Difference between mild and severe ADHD?

[Graves1022]

what are some examples of what mild and severe ADHD looks like in an adult? I keep Hearing these two terms and I’m not sure what qualifies as mild or severe?

[Mikk1]

There are some tests online for ADHD, they should be taken just as a general approssimative indication obviously. Mild means that the result is near the threshold to define it ADHD or not. For example 50 or 60 on a scale of 100.

In general it also could mean that you have symphoms of ADHD and difficulties associated with it, but you have not so heavy problems in life that require medicines or professional help.

Obviously this is not a medical definition ...

[Hidden]

Hi, my understanding based solely on my own experience dealing with over a dozen medical providers, including multiple neurologists, psychiatrists, and counselors/therapists over the past two years as part of getting diagnosed with ADHD at 39 is that there is for most intents and purposes no difference between severe and mild ADHD. Instead, things are binary, that is you have ADHD or you don't. If you have diagnosed ADHD you can be prescribed any prescription at any dose, but many medical professional will still believe you don't have ADHD. Similarly, I don't believe that there is a legal difference in terms of accomodations between severe and moderate ADHD. Obviously, I fully agree that there is a tremendous range in terms of the severity of ADHD, but I am not aware of any consensus regarding the labels of moderate and severe.

[FindingTheAnswers in reply to Hidden]

"many medical professional will still believe you don't have ADHD" YES!!And, they don't ask THE RIGHT QUESTIONS!

In my family, what's the difference between mild and severe ADHD? About 20mg of ADDERALL!

Mild = me with around 20mg of Adderall.

Severe = a lot of my family members who take NO Adderall.

(FYI, once again I must tell you that I'm still looking for my Adoption papers. There is no way I can be related to these people!).

[Gettingittogether]

My diagnosing therapist (who also had ADHD) said the fact that I could hold a job steadily was a sign that my case wasn't severe. Just her judgment. I'm not sure that's the case---because some people spend all their energy holding their job and their health and relationships and their rest of life basically go to hell from being spent on the job.

On the other hand, a relative of mine had severe ADHD in my guess. He was constantly in trouble at his job (he held it) ... he couldn't keep track of documents for two minutes ... and he made some of the worst big life decisions, the absolute worst. On impulse. On one of his catastrophic decisions, he knew I had lots of experience in the decision area and could have guided him . We had been talking about this topic for a bit. Instead, he springs on me that he had already made a decision.

I knew it was a spectacularly dumb decision. No way else to put it. Spectacularly bad in each and every element. In a few months he was fired from his new job and deeply depressed. I'm looking at him thinking this was so avoidable. I'm looking at him puzzled because he had found a previous job that was winning him all kinds of praise and was setting him up for great opportunities and which he was loving!!!!!!!!!!! He didn't even agonize over this life-defining decision. I don't think he gave it more than 5 minutes of thought. To me, that hints of severe ADHD.

And then about ten years later, he made an even dumber, more spectacularly self-destructive decision, one that ultimately led to his early death. But looking back, I think this relative had other things going on ,.. maybe he was on the autistic spectrum, not sure. He had real trouble learning from other people. He had to run into the street and get hit by a car in order to accept that getting hit by cars would hurt and harm him.

So maybe the quality of your decisions has something to do with the severity. This relative's parents had always complained about his decision-making, but I never knew what they meant until I got older and saw those two absolutely self-destructive, made-on-impulse decisions. And here's the thing. He was often on the verge of a super dumb decision. So had he avoided these two bad decisions, I'm afraid he would have succumbed to other opportunities to decide badly.

My recent therapist for much of his career had a specialty in ADHD. He later broadened out because in his view it wasn't just the ADHD that was the problem--it was the entirety of a person's life-including the way the person thought about the ADHD. He thought that if you improved other elements of the person's life then the impact of the ADHD would decline. He basically trained me in a way to always step back and double-check big decisions. And then double-check that I'm not overly double-checking! A huge amount of his work with me had to do with old pains and wounds, because old family history, relationship struggles--all of that stuff can add to the way ADHD shows up.

