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Can ADHD be acquired? Or rather a symptom of other cognitive affliction?
One of the diagnostic criteria of ADHD is that it’s life long, which means it can’t be acquired. However, it’s possible to acquire symptoms that are similar to ADHD, but then it’s probably something else.
That's confirms what I thought, ADHD pop into my feed regularly and is becoming more relatable, except for the lifelong issues. Thank you.
A think to note is that a lot of people can begin displaying symptoms of ADHD as an adult, once the structure of life as a child goes away. I wasn't diagnosed until I was 23, and we never would have even considered I had it until I was 21. If you're relating to a lot of ADHD stuff, it might be worth getting tested. Worst case scenario, you don't have it but get pointed towards other supports for you struggles.
Thank, I've been an adult for a longtime now. I experienced a burnout a few years ago, it created lot of cognitive issues and sometimes I feel like I never fully recovered. Nothing life changing but enough for sometimes getting stuck not doing something I want or need to do, Anxious procrastination., And losing something I held in my hand a few seconds ago. Staying focused for a long time is harder than it used to etc. Hence my question about acquiring ADHD.
That is definitely a case for professional help, be it adhd or not
I agree with @Zwiebel@feddit.org, since the symptoms appeared suddenly like that. At least it could provide some clarity as to the cause and/or potential solutions
If you’re concerned I think you should consider getting it checked out (or at least browse the ADHD communities to see if there are any other patterns you can spot).
I recently got diagnosed with autism at ~30. I’ve lived my entire life under the impression that I’m ok, only to realize I’ve never really been ok.
You are ok
Very good of you to offer kindness.
I would say more along the lines of: You are a valid human being and hold intrinsic value for who you are, regardless of diverging from typical neurological ranges.
Much more verbose but, as someone not diagnosed with ADHD until my 30s (and ASD on top of that), I've learned that coping and masking in a society that generally tries to only give room for neurotypical people is inherently traumatic - being "different" and having trouble doing things that those around you have no bother with and having no idea why really fucks you up.
Brother I know. I was diagnosed less than a year ago. Masking is exhausting and I do it automatically.
As others have said, it's a life long thing, but a lot of the patterns can be brought on in people who don't have it with consistent sleep deprivation and a state of tiredness and exhaustion. If you're starting to relate more and more to ADHD memes well into adulthood, try to get a few nights of good sleep!
Good suggestion, I do feel exhausted and could use more sleep. Thats an easy-ish thing to try, framing it as an health improvement experiment might do it.
ADHD is contagious, like AIDS
/s
Unfortunately, some people still believe this is true, just like some people believe AIDS is contagious by touch: https://www.npr.org/sections/13.7/2015/08/17/432541935/belief-that-mental-illness-can-be-contagious-contributes-to-isolation
The extensive research on ADHD has shown that it is a developmental disorder of the prefrontal cortex, causing dopamine signaling pathways to act differently than expected in neurotypical brains. Because it has to do fundamentally with how the structures form as the brain develops, it's very unlikely that one can acquire it later in life (neuroplasticity is a thing but I've not read anything to suggest that it could alter the brain in such a fundamental way).
Some possibilities, that others have mentioned:
- High-masking ADHD. It's possible for one to unknowingly have ADHD their whole life but succeed in making their symptoms so well that it is not externally apparent and internally thinking that their experience is typical.
- Chronic stress. Psychological stress is horrible for the brain and body (there was a great Nova documentary on it called "Stress: The Silent Killer"). Some of the symptoms of hitting breaking points and burning out due to chronic stress are somewhat similar to ADHD.
- Other psychological disorders. Sometimes anxiety and depression (both frequently comorbid with ADHD - YAY!) can cause attention and executive function related problems. Treatment can help to alleviate and those who also have ADHD, make it easier to focus on things (like working on their ADHD).
- Hormone imbalance. This is actually an interesting one that I got to learn about first-hand. There are receptors in the brain for both androgens (ie testosterone) and estrogens (ie estradiol). Men with hypogonadism (testes not producing enough testosterone, which, contrary to what the name might suggest, often results in swelling) have been documented to have symptoms similar to ADHD, anxiety, and depression that were alleviated with TRT. Slight deviations in hormone levels can have a massive impact on people who are sensitive to them.
Very informative, ill take chronic stress in my case. That was mostly due to high anxiety. It makes sense that I can relate to many of the ADHD mêmes it took a toll. I'm much better now,
I don't like the wording "developmental disorder of the brain" when talking about brain functions... Because to me if somebody is shorter than somebody else, we don't call it "developmental disorder of the bones"
What is the prevalence of ADHD compared to "physical" developmental disorders?
I mean, you could get a psychosis which results in executive dysfunction. I have a friend who had a psychosis which changed him quite a bit.
I did not consider that possibility, I'll ask the blue rabbit who lives in my hat, tonight. :)
Well, he explained his psychosis as him suddenly not being able to sleep and then talking to nordic gods like Thor and Loki when his episode was happening, so if you start talking to that rabbit and don't sleep for like a week, then yeah, maybe it is psychosis 😅
The talking to Gods(or chairs or trees) bit is definitely the weirdest bit of psychosis because really you're only talking to yourself, and I've found I can kinda trick myself into revealing it's a psychotic episode by forcing revelation that my brain isn't prepared to fill in and it gets a bit obvious. Odd stuff, the mind.