Abuse
Types of abuse
How do I know if I have ADHD? Does my child have ADHD?
Many people with ADHD aren't aware they have it. They will be aware however that everyday tasks seem more difficult for them than for others. Typical symptoms are finding it hard to focus, missing deadlines and trouble controlling impulses, ranging from impatience to mood swings and outbursts of anger. Other symptoms include:
- Trouble multitasking.
- Excessive activity or restlessness.
- Poor planning.
- Hot temper.
- Trouble coping with stress.
What ADHD is not
The above list may be familiar to most people at different times in their lives. If these symptoms occur only occasionally, they probably don't have ADHD. A doctor usually diagnoses when someone’s symptoms cause problems that stop a person working, finding stable housing, or living normally and safely.
Diagnosis of ADHD in adults is often trickier because the same symptoms also occur in mental health conditions, such as anxiety or mood disorders. Many adults with ADHD also have at least one other mental health condition (depression and anxiety are the most common).
At what age do ADHD symptoms appear?
Symptoms usually start before the age of 12 and continue into adulthood.
How long does ADHD last?
ADHD is a lifelong condition, though it often becomes less marked in adulthood. But it can be effectively managed. The first step is to see a doctor and start seeking a diagnosis.
How many people have ADHD?
In the UK, the incidence of ADHD in school-aged children is thought to be between 3 and 5%. In adults it is between 3 and 4%.
What causes ADHD?
We still don’t know for sure. An enormous amount of research is focused on finding the causes of ADHD. Factors that may be involved include:
- Genetics.
- Environment.
- Problems during development.
What are the risk factors for ADHD?
The risk of a person developing ADHD may increase if:
- Family members suffer from ADHD.
- During pregnancy the mother smokes, drinks, or uses drugs.
- A child is premature.
What are the impacts of delayed diagnosis of ADHD?
ADHD has been linked to:
- Poor school or work performance.
- Unemployment.
- Financial problems.
- Trouble with the police.
- Alcohol or drug misuse.
- Unstable relationships.
- Poor self-esteem.
How is ADHD diagnosed?
Making the diagnosis normally includes:
- Asking questions about symptoms and family medical history.
- ADHD tests to measure symptoms.
What are the treatments for ADHD?
ADHD is normally treated through a two-pronged approach:
- Medication.
- Therapy.
ADHD medication
Doctors might prescribe stimulants for ADHD – which might seem counterintuitive, but has a strong evidence basis for regulating brain activity.
Some ADHD patients might also benefit from antidepressants or other medication, but in every case a doctor is best placed to advise on what to take.
Therapy for ADHD
Psychotherapy is indicated for people with ADHD but behavioural therapies can also help manage traits that make people with ADHD disorganised, and teach useful skills as well.
Help and information about ADHD
ADHD (NHS Choices)
NHS Choices provides information about the signs, symptoms and treatment for depression.
ADHD Foundation
For people with an ADHD diagnoses, this charity provides resources and advocacy.
Young Minds
Aimed at young people, this profile of ADHD explains what it is, how to seek treatment and mental health concerns for people with ADHD in a clear and straightforward way.
youngminds.org.uk
Click here to see practitioners who specialise in
Abuse
Domestic abuse
Abuse by a partner or spouse, whether physical or not, is commonly known as domestic abuse. It is often done in private, and might be motivated by one partner’s desire to control the other.
Child abuse
When a child is abused or witnesses abuse at home, they are unable to escape or stop the abuse. People who have been abused often feel angry, isolated, depressed or suffer anxiety, even years afterwards.
Physical abuse
When a person is hurt by a friend, family or partner, at work or at home, it undermines trust in their relationship and makes them feel unsafe. The person might also face threats, or be made to watch their abuser break objects, threaten or hurt their loved ones, or injure pets.
Sexual abuse
When a person is sexually intimate with someone without their consent, their relationship is abusive. When an adult is sexually intimate with a child, it is always deemed as abusive, because the child does not have capacity to consent.
Coercive control
Subtle and continuous abuse, such as intimidation or emotional abuse, has now been recognised by UK law as a type of domestic violence.
Mental, psychological and emotional abuse
When a person abuses someone without violence, they might instead choose to undermine a person by saying or doing hurtful things. They might even make a person doubt their own perceptions or memories, a tactic nicknamed ‘gaslighting’.
Financial abuse
Taking, using or spending someone else’s money without their permission is a form of abuse. Financial abuse can be common in cases of elder abuse, when an adult relies on someone else to do their shopping or manage their money.
Parent abuse
Sometimes, teenage and adult children who live with or near their parents can hurt or exploit them. Stigma around this type of abuse can stop parents seeking help.
Am I being abused?
All abuse is wrong, but not all unpleasant behaviour is abuse. The definition of abuse is when a person hurts someone, knowing that their behaviour is hurtful, harmful or exploitative. Abuse also tends to follow a cycle: tension, abuse, and forgiveness. This is why it can be so hard to stop or escape an abusive relationship. But if a relationship feels so bad that one or both partners is beginning to question it, talking to a therapist allows them to discuss how the relationship makes them feel and may help them see it in a clearer light.
Was I abused?
If someone is wondering whether they have been abused, assaulted or raped, talking to a therapist may help them unlock and better manage difficult memories.
How long does abuse last?
Abuse might last days, weeks, months or years. People who experience abuse might seek help right away, or cope with the experience on their own. Some people find that they remember or process memories of abuse a long time after it takes place. People with experience of sexual abuse might report strong feelings or memories arising when their children reach the age at which they themselves were abused. It is never too late to work through experiences of abuse with a therapist.
How common is abuse in the UK?
The Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) estimates that at least one in five adults has experienced child abuse.
CSEW also estimates that 1.6 million women have experienced domestic abuse in the last year.
Treatment for abuse victims
Abuse can increase a person’s risk of developing mental health problems.
Therapy for abuse
Even if a person has not experienced mental health problems after abuse, they might still be struggling to relate to the experience or cope with feelings about the abuse or the perpetrator. Talking to an experienced specialist therapist can help.
Helplines for people who have experienced abuse
National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC)
A specialist helpline providing support for adults who experienced childhood abuse.
napac.org.uk
Women’s Aid
A charity that provides services to help women and families leave abusive homes.
womensaid.org.uk
Refuge
Refuge is a national charity that provides advice and services for women and children experiencing domestic violence.
refuge.org.uk
Rape Crisis
A UK charity that provides services for women and girls who have experienced sexual violence, recently or in the past.
rapecrisis.org.uk
