Can Trauma Give You ADHD?
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) continues to be a bit of a mystery. While it to continues to grow in popularity, assuring an accurate diagnosis will mean more than a single conversation with your doctor. A strong family history and difficulties with traditional schooling from an early age, may be predictors of a ADHD positive diagnosis. However, even with advanced brain imaging, ADHD is not something we can “see” in the brain and requires a series of clinical interviews, questions and active testing for best diagnosis and treatment.
After clinical assessment there are times where it remains unclear if symptoms are more connected with the gene expression of ADHD or if they have been ‘unlocked’ or even created by ongoing stress and trauma. This is because many of the cognitive symptoms coming from a trauma-response can overlap and appear quite similar to those of the more familiar ADHD profile.
The number one underdiagnosed cognitive symptom resulting from trauma is called dissociation. This symptom can range from the mild “spacing out’” you feel when driving to losing track of entire hours and days without memory. Dissociation can cause people to miss out on conversations, have gaps in memory, or fail to recognize when someone is talking to them. While this can look a lot like distraction, it operates differently than ADHD inattention. Dissociation is typically connected with a trigger, either in the environment or within the individual. While ADHD may also improve or worsen with environment and emotions, it is more consistent across situations and does not usually result in complete disorientation and loss of time.
Individuals recovering from a traumatic experience can find themselves doing things outside their personality, perhaps taking greater risks or finding themselves irritable and angry where they used to remain calm or even unbothered. While the internal experience of irritability and overstimulation might be present for individuals with ADHD, there is less a sense of change in personality or disconnection from one’s usual personality.
That being said, what was manageable for a person with ADHD can become increasingly difficult or pronounced under extreme stress. Any shift in ability to manage focus, mood or behaviors can be important warning signs no matter the diagnosis. If you used to be able to push through motivation and focus issues, you may find it harder after a serious of losses, illness or stressful events. This can be a reminder that you need additional support and self-care during this time.
If you have experienced traumatic and stressful events leading to difficulty with concentration, it can still be very helpful to pursue testing and diagnosis. Regardless the diagnosis, a combination of mindfulness, psychotherapy and medication can improve focus and concentration. A holistic model of therapy will help you develop the needed coping skills to feel better, whether that is coming from ADHD or from a trauma-response within your nervous system.
