toward a brighter, more hopeful future one step at a time.