Can You Outgrow ADHD?
When it comes to answering the question, “Can you outgrow ADHD?”, the answer lies within a gray area: Yes and no. Why? Because children do grow up to become successful adults by learning how to cope with their ADHD. At the same time, many children never learn how to turn their ADHD into an advantage. If you are able to have access to proper resources and know how to take control of your symptoms, in a way you are able to “outgrow” your ADHD because you have found a way to effectively live with it. Let’s take a closer look.
Disadvantages and Advantages of ADHD
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition. What this means is someone with ADHD has a brain that will always function differently because they were born with that type of brain.
If you are reading this article, you may have had negative experiences with ADHD. In that case, you may be skeptical about the advantages surrounding ADHD. However, it is a fact that many people diagnosed with ADHD live happy lives, and some are even self-made CEOs and millionaires.
Some people may not learn how to control their symptoms, and this can be because:
- They are forced to live as if they are a neuro-typical individual (an individual who has a “normal” brain).
- They are pressured to attend public schools designed for neuro-typical individuals.
- They are influenced to act as a neuro-typical individual, either by their parents, their job or their teachers.
Coexisting Disorders
Being forced to be someone you are not, to live in a way that is unnatural for you, has disastrous effects on a person’s development and self-esteem. To make matters worse, a child with ADHD will likely have a coexisting disorder. Common coexisting disorders include anxiety disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, or bipolar disorder.
A coexisting disorder makes ADHD symptoms worse and harder to treat because two different types of medications or therapies are used in treatment. Yet, in a world ran by and designed for neuro-typical people, there are still those with ADHD who are able to thrive. They turn their ADHD into an advantage.
Turning ADHD Into an Advantage Starts in Early Childhood
In most cases, if you have ADHD it will be obvious to your teachers or parents by the time you are 6 or 7. In the U.S., that will mean you are a kindergartener or a first grader at your local elementary school. As a child with ADHD reaches the age of 10, their differences compared to neuro-typical children will become more and more obvious. They might fall behind academically or socially, or both.
It’s also likely that a child with ADHD will have a coexisting disorder, such as anxiety disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, or bipolar disorder. When this occurs, ADHD becomes twice as hard to treat.
Why is ADHD controversial? Most people agree that ADHD is a legitimate condition, however, the topic about diagnosis and treatment is widely debated.
Let’s take a look at two types of children with ADHD. Let’s refer to those who receive treatment and a considerable amount of assistance from adults as group A. Group B lacks both treatment and assistance.
Children in group A may learn coping skills at a young age, aided by medication and caring adults. Children in group B will not receive much treatment. Group B’s children are likely to become class clowns or daydreamers.
From there, the children in group A will develop at a much faster pace than the children in group B. It’s not that group B is different; it is due to the fact that they cannot make progress because they do not have access to the techniques and resources they need. The children in group A are receiving a substantial amount of assistance from their parents, teachers, and mentors. They are making just as many mistakes as the children in group B, but the difference is they are learning from those mistakes and not repeating them.
Now, imagine what happens if this situation continues from age 10 to age 18. Which group of children do you think will be more prepared for college? Which group of children do you think may be further ahead in life with their studies and jobs?
The reality is this situation happens to millions of young people with ADHD all over the world.
A Final Note
There’s no secret method, online course, or book that can teach you how to make ADHD your greatest advantage. That’s because ADHD uniquely affects every person who has it, which results in a person having unique strengths and weaknesses. However, what I can share with you is the basic criteria anyone must meet before they can change their life for the better.
You must decide to take matters into your own hands. You must feel a burning desire to intentionally improve your life. Then, you must act on that desire every single day for the rest of your life.
Learn how to use your ADHD brain to your advantage. You may realize your problem is your own lack of self-awareness about your ADHD. ADHD is never a problem. The problems arise when it is managed incorrectly.
