ADHD Sceptics & labelling
- Carly Hammond
- Apr 17
- 7 min read
Updated: May 2
Each month, I will be writing and sharing MIND MATTERS MONTHLY - a space for exploring mental health, well-being and the ways we navigate everyday life. My work sits where modern science meets ancient wisdom and I hope that what I share feels engaging, accessible and gently informative.
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This Month - WHY DOES IT FEEL AS IF EVERYONE HAS ADHD THESE DAYS?
Let me gently challenge that question, and dispel some common myths:
1. “ADHD is just bad behaviour or poor parenting”This is one of the most persistent misconceptions. ADHD is a recognised neurodevelopmental condition—not a result of laziness, lack of discipline, or ineffective parenting. While environment can influence how symptoms present, ADHD originates in differences in brain structure and function, particularly in attention regulation, impulse control, and executive functioning.
2. “Only boys have ADHD”Historically, ADHD has been more frequently diagnosed in boys, particularly those with hyperactive or disruptive behaviours—simply because their symptoms were more visible. However, many girls and women present with more inattentive or internalised traits, which are often overlooked or misinterpreted.
As a result, many go undiagnosed until adulthood, often spending years trying to function in ways that don’t align with how their brain works. This can lead to burnout, shame, self-blame, isolation, and, in some cases, self-harm. Girls and women can be described as overly emotional, daydreamers, overly talkative, careless or scatty and many more presentations.
3. “People with ADHD just can’t focus”In reality, ADHD is not a lack of attention—it is a difficulty regulating attention. Many individuals can experience hyperfocus—a deep, sustained concentration on tasks that feel stimulating or meaningful—while finding it much harder to engage with tasks that feel mundane, repetitive, or overwhelming.
4. “ADHD isn’t a real condition—it’s overdiagnosed”ADHD is formally recognised by organisations such as the NHS and the World Health Organisation.
While diagnosis rates have increased in recent years—particularly in England—this often reflects improved awareness and understanding rather than overdiagnosis. In reality, many people, especially adults, remain undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.
It’s also worth noting that, historically, many mental health conditions were misunderstood or grouped inaccurately, which contributed to confusion and stigma.
5. “Medication is just a quick fix or unnecessary”Medication can be a helpful and evidence-based part of ADHD support for many people, but it is not the only approach. Support may also include coaching, psychoeducation, environmental adjustments, and holistic strategies.
When prescribed appropriately, medication is not about “fixing” a person—it is about supporting their ability to function, regulate, and engage more fully with their life.
WHAT DIAGNOSIS CAN MEAN TO AN INDIVIDUAL
A Sense of Empowerment
Understanding opens the door to choice, support, and new ways of living.
Deep Validation
Finally having language for what has always been felt but never fully understood.
Growing Self-Awareness
Seeing patterns more clearly, without blame—just understanding.
Grief for What Was Missed
Mourning the support, recognition, or ease that wasn’t there earlier in life.
Anger and Frustration
Towards systems, misunderstandings, or years of being overlooked or misjudged.
Emerging Self-Compassion
Beginning to soften towards yourself, often for the first time.
Relief
A quiet exhale—realising you’re not broken, just wired differently.
A Shift in Identity
Re-evaluating who you are, with a new lens of understanding.
Connection and Belonging
Finding others who share similar experiences, reducing that sense of being “apart”.
Hope for the Future
Seeing new possibilities with the right support and understanding in place.
Uncertainty or Overwhelm
Holding a lot at once—information, emotion, and what comes next.
When approached with honesty, self-enquiry doesn’t divide us—it deepens connection. It softens judgement, reduces unnecessary friction, and allows people to meet themselves and others with greater understanding. From that place, something shifts—not just individually, but collectively. There is often a narrative that diagnoses are used as excuses, or that people are simply seeking labels. Yet in lived experience, this rarely holds true. Within professional spaces, communities, and day-to-day life, what is seen far more often is individuals working hard to understand themselves, take responsibility, and find ways to live more sustainably. These misconceptions seem to echo and repeat, passed along without question, rather than rooted in real, observed experience.
DEFINITIONS
There are three main ways ADHD can present. These categories help professionals understand a person’s dominant traits, challenges, and patterns.
Hyperactive–Impulsive ADHD
This presentation is often linked with high energy and a constant need for movement. It can look like talking a lot, feeling restless, interrupting others, or finding it difficult to wait your turn. There may be a strong pull towards acting quickly, sometimes without fully thinking things through.
For some, sitting still can feel uncomfortable or even distressing, and behaviours like fidgeting or tapping are common. These traits tend to be more visible and are often recognised earlier, particularly in boys and men.
Inattentive ADHD (previously known as ADD)
This type is often quieter and easier to miss. It can show up as being easily distracted, frequently daydreaming, misplacing things, or struggling to stay organised. Tasks may feel hard to start or complete, and deadlines can be overwhelming.
