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Is it Really ADHD -- Or Is it Trauma?

 

If a child in elementary or middle school is acting impulsively, not paying attention and doing poorly in class… the reason seems to be a given these days: ADHD! The child may then be promptly diagnosed and prescribed Ritalin, Adderall or some other stimulant medication.

While ADHD is a very real executive functioning brain issue that affects 7.2% of adolescents globally (according to CHADD)—there is major problem with this situation. All too often, nobody takes into account the other likely diagnosis: Trauma. Children are over-diagnosed with ADHD without ever fully evaluating for a trauma connection—and I want this approach to end.

Similarities Between ADHD and Trauma Symptoms

ADHD symptoms include:

  • impulsivity
  • lack of focus or concentration
  • hyperactivity
  • racing thoughts
  • emotional overwhelm
  • reactivity

All of these are also symptoms of chronic hyperarousal after trauma—because when you’re living in fear, when your brain is wired to be prepared for danger—it’s hard to pay attention, stay focused, make well-thought-out decisions, etc. (We touched on this in our recent post about worrying and emotional wellbeing.)

What’s Causing These Symptoms?

Of course parents want their children to be happy and healthy. If there is something wrong, they want to fix it. I’m suggesting that the route to helping a child is first to understand what is causing their symptoms—not just treating them with medication. And children with trauma or ADHD are more likely to have addiction issues—making the medication-approach potentially dangerous.

The Solution: Go for an Assessment

After an ADHD diagnosis from a pediatrician, a lot of parents are not taking a very necessary next step: going for an assessment with someone who specializes in treating adolescent’s mental health and trauma to determine what else, if anything, might be going on. When symptoms look like ADHD, children, adolescents, and even adults also need to be assessed for trauma so there’s a differential diagnosis (which determines why it’s one instead of the other). We need to take a look at the bigger picture. Is there a history of physical,

 » Read more about: Is it Really ADHD — Or Is it Trauma?  »

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Raymond Lambert posted:

Of course, you are entirely correct to say that there is a definite and direct link between ADHD / ADD and ACEs and the early environment. Dr Nadine Burke expresses it the best in her famous TEDTalk - as she puts it with all the passion and emotion required. One must feel it and believe it - from the Heart. 

The problem is that - even after getting a diagnosis - going for a separate assessment may well not reveal anything different, as so very few people 'get it' about trauma.

Carey, I am delighted to hear that neurofeedback was so helpful.  But I had to smile when I read your words ......" why couldn't I "shake it off."  This is precisely what the body needs to do - to shake it off - naturally and spontaneously - without attempting to re-wire your brain.  This is what I do and practice, Trauma Releasing - TRE.  I'll write about it in due course - as I haven't yet on this site. But let me know if you can't wait    

R

Raymond Lambert - Amazing.

When I posted my comments and said "shake it off" the phrase kind of "caught" me. I was thinking, of course, of the song. 

I have seen some of your YouTube videos and have been fascinated by what you are doing, especially your work with soldiers.

Thanks so much for responding. I am glad you are going to write about your work. With as much trauma as there is in the world today - it makes sense to have all evidence-based solutions on the table, and to be testing other solutions for efficacy.  

I so appreciate your response!

Carey

Of course, you are entirely correct to say that there is a definite and direct link between ADHD / ADD and ACEs and the early environment. Dr Nadine Burke expresses it the best in her famous TEDTalk - as she puts it with all the passion and emotion required. One must feel it and believe it - from the Heart. 

The problem is that - even after getting a diagnosis - going for a separate assessment may well not reveal anything different, as so very few people 'get it' about trauma.

Carey, I am delighted to hear that neurofeedback was so helpful.  But I had to smile when I read your words ......" why couldn't I "shake it off."  This is precisely what the body needs to do - to shake it off - naturally and spontaneously - without attempting to re-wire your brain.  This is what I do and practice, Trauma Releasing - TRE.  I'll write about it in due course - as I haven't yet on this site. But let me know if you can't wait    

R

Thank you Robyn. 

Everything pointed to ADD for me, but after 22 years on Adderall, reading The Deepest Well,  meeting Nadine Burke Harris and talking with her about developmental trauma, doing some investigation around my mother, her mother’s death (which happened six weeks after I was born; after she had come to help take care of my mother and me) and my mother’s return to work during the same time her mom died, a lightbulb went off about “who took care of me?”

I’d never tied all of this, and other family issues, together with regard to why I kind “checked out” in school at around the third grade. 

It is controversial — whether someone has developmental trauma or ADD. Drug manufacturers and many professionals have a lot at stake in securing that diagnosis. 

Today I know this: being off of Adderall is a good thing for me. Learning what I can about the “what happened” — but not letting it overwhelm me —  has been liberating, though it did not come to me as the result of just wondering about it. Some painful events led to my delving back into the "why" loss was so devastating to me. I needed to learn why I couldn't "shake it off."  All of this took some deep diving.  Having access to neurofeedback has been life-changing and likely life-saving. 

Thanks for sharing your insights and writing on ACEsConnection. 

C. 

Last edited by Carey Sipp
Dr. Ivy Bonk posted:

This was the exact question I asked ten years ago, Robyn, when I began this journey and now it is the centerpiece of my work.  Great post!!

I'd love to chat off-line if you are interested...?  My direct email is robyn@robynbrickel.com

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