You’ve heard it before.

Your friend or colleague laughs and says, “Ha! ADHD is just a made-up disorder. It doesn’t really exist.” Or “ADHD is a marketing ploy used by drug companies to push pills on our children.”

Those who deny the existence of ADHD are usually well-intentioned, but sadly they are also ill-informed. ADHD is often badly misunderstood, but it is very real, indeed.

I’ve been a vocal critic of the “ADHD” label, and believe we need to rebrand and reframe the condition. Why? Because it’s not a “disorder” or a “deficit”—it’s a cognitive difference.

Even among those who accept its reality, many assume (for example) that people with ADHD can’t pay attention. The truth is, they can. In fact, they can even hyper-focus for hours at a time. It’s just that they have trouble tuning out background noise and staying on task, especially when doing non-stimulating or uninteresting tasks. Through knowing this, and making appropriate adjustments for their cognitive difference, they can focus and even excel.

This is why I believe that the ADHD label unfairly stigmatizes people, and often leads them to needlessly develop a negative self-image on top of others acting as though there is something “wrong” with them.

ADHD does exist

Need evidence? ADHD is not only one of the most commonly diagnosed mental health conditions, but also one of the most researched. A CDC timeline shows that we have been studying ADHD academically for over 50 years. During that time we have found genetic evidence, brain scan data, and lots of observable behavioral data. This has all been studied and restudied thousands of times over.

Here in the U.S. we have been studying ADHD since the 1960s. We even have documented diagnostic cases dating back to Sir Alexander Crichton’s work as early as 1798.¹

Still not convinced? Check out these sources: How about a meta-analysis of 55 functional MRI exams? ² Or an international consensus statement on ADHD the topic from leading scholars 3

Okay, so what exactly is ADHD?

It’s not just inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. These are merely the outward symptoms that point to underlying functional differences in the brain, specifically in the sphere that controls “executive functioning.” This includes things like time management, follow-through, task completion, future-oriented planning, and short-term memory– those functions controlled by the pre-frontal cortex of the brain.

We’ve come to understand that ADHD is a neurobiological phenomenon and is passed on genetically. We have learned a great deal about its underlying brain-based conditions and the differences in executive functioning that result from them. And, while it’s true that current methods of ADHD screening and treatment are imperfect, we’re learning more every year.

Medications to treat ADHD

We hear lots of fear-mongering and drum-beating in the media concerning the risks of stimulant medications, including the increased possibility of heart attacks. There may be some risk for people with genetic heart conditions, but the most common symptoms of ADHD medications are simply insomnia and lack of appetite.

Keep in mind, it’s vital that these medications are prescribed correctly, taken as directed, and used within the context of a more holistic treatment plan. Especially for children, but for adults as well, things like exercise, nutrition, creative outlets, and ADHD coaching can work effectively alongside medication.

As a society we have been prescribing stimulant medications such as Ritalin for over 50 years now. (See the CDC’s ADHD timeline here.) They are some of the most widely used medications for mental health conditions out there, and for many people, the risks and relatively minor side effects are worth the benefits of enhanced focus, increased motivation, and even mood regulation.

However, every person is different, and medication is just one of many options for treatment.

A call to action

As a society, we must stop denying the legitimacy of the ADHD diagnosis and start coming up with solutions. At the end of the day, whether we agree or disagree about ADHD being a “real condition,” we can most certainly agree that we are in need of strategies to address its symptoms.