ADHD Awareness: Challenging common myths

ADHD awareness and mythbusting

Over the past few years, ADHD awareness has skyrocketed. More people are being diagnosed with this condition than ever before, including many women and girls who were previously overlooked.

In 2022, I became part of this statistic. After years of attempting to squeeze myself into a neurotypical mould, I was diagnosed and finally had an explanation for why my brain worked the way it did.

But while there is more ADHD awareness now than when I grew up in the noughties, awareness doesn’t always equal understanding. There are still lots of misconceptions about the condition, which can make it harder for people with ADHD to get the support they need.

Myth 1: “Everyone is a bit ADHD”

ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Symptoms include struggling with focus (inattention), acting without thinking (impulsivity), and hyperactivity.

Almost everyone has struggled with 1 of these issues at some point in their lives - especially in childhood! But that doesn’t mean everyone has ADHD. For people with ADHD, these symptoms are ever-present and long-term, seeping into all aspects of our lives. This can make it difficult to function in a world that’s built for neurotypical minds.

There are lots of useful online resources available if you want to learn a bit more about ADHD and how it can affect people. If you’re not sure where to start, I’d recommend checking out this ADHD overview video from popular YouTuber How to ADHD.

The NHS website also has some great information about ADHD in children and young people, and ADHD in adults.

Myth 2: “ADHD is a trend”

I’ve never been much of a trend follower, so it makes me laugh when someone says that ADHD is a fad or just people jumping on a trend.

I can understand why some people are sceptical. After all, the recent surge in ADHD diagnoses started happening at the same time as neurodivergence became a hot topic on social media. But it’s important to stress that people aren’t trying to collect disorders for fun. ADHD isn’t a Pokémon - it’s a disability that impacts people’s daily lives.

When there is more awareness and acceptance of something, it makes sense that more people will come forward. In the past, children were routinely punished for writing with their left hands. But as attitudes changed, the number of left-handed people in the population grew. That’s not because kids were jumping on the bandwagon; they were just allowed to be themselves.

It wasn’t until I heard other people with ADHD sharing their experiences that something finally clicked for me. All my struggles suddenly made sense. If the newfound ADHD awareness hadn’t happened, I might not have sought out a diagnosis.

Myth 3: “ADHD affects boys more than girls”

Until recently, ADHD wouldn’t cross anyone’s mind unless you were a stereotypical boy bouncing off the classroom walls.

But while everyone is different, many girls with ADHD present as less hyperactive and more inattentive than their male classmates. Rather than acting recklessly or impulsively, they may be seen as forgetful, disorganised and prone to daydreaming or interrupting conversations.

This means it hasn’t always been easy to recognise ADHD in girls. As a result, lots of us have flown under the radar and entered the wild world of adulthood without any insight into why we were struggling. Many boys also slipped through the cracks - especially if they didn’t fit that hyperactive mould.

Myth 4: “People with ADHD are lazy”

Let’s get this straight: laziness is not an ADHD trait. People with ADHD might be more likely to make “careless” mistakes or find it harder to motivate themselves - but in most cases, it’s not for lack of trying.

When I struggled to study for my A-Levels, teachers thought I just lacked willpower. But getting myself to focus felt like trying to wade through treacle. None of the revision tips and tricks people suggested seemed to work, and the harder I tried, the more burnt out I got.

It wasn’t until my late 20s that I finally discovered strategies that fit. Understanding my ADHD meant I could understand myself and accept that my brain is just wired a bit differently.

Myth 5: “ADHD is all bad”

While issues with focus and hyperactivity can have a profound effect on those with ADHD, there are some traits that I wouldn’t want to give up.

I think a lot of my passion and energy comes from my ADHD, and the more invested I am in something, the easier it is to focus on it. I love writing, and accessibility has always been important to me, so a job creating Easy Read resources suits the way my mind works.

I’m not the only person with ADHD at Easy Read Online, either. Our lovely designer, Danni, says her ADHD helps her create new illustrations quickly - which is extremely useful when she has a lot on her to-do list!

All the people I know with ADHD are passionate, creative people who aren’t afraid to think outside the box. It can be challenging sometimes, but increased ADHD awareness means it’s easier to get the right support and understanding from other people.

ADHD and Easy Read

Instead of having large blocks of text for readers to tackle, Easy Read documents relay the most important information in a simple, concise way. So while Easy Read is designed for people with learning disabilities, the accessible format can also make life easier for many neurodivergent folks, including people with ADHD or dyslexia.

If you’d like to make your information more accessible for everyone, we’d love to hear from you! Contact us to find out more.