ADHD is a brain condition that affects a person’s behavior, attention, and ability to control themselves, but sometimes only with the help of a concentration game.
It often starts in childhood and can continue into a person’s adult life, which can make things like school, work, and personal relationships difficult because ADHD is not just about being lazy or having bad manners, but it is a real medical state connected to how the brain works, especially with special chemicals like dopamine and norepinephrine.
Types of ADHD
Depending on the main signs a person shows, ADHD can be divided into three main types.
- Mostly Inattentive Type (ADHD-I). This type is often called ADD, and people with this condition have a lot of trouble with focus and attention, which means they frequently make careless mistakes, find it hard to pay attention during tasks or games, and they often seem to not listen when someone is talking to them.
They have difficulty following instructions and finishing their work, so it is hard for them to stay organized, and they may avoid or not like tasks that require a lot of thinking, which also causes them to often lose their things, get distracted by outside things easily, and be very forgetful in their everyday life.
- Mostly Hyperactive-Impulsive Type (ADHD-HI). This type is about being very active and not thinking before acting, so people with it cannot sit still and they often move around a lot, which can mean they get up from their chair when they should not, they run or climb in places where it is not okay, and they cannot play or do things quietly.
They are always in motion as if they have an inner engine, and they talk a lot, so they might shout out answers before a question is finished and they find it hard to wait for their turn, which also leads them to often interrupt others or jump into their games.
- Combined Type. This is the most common type, where a person has a mix of signs from both the inattentive and the hyperactive-impulsive types.
Causes of ADHD: Brain Science and Risk Factors
The exact reasons for ADHD are not fully known, but studies show it is a mix of genes, how the brain develops, and things in a person’s environment; understanding these causes helps to explain why ADHD is not just bad behavior but is a condition that needs a medical approach.
- Genetics. The genes a person has are very important, as ADHD often runs in families, and people with ADHD are more likely to have family members with the same diagnosis, but this does not mean there is just one “ADHD gene,” but instead it is about many genes that affect how the brain grows and works, especially the parts that are connected to attention and thinking skills.
- Brain Features. The brains of people with ADHD look and work differently, as studies using special machines like MRI have shown that people with ADHD can have changes in the size and activity of brain parts like the prefrontal cortex, the basal ganglia, and the cerebellum; these parts are in charge of making decisions, planning, controlling actions, and movement, for example, the prefrontal cortex, which is like the “boss” of the brain, can be less active.
- Brain Chemicals. Problems with special brain chemicals, especially dopamine and norepinephrine, are a big part of the reason for ADHD.
- Dopamine is the “motivation and reward chemical” that helps a person feel good and controls attention, so people with ADHD might have not enough dopamine or problems using it, which makes it hard for them to stay focused on tasks that are not exciting, because the brain looks for stronger ways to get the dopamine it needs.
- Norepinephrine helps a person stay focused and alert, and it works with dopamine, so a problem with it also leads to the signs of ADHD.
- Environmental Factors. While genes are the main cause, some things in a person’s environment can make the risk of ADHD higher, such as being around bad things like lead in early childhood, having a brain injury, or things that happened before birth, like a mother smoking or drinking while she was pregnant.
Problems with Focus: Hyperfocus and Distraction
Having problems with focus is one of the clearest signs of ADHD, and it is not just being unable to focus, but being unable to control focus, as a person with ADHD can be completely interested in a task they like, but they cannot make themselves do a task that seems boring or routine.
This leads to difficulties with school and work projects, missing important details in instructions, having trouble remembering information and following directions, not being able to finish things because they lose interest, and having trouble focusing on conversations, which leads to misunderstandings.
ADHD’s Effect on Life: From School to Relationships
ADHD can have a big effect on all parts of a person’s life.
- School Success. Having trouble with focus and staying organized can lead to bad grades, problems with homework, and even being kicked out of school; ADHD can affect “executive functions,” which makes it hard to plan, decide what is most important, and manage time.
- Work. Problems with doing routine tasks, meeting deadlines, and planning can make it difficult for a person to grow in their job, and they may often change jobs to find a better environment.
- Personal Relationships. Being impulsive and forgetful can cause misunderstandings and fights with friends, partners, and family, for example, saying things without thinking or forgetting important dates can hurt loved ones.
- Self-Esteem. Many failures and criticisms can cause a person to have low self-esteem, feel anxious, and become sad; other problems with the mind, like anxiety and sadness, are much more common in people with ADHD.
ADHD in Adults
The signs of ADHD change as a person gets older; for adults, hyperactivity is often not as easy to see as it is in children, and it can change into a constant feeling of worry, being unable to relax, or needing to always be mentally active.
Not being able to pay attention is still the main problem, which affects work, driving a car, and doing things at home.
- Effect on Work: Adults with ADHD can have a hard time meeting deadlines, keeping their work area organized, and remembering tasks.
- Effect on Personal Life: Being forgetful and impulsive can cause stress in a family; changing interests and hobbies all the time can also affect a person’s stability.
- Diagnosis: For adults, ADHD is often not found or is wrongly thought to be anxiety, sadness, or bipolar disorder; having the correct diagnosis is very important for finding the right treatment.
Ways to Treat and Manage ADHD
The treatment for ADHD should be many-sided and right for each person; it usually includes medicine, therapy, and changes to a person’s life.
- Therapy. Behavior therapy, especially cognitive-behavioral therapy, CBT helps people with ADHD learn skills for planning, staying organized, managing their time, and controlling their actions.
- CBT helps a person find and change bad thoughts and ideas that can be connected to the problems caused by ADHD.
- Coaching for mental skills is a special type of help that creates real plans to stay organized and reach goals.
- School and Work Strategies. At school and at work, some changes can be useful, such as breaking up big tasks into small, easy steps, using lists and planners to see progress, having a more structured and predictable place to work, and using reminders and timers to manage time.
- Lifestyle Changes. A healthy way of life is very important for controlling the signs; this includes doing physical exercises often, which helps to lower hyperactivity, improve mood, and make a person’s focus better, eating healthy food, which helps to keep energy levels steady, and getting enough sleep, as not sleeping enough can make the signs of ADHD a lot worse.
Concentration Game: A Game to Practice Attention
Games that practice focus and quick reactions are helpful for people with ADHD, because there are many kinds of games that can help with these skills.
For example, some games make you solve puzzles, some need you to plan your moves, and others ask you to react very quickly to things happening on the screen.
Self-Management and Strategies
Living with ADHD needs a person to be active and aware; here are some more plans for daily life.
- Create an “External Brain.” Because working memory can be weak, it is important to use outside tools like calendars, apps for reminders, and lists of things to do; write everything down so you do not have to keep it in your mind.
- Make Distractions Smaller. Work in a quiet place, turn off phone notifications, and close internet tabs you are not using.
- Use Hyperfocus. Use your special ability to focus on tasks that are useful and productive.
Know Your Strengths. People with ADHD are often creative, spontaneous, energetic, and can focus very well on topics that they are interested in; it is important to grow these good qualities.