ADHD is a hereditary congenital neurological condition that leads to executive dysfunction due to the neurotransmitter Dopamine being either insufficient in the prefrontal cortex and or used inefficiently in the prefrontal cortex. ADHDers often have mood and behaviour difficulties due to a secondary common problem with the neurotransmitter Noradrenaline being either too high, too low, or used with poor efficiency. Medication often helps ADHD, but that requires a diagnosis and often finances to diagnose and treat. While it is expected by governments that ADHDers will be noticed, diagnosed and treated from childhood, this is not always done, with many adults figuring out that they are likely ADHD and thus pursuing a late stage diagnosis (aka in adulthood), or that youth will not get diagnosed for a few years after mood and behaviour symptoms develop. This leads to various behavioural mechanisms that are often mistaken or misdiagnosed for Personality Disorders or other conditions. If you were diagnosed with one of these, it may be worth considering if perhaps you were misdiagnosed, especially if you have found that medication and or treatment for your diagnosis isn’t helping.

Quick Contents

Fight / Flight and Mood Behaviours

Norepinephrine/Noradrenaline fuels the fight/flight centre, manages moods and connects your “want” to your “action”.

Poor Impulse Control
Interrupting (feels too urgent to wait, scared you’ll forget)
“Lazy” and “unmotivated” (despite wanting to, you just can’t seem to do it)
Procrastinating (can’t get started)
Negative self talk
Feeling overwhelmed
Anger (drives the norepinephrine/adrenaline up so you can get things done)
Mood swings and Emotional Dysregulation
Chronic lateness (lost time sense and the ability to estimate how long)

Rejection Sensitivity describes how we perceive ourselves, how much we value someone else’s opinion and ties in with many Social Anxiety problems. As a result:

Social Butterfly (flitter around, trying to please everyone, be everything, then burnout due to exhaustion)
Practice conversations, role play upcoming social interactions
Micro examine previous social interactions, checking for fault, faux pas, judgements
Mirror or mimick other people’s behaviours
Chameleon our presentation to fit in with the group, as Masking we aren’t aware of it, as Camoflague we are, which can lead to confusion about our identity
Chronic lateness (this time due to social anxiety driven delays)
Social Exhaustion (spent all of our Spoons being around the people)

This is often caused by low neurotransmitters, both Dopamine and Norepinephrine, being around the wrong people, low social skills, poor self esteem and self evaluation, and exacerbated by toxic people [link].

Over Compensation Mechanisms

Coping mechanisms for ADHD are often mistaken as personality defects and moral failings. These are often the consequence of, or a solution outside of medication to low neurotransmitters. Follow this link for a better understanding of what the Dopaminergic System does.

Substance use/misuse
Food misuse (often binge or over eating)
Unused planners and lost lists
Over planning, perfectionism
Forgetfulness
Misremembering details
Hyperfocus
Poor multi-tasking while looking busy
Black and Whiting (options and situations are simplified into false dichotomies)
The Two Modes – Do everything OR Do Nothing

Dopamine Related Experiences

Fight / Flight and Mood Behaviours

Social Differences

Over Compensation Mechanisms