Attention deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity causes difficulty concentrating, controlling impulses or regulating one’s activity level. Ultimately, it can affect relationships with others and mental health.
Long associated with agitated children, ADHD is now better understood, particularly among adults. This Attention Deficit Disorder with or without Hyperactivity causes difficulty concentrating, controlling impulses or regulating one’s activity level. If it appears in childhood, it can persist late in life: a significant proportion of people with ADHD are diagnosed in adulthood. The manifestations affect school, professional and relational life, and are sometimes hidden in the most banal interactions of daily life, such as during a conversation.
ADHD is defined by persistent inattention and impulsivity that impacts all areas of life. Inattention results in a wandering mind and a disorganized daily life. Hyperactivity causes a constant need to move, while impulsivity pushes you to act in the moment, without thinking about the consequences. Valérie, 54, discovered her ADHD as an adult. “There are too many emotions, there is too much to manage” she describes to 20minutes. In daily life, the disorder often takes the form of an unfiltered social reflex: “I cut people off all the time. It’s like a child who thinks of something and then comes out with it.” This behavior is not a question of will, but of neurological functioning. “It gets in my head very quickly. So, I’m going to interrupt, and I’m already on to the next thing. We’re not in the present moment. It’s going a bit in all directions”she continues.
Cutting off speech is thus the very sign of impulsivity linked to ADHD. According to Alice, a specialist author known as “The Mini ADHD Coach”, the brain is wired differently, which promotes spontaneous speech. “It’s like your brain is on fast forward, and you just have to hit the ‘pause’ button for everyone.”she explains. This neurological lag causes the mouth to often activate before the brain can catch up. We then intervene for fear of forgetting our idea if it is not said immediately. This is not contempt for others, on the contrary. Alice insists that this shows that you are “enthusiastic, passionate and committed”. Your mind is simply teeming with ideas that you can’t help but share.
Despite this positive intention, “the emotional weight of this habit can be heavy”warns the specialist. The risk of appearing socially awkward is real and can cause those around you to move away, opening the way to a strong sensitivity to rejection. These misunderstandings complicate relationships in the long term, making diagnosis a crucial step in no longer feeling rejected. Understanding this biological functioning is the first step to finding the necessary tools, calming conversations and transforming this overflowing spontaneity into better-controlled communication.
