ADHD - genetics or trauma?

[Alexop]

How many of you here agree with Gabor Matè? He argued that ADHD is strongly influenced by childhood trauma. The average psychiatrists say ADHD is genetical and trauma creates ADHD-like symptoms.

[something_else]

A proper ADHD test checks whether you displayed symptoms in early childhood for this reason. Usually symptoms develop between age 3 and 8, and at the latest 12. In my case when I got tested there were subtle symptoms from the age of around 5, with worse symptoms appearing around age 10.

I did not have any significant childhood trauma, my childhood was pretty awesome. Maybe something before the age of like 3? but both of my parents were very loving and caring.

Like many psychological issues, there's probably an element of both nature and nurture. With many people who have ADHD, there's a persistent feeling of being different or excluded, which contributes to worse symptoms over time. But the underlying cause is still genetic.

[LordFall]

I never heard about the trauma correlation before but it would make sense. Having trouble being present on a single task and being hyperaware of the environment sounds like a trauma response to me. 

[Majed]

@Alexop It's probably a combination. And it varies from individual to individual. Its causes vary uniquely depending on the individual. 

Edited 4 hours ago by Majed

[something_else]

Also, another thing worth noting is that both ADHD and Autism often run in families. If you have either, your children are much more likely to have one of them too. That doesn't confirm a genetic component, you could argue learned behaviour, but it does suggest there's a genetic component.

Edited 2 hours ago by something_else

[Alexop]

2 hours ago, something_else said:

A proper ADHD test checks whether you displayed symptoms in early childhood for this reason. Usually symptoms develop between age 3 and 8, and at the latest 12. In my case when I got tested there were subtle symptoms from the age of around 5, with worse symptoms appearing around age 10.

I did not have any significant childhood trauma, my childhood was pretty awesome. Maybe something before the age of like 3? but both of my parents were very loving and caring.

Like many psychological issues, there's probably an element of both nature and nurture. With many people who have ADHD, there's a persistent feeling of being different or excluded, which contributes to worse symptoms over time. But the underlying cause is still genetic.

Thanks for the anecdote. In my cases I think severe trauma caused my ADD. Now I am completely normal, no problem with concentration at all. That only after I fixed my psychological issues.

[something_else]

1 hour ago, Alexop said:

Thanks for the anecdote. In my cases I think severe trauma caused my ADD. Now I am completely normal, no problem with concentration at all. That only after I fixed my psychological issues.

It's very possible. Lots of things can cause ADHD-like symptoms, for example depression, trauma, anxiety. But if most of those are absent and you still struggle to focus, and it was present from a young age, ADHD is a likely explanation. 

Another way to determine it is how ADHD medication affects you. If it makes you feel 'normal' then that's probably another indicator that your brain doesn't process or produce dopamine at appropriate levels, which is a major source of ADHD symptoms.