Is there such a thing as having âsymptoms of ADHD,â having some family members diagnosed with it, but others not âhavingâ it even though presenting similar symptoms, but perhaps not at the same intensity?
From ADHD 2.0
Remember that itâs not just a list of symptoms but also frequency, intensity and disruption to life. I hope that helps - I know it helped me when I first read the idea as a way to combat the âeveryone does thatâ thing everyone says to ADHDers. Yes - everyone loses track of time sometimes, but an ADHD person might do it daily or even when they are purposely trying not to. Itâs not a box to check so much as a scale - how often, how bad, what happens, etc.
@timisi this is an answer full of empathy and understanding. Thank you for this. You sound like such a lovely family. You probably really do approach âa truthâ in your analysis here. You are appreciated.
I have ADHD and my younger sister has ADHD and my mother is getting tested, but my older sister definitely doesnât have ADHD and still relates to so many ADHD related things we struggle with. Maybe the symptoms are more genetic than the diagnosis, or maybe itâs kind of âsynchronizationâ because we grew up together, I donât know. I also think that, if we look at it ontologically, maybe we can imagine something like a âtrue ADHDâ in the way we see neurodivergence so that some âtrue ADHDersâ wonât get a diagnosis because they donât struggle enough with the symptoms or donât fit the current criteria. So medically speaking they donât have ADHD but there is something âtrueâ connecting them to ADHDers. I donât believe in such truths but itâs a perspective I have on this topic, similar to people with ASD features
Thank you. Your first sentence really states things clearly and why professionals are needed and necessary. I have recently lost my father (5 years), my mother so saddened she has been living in a clinic (3years) but continues to get better, I have been separated (2.5 years ) and getting divorced, got diagnosed with anxiety (2.5 years) but not ADHD. One of my aunts has ADHD the other thinks I have it. My counselor and psychiatrist have stayed stable on my anxiety diagnosis. I believe my primary issue has been that, too. However, I recognize ADHD-like symptoms in myself which is why I find this app and community so helpful, but not sure I have ADHD âproperâ.
I am not sure, they may not have been tested and be masking. If tested and not diagnosed, could have an alternative diagnosis or have traces of it in less intensity and not every necessary symptom. Traces of it since it is genetic but not a clinically relevant deficit in multiple areas of life. I am not a health professional, just googled the same stuff. In autism it is being researched as Broader Autism Phenotype, considering parents or family members that don't fit the diagnosis but have some of the symptoms in less intensity.
Thank you, again, for your clarity and detailed answer. This helps a lot.
If people in your family, donât have ADHD they either donât have it or they just havenât been tested. I donât wanna get tested. A lot of stuff is combed so they may have some overlapping things going on ďżź
Ah, canât see your comment in hopes of it appearing if I add one of my ownâŚ