[skoo]

Severe ADHD sufferers have chronic distraction, time-blindness and severe working memory deficit, they were failed by the education system, fail in the job market and end up in the benefits system where they continue to struggle with the very same debilitating symptoms and limitations that landed them on benefits in the first place, persistent lateness, failing to attend meetings and appointments, losing and misplacing important items and forgetting about commitments, are debilitating and disruptive ADHD symptoms which become blatantly obvious in the benefits system the DWP's strict rules and regulations make these symptoms offenses, which are systematically punished with sanction upon sanctions which escalate in severity with higher benefit deductions for longer periods of time with each failure these punishments are relentlessly dished out to the vulnerable until the last of their benefit money is removed and they are pushed out of the system many ending up living on our streets having to beg from strangers for food but no one notices, no one follows up or tries to help; does the DWP think they just disappear? It is soul-destroying and extremely detrimental to someone already suffering from mental health, life for many becomes unbearable

"RIP my ADHD friends" (Left undiagnosed and unaware of ADHD there is no other rational explanation for its symptoms other than to believe it is your own stupidity and accept the punishment's) That's severe ADHD,

[Brightlyshining in reply to skoo]

I totally agree with you and Gettingittogether. My experience took me to loosing my job, time blindness, inattentiveness to the point where I was completely unaware I missed something critical, 3 car accidents in one month, and saying things like when someone asked me my phone number I gave them 3 different ones—one being a number I had at a job 20 years ago! There’s more but I was very afraid of what I could or might do. That is severe.

[Hidden]

There is a huge difference between mild and severe ADHD it's like comparing regular memory loss vs Alzheimer. And being binary which it is not is ridicules.

[FindingTheAnswers]

I understand your question, and this doesn't answer it. But from my experience, getting anyone (Mild or Severe) to look into ADHD in order to make their life better..... they're not going to do it. So, what ever got you to write this Post, you may have past a very tough barrier. You ARE trying. Keep going!

[Graves1022]

I’m coming around to accepting the diagnosis. It’s not easy though. I’ve felt different my entire life. But what was “typical” symptoms i grew Up believing i did Not have. So I felt the diagnosis was wrong. Then u add the fact there is NO physical test yet that gives us a concrete answer of a Diagnosis. When I have spoke to family and friends abt my symptoms they all say they do the same BUT z they can function on life. I cant Do the easy every day things consistently and never have. “Sigh” I’m having a hard time.

[FindingTheAnswers in reply to Graves1022]

The family and friends you talked with and said they had the same symptoms, but can function in life; have you ever notice any certain 'Quirks' about them? Does it add up-that they can function well and saying that they have the same symptoms?

[Mtron in reply to FindingTheAnswers]

Cute that they think they can join the ADD club. Traits does not = debilitating !

[Mtron]

Hey man(gender neutrally speaking)I know exactly what you mean. Every freaking day is a struggle and I always disappoint myself. We can’t dwell on that though because every hour I’m distracted or hyper focused or unmotivated etc. just keep trucking. Sometimes it snowballs and gets overwhelming and I burst out in tears to my partner and thank him for being with me! We know it’s never ending and that can seem really hopeless. I’m here with you dude.

[Graves1022 in reply to Mtron]

Thank you for your helpful and kind words!!!!!

[Graves1022]

Actually.. I mean EVERYONE I am around or talk to says when we are speaking about ADHD or it get brought up somehow… they say.. “oh i do that!” Etc… These people function JUST FINE in life and given the diagnosis rate is 4% of the population of adults have ADHD it would be odd, and quite frankly unrealistic to believe that where I live the numbers of diagnosed or undiagnosed ADHD is disproportionately high.. idk… I think WAY to hard about this and EVERYTHING… The problem is that there are several symptoms of adhd that a non adhd person can say they can relate to.. ex. (Being distracted when reading, distractions interrupt their goals or end.) I believe and have read that yes.. most people can say yes to those questions.. but to what extent.. ? Honestly, I am just trying to figure this all out and trying to figure ME out at freaking 45…. Lol.. I just am TIRED of doctors telling me different things… people telling me things… and here I sit… Just as lost and confused… hearing about everything that I do NOT do or failed at… like really???? So.. I just shut the crap off… Then IM (mentally and emotionally “unavailable”).. what a vicious cycle… Right now my GP has told me he thinks I am BP.. My daughter literally argued with me today… Then Ive gone to Psychiatrist, therapist, and taken test… NO ONE has EVER indicated BP!!! It like they have NO idea just how BAD ADHD CAN be un medicated, untreated.. Because I get angry and agitated quickly means i have BP to them… UMmmmm I’m angry because my MANY failures in a day ( unorganized, messiness, not able to even write a list of things for someone else, getting sooo focused on one thing I lose track of time, burn food, forget crap, THEN have to worry about how i look TO everyone else and COMPARED to everyone else.) so by that time.. I’m so frustrated… that ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING that is worrisome, loud, interrupting, disrespectful, hateful, stubbornness -ticks me off OR I’m already frustrated. I’m not mad when I’m supposed to be sad.. i m Not sad when I’m supposed to be happy… my emotion correlate with my stress, anxiety, and environment…

