Will ADHD Go Away?
“Will my/my child’s/my (fill in the blank with your loved one diagnosed with ADHD)’s ADHD ever go away?”
Two important things come up for me when I hear this question:
Education is needed around what ADHD truly is.
Awareness is needed around the fact that you/they can have a full, meaningful life while living with ADHD.
Although there have been great strides in the education and awareness around ADHD in the past few decades, there is still a lot of misunderstanding and misinformation being spread around.
I wanted to write this blog, in hopes that someone may find it helpful, either in understanding their own diagnosis and experience with ADHD a little better or understanding that of their loved one.
So, let’s dive into this further (but we’ll keep it short because ADHD, am I right?).
What is ADHD?
ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) is a developmental disorder, meaning it impacts brain development and functioning.
An ADHD brain forms differently, particularly in the areas that are responsible for executive functioning - the skills that help us maintain focus and attention, emotion regulation, and more - and these are skills that those of us with ADHD often struggle with.
There is a strong genetic component of ADHD, meaning there is a strong likelihood that a parent with ADHD will have a child with ADHD.
Or in many cases today, because awareness and knowledge around ADHD is growing, a parent might discover that they have ADHD because their child has been diagnosed with ADHD.
Environmental factors can also affect the likelihood of someone developing ADHD and the severity of which they develop it, but this only applies if they are already predisposed to develop ADHD. Someone with no genetic component will not develop ADHD, even if they experience the environmental factors that can contribute to its development.
One of the most common environmental factors that I see in my practice is early life trauma and adverse experiences. Because of this and because ADHD and trauma (particularly complex trauma) symptoms can present very similarly, the process of diagnosing ADHD can be complex.
As an aside, to be diagnosed with ADHD (in childhood or adulthood), symptoms must have been present in childhood.
Although symptoms were present, I wasn’t diagnosed with ADHD until I was 19 years old.
It is not uncommon for women to be diagnosed much later than men and to be misdiagnosed because the typical presentation of ADHD is more commonly seen in boys and men than in girls and women.
I plan to write more on that in a future blog because it is such a prevalent topic and issue and one that I see often in my practice with young adult women.
So, Will ADHD Go Away?
Despite what posts on social media might say, ADHD will not go away.
However, you can do things to help improve the symptoms, so that they don’t impair daily living, such as:
Learning coping strategies that work for you
Utilizing nervous system regulation skills
Making lifestyle changes, including regular physical movement, adequate sleep, and a balanced diet
Adjusting behavior patterns
Taking medication
Why ADHD Doesn’t Need to Go Away
Although symptoms of ADHD can interfere with your social life, academic or work performance, and every day tasks, which can feel frustrating and overwhelming at times (just ask all of the food that has been forgotten in my refrigerator over the years), you can live a full and meaningful life with ADHD.
Of course everyone differs, but there are also a lot of strengths to be found among people with ADHD, including:
Creativity
Intuitive
Good sense of humor
Quirky
Ability to hyperfocus (can be a great strength when managed well)
Resourceful
Spontaneous
Emotional sensitivity (although some still view this as a negative, emotional sensitivity is a great quality to have in relationships - especially when it is paired with emotional boundaries)
Which strength(s) do you recognize in yourself or your loved one?
Lean into these strengths and remember them often, especially when you might be having a difficult day or feeling frustrated with your symptoms.
Also, understanding that an ADHD brain develops differently and has a strong genetic, and sometimes environmental, component can be helpful.
It can help take the pressure off of you and ease any self-criticism you might be experience around your diagnosis and the accompanying symptoms.
With this understanding, instead of getting frustrated with yourself for forgetting to take the garbage out, you can take a moment to remember that this is how your brain works and learn ways to work with your brain rather than trying to fight against it.
Final Notes
ADHD is a developmental disorder that affects how the brain is formed.
Because of this ADHD will not go away.
However, symptoms can be well managed with coping strategies, nervous system regulation skills, lifestyle adjustments, and behavioral changes - which can lead to symptoms having less impact on your life.
There are also many strengths that can come with ADHD, such as creativity, resourcefulness, and spontaneity, which remind us that we can live a meaningful life with ADHD and it doesn’t need to go away.
Support for Women: Tame Your Mind group
It’s not uncommon for people with ADHD to also experience anxiety, low self-worth, and possibly have a history of complex trauma - due to being neurodivergent in a neurotypical world. If you experience any of this, you’re not alone. It can feel like you are, but I can tell you from personal and professional experience, you are not. To gain support from others who have had similar experiences, my virtual Tame Your Mind group is here to support you.
Past group members have expressed that the validation, understanding, and support they received in the group was life-changing for them. Reach out today to join the next session starting September 2025, available for women in Wisconsin, Florida, Utah, and Vermont.
Read more: Why I’m Glad My Instagram Was Hacked
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