“You’re too smart to have ADHD.”

Is this something that Im going through?

Its important not to assume that a high number of diagnoses means that theyre incorrect ones.

Child wearing headphones holds a rainbow-colored pop-it toy while sitting at a table with an open book, papers, and a bowl of fruit

“ADHD is a problem only kids have.”

Historically, ADHD was often seen as a childhood disorder that people grew out of, Sultan said.

We now understand that it can persist into adulthood.

A person with long hair sits at a desk by a window, holding something up while working. Sunlight filters through the curtains into the room

This creates challenges for people in school, at their workplace, and in their home lives.

Some couples have even found that undiagnosed ADHD was a major source of their marital strife.

“Youre too smart to have ADHD.”

Woman sits on a couch, leaning back with a relaxed expression, in a cozy living room with plant-themed pillows and potted plants

But that doesnt mean it was easy.

Having ADHD doesnt preclude you from taking on big challenges in life.

Its worth repeating that there isnt a correlation between ADHD and intelligence.

Woman with braided hair and hands clasped in front of her face, looking intently at a laptop screen. Plant and bookshelves in the background

People with ADHD have similar intellects to people who dont, Kahn said.

There is no evidence it has to do with lower IQ.

“Its an excuse to be lazy.”

A person with blonde hair, wearing a hoodie, sits at a table with their head in their hands, appearing contemplative and pensive, surrounded by household items

Labeling someone with ADHD as lazy is hurtful and inaccurate, Sultan said.

What looks like laziness, Kahn said, is actually someone trying to cope with things that are hard.

So avoidance, in this case, can be misinterpreted as laziness when it might actually be paralysis.

A woman sits at a desk, resting her face in her hands while looking at a laptop. An open book is in front of her. Other people are working in the background

“Why cant you just focus?”

With ADHD, the inability to focus doesnt mean a lack of desire to do so.

“You seem fine to me.”

A woman with curly hair, wearing a sleeveless top, sits on a couch, leaning on her hand, looking contemplatively out a window

ADHD symptoms arent always visible.

“Its not that big of a deal.”

The consequences of living with ADHD can cause a huge amount of distress for children and adults, too.

A man sits on a couch, writing in a notebook, while looking at a laptop. He appears focused and engaged in his work

“Youre overreacting.”

No one likes being told this when theyre upset.

In addition, Sultan pointed out that emotional dysregulation is a common symptom of ADHD.

A person in casual clothing sits at a desk with a laptop, rubbing their eyes in apparent frustration or fatigue

“You dont seem to have any problem focusing on video games/TV/your phone.”

But the reality is more complicated.

People with ADHD dont actually have a deficit of attention, Anderson said.

A woman with curly hair wearing a short-sleeved top leans on a windowsill, looking out thoughtfully, with her head resting on her hand

“Youretryingto be difficult.”

Donovan explained that people with ADHD are not trying to make you mad or interrupt you on purpose.

“No, youre supposed to do itthisway.”

A person writes in a planner at a wooden table. A cup of coffee and a carafe are nearby

ADHD has its challenges, but one advantage it often brings is an out-of-the-box approach to problem solving.

Some people with ADHD even refer to their nontraditional thinking as a superpower.

Rather than judging the method, pay attention to the results.

“Everyone has a little ADHD.”

We all have those human experiences in varying amounts and degrees, Kahn said.

“Have you tried using a to-do list/planner?”

Organization can be a challenge for anyone, but for people with ADHD, the problem runs deeper.

Anderson recalled how something like this has happened to him before.