Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

ADHD is a brain-based difference in how attention and motivation are regulated. It is present from childhood, lifelong, and affects around 3–5% of adults. People with ADHD often describe a brain that is brilliant at the things it loves and almost impossible to engage with the things it doesn't.

Difficulty starting tasks, time blindness, intense hyperfocus, forgetfulness, impulsivity, emotional intensity, restlessness, sensitivity to rejection and a constant sense of being 'behind' are common. Symptoms vary widely between individuals.

An NHS diagnosis usually starts with your GP. NHS waits can exceed several years in many areas. NHS Right to Choose can dramatically reduce this — see our directory of approved providers.

Many adults are diagnosed later in life, often after years of being told they were 'too clever', 'too anxious', or 'just stressed'. A diagnosis at any age can be transformative.

ADHD in children isn't only the hyperactive boy stereotype. Inattentive presentations — daydreamy, disorganised, emotionally intense — are often missed, especially in girls.

Common ADHD medications include methylphenidate (Concerta, Ritalin), lisdexamfetamine (Elvanse), dexamfetamine and atomoxetine. Medication is not for everyone, but for many it is genuinely life-changing.

Titration is the process of carefully adjusting your medication dose over several weeks to find what works best with the fewest side effects. A good clinician will guide this.

You are entitled to reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010. Access to Work can fund coaching, software and support. Working with an ADHD brain — not against it — changes everything.

ADHD can show up as forgotten dates, intense affection, distractibility, and emotional reactivity. Understanding the brain behind the behaviour helps relationships thrive.

Emotional intensity is one of the most under-discussed parts of ADHD. Feelings arrive fast, hit hard, and don't always match the situation. Naming this can be hugely freeing.

RSD is the intense emotional pain triggered by perceived rejection or criticism. It is common in ADHD and often invisible from the outside.

Executive function is the brain's project manager. ADHD makes this manager unreliable — starting tasks, switching between them, and finishing them all become harder.