People with this presentation may appear as though they are not listening or are uninterested, when in reality their attention is simply elsewhere. There can also be ongoing challenges with time management, structure, and following through on instructions.
Many individuals with inattentive ADHD learn to mask their difficulties, especially in earlier life. Because of this, it is often not recognised until later—when life becomes more demanding, such as during higher education or adulthood.
This presentation is more commonly identified in those assigned female at birth.
ADHD – Combined Type
This is the most common presentation and includes a mixture of both hyperactive–impulsive and inattentive traits.
Someone with combined ADHD may experience both the internal restlessness and impulsivity, alongside difficulties with focus, organisation, and follow-through.
A neurotypical person is someone whose brain functions and processes information in ways that are generally considered typical or expected within society. A neurodivergent person, on the other hand, experiences the world differently due to variations in brain function, such as ADHD, autism, or dyslexia. Neurodiversity is the broader concept that recognises and values this natural range of neurological differences across the population, viewing these variations not as deficits, but as part of the diversity of human experience.
SIDE NOTE
Some people may also identify with both ADHD and autism. This is sometimes referred to as “AuDHD”. While they are separate conditions, they can overlap in ways that shape how a person experiences attention, sensory input, routines, and social interaction. This can create a unique and often misunderstood profile.
SOCIAL IMPACT
When ADHD is unrecognised or unsupported, the impact can extend far beyond the individual and into many areas of life. Research suggests that adults with ADHD are significantly overrepresented in the criminal justice system, with estimates indicating they may be 5–10 times more likely than the general population to come into contact with it. A high proportion of both adult prisoners and juvenile offenders are believed to have ADHD or related traits, with some studies suggesting prevalence rates as high as 60%. Importantly, appropriate support and treatment within these settings has been linked to a reduction in reoffending of around 40%, highlighting the importance of understanding rather than punishment.
Beyond this, ADHD can affect stability in employment, as difficulties with focus, timekeeping, consistency, and fluctuating energy levels are often misunderstood in traditional work environments. Over time, this can lead to job loss, financial strain, and reduced self-esteem. Without self-awareness or support, many individuals develop coping strategies that can become harmful—such as disordered eating, substance use, or other addictive behaviours—as a way to regulate an overwhelmed nervous system. Sleep difficulties, including insomnia, are also common, alongside cycles of burnout driven by periods of overexertion followed by exhaustion.
Taken together, these experiences reflect not a lack of ability, but a lack of understanding, support, and appropriate environments in which individuals with ADHD can thrive.
The Good News
With greater self-understanding, the right support, and tools that work with—not against—their nervous system, many ADHDers and neurodivergent individuals begin to thrive. What may once have felt like struggle can become strength. Many have a natural ability to see the bigger picture, read a room quickly, and think in creative, innovative ways. There is often deep intuition, high energy, and a willingness to take risks that can lead to discovery, leadership, and change.
When engaged or interested, they can focus intensely for long periods, producing work of depth and originality. Many go on to build meaningful, successful lives—achieving advanced degrees, developing careers, or running businesses. Across professions, ADHDers are found among entrepreneurs, athletes, emergency service workers, educators, clinicians, and leaders.
It’s also important to acknowledge that many have reached these achievements while working significantly harder than their peers, often without understanding why things felt more difficult. With awareness and the right support, that effort can begin to shift into something more sustainable, empowering, and aligned.
Further Information and Resources
If you would like to explore ADHD in more depth, the following evidence-based resources offer reliable information, research, and support:
* Russell Barkley – expert-led research, lectures, and fact sheets
* CHADD – data, statistics, and practical guidance (chadd.org)
* ADHD UK – including history of ADHD and UK-focused information
* Mayo Clinic – clinical overviews and adult ADHD insights
* WebMD – accessible summaries, statistics, and symptom guidance
There is also growing awareness of the intersection between ADHD and identity, including within LGBTQ+ communities, where individuals may experience additional layers of misunderstanding or late diagnosis.
A Note on Diagnosis in France
In France, ADHD is recognised as a neurodevelopmental condition, but access to diagnosis and support can be more limited compared to countries such as the UK or the US. Assessment is typically carried out by specialists, such as psychiatrists or neurologists, and waiting times can be long. While medication is available, it is often more tightly regulated, and awareness—particularly around adult ADHD—is still developing. As a result, many individuals remain undiagnosed or are diagnosed later in life.
I hope something within this has offered a little clarity, reassurance, or a sense of being understood. Whether it has brought new insight, softened self-perception, or simply named an experience that once felt confusing or isolating, you are not alone in it.
For those interested in working together, you’re welcome to get in touch via my page.Please note that I’m not able to offer general information or informal guidance outside of my work.
RESOURCES
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