Ughhh. Then, I have got into a BAD spot the last two years… I KNOW This.. i have to live wit me more than anyone.. I have PTSD and mainly what is called Caridac PTSD… which probably is turned into hypochondriac… to an extent.. COVID came and it rocked my mental state upside down… I was one who was already extra worried about my health. So i stayed At the house… in my room, and I have been here until the last 3 months.. now I’m not sleeping in my room accept when I am supposed to sleep... I’m watching TV… doing CRAZY studies on stuff when i TRuLY want to learn more.. crocheting.. playing with my dogs… I got used to having all my stuff near me that make s me feel comfort… and going anywhere else inside my house for long or outside of my house ONLY brought me complete and utter Discomfort.. for ex… going to stores, walmart, just rides… i do NOT Have the patients for any of that.. i want to get where i need to be. Quick… get or do what I went to do as quick as possible and head home.. the entire time I’m gone i have panic attacks, completely feel anxious, get very very frustrated….. but as soon as i get about 1-2 miles from my house.. it alllll goes away…. When i walk through my house it is a reminder of how odd I am, how i do not live up to what other moms, wives are able to do and it seems like simple everyday stuff but for some reason… i cant do it.. am i just lazy?? So instead of putting myself in those situations that causes those thoughts and feelings I avoided it like the plague until 2-3 months ago… but at NO time was I depressed.. i mean naturally a little but nothing major and preoccupying my mind in the deep abyss of itself was a very enjoyable event for me and honestly still is.. The only way I can say this is i was INDIFFERENT..I REALLY FEEL LIKE THERE IS A HUGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DEPRESSION AND INDIFFERENCE. The indifference I think is a maybe “toxic” coping mechanism I created for myself without being diagnosed my entire life and therefore not treated.. I HAD to be INDIFFERENT to survive without emotionally falling apart… Because I have tried all the “normal” things other people do to simplify their lives and it just did NOT work.. anyway… all of that to say is.. I get told by family and others that I might have BP… and If i was ever told that by a psychiatrist then I would listen.. but its like I have to be on the defense ALL THE TIME TO EXPLAIN ME.. WHY I DO AND WHY I DO NOT DO…. That within itself is sooo exhausting… please tell me this gets easier……

Sorry about that… I can’t just say this kind of thing normally… so its nice to just say it…

[skoo in reply to Graves1022]

join stuffthatworks for answers stuff.health/s/do2QkjeW

[Mtron]

This is great. Get it Out there hunnay. One step at a time, one day at a time. We may stumble through the lot of it but we must make the cut for survival of the fittest cuz we’re still here, eh? The bouts of frustration and inept feelings of inadequacy ebb and flow and subside within hours. Although, they are reliably ever-present. Wouldn’t you agree? I hope you have a therapist and psych that you respect and trust, because it takes self diagnosing and peer diagnosing (ha) off your overflowing plate! Depression AD(H)D anxiety bipolar addiction all bleed together. Seroquel helps my depression and sleep… Do activities that make you happy and at which you can excel!

[skoo]

And this letter is perhaps an example of mild ADHD, it's from someone who (by profession alone) the law deems one of the few specialists fully qualified to legally diagnose ADHD regardless of whether trained in ADHD or not! link to reply letter shown below- edgefoundation.org/a-rare-l...

Jan PolissarOctober 13, 2019 | ReplyI am a retired psychiatrist and was not diagnosed with ADD before age 75 when I attended a seminar at an American Psychiatric Association meeting. Suddenly my eyes opened: “My God! This is me !!!” Much more needs to be done to educate grade school teachers and young parents about this illness. It is my understanding that its prevalence is 5-10% in both males and females but females are less likely to be diagnosed. Although there are many self help and parent help books on the market I have not yet found anything that is of great help in better functioning. The techniques always interest me when I read them but then I usually forget to use the idea.

As best I can tell, in my type of ADD (probably there are several types) there is a defect in short term, but not permanent memory. [It is strange.I never got past the 6th grade in spelling but still can spot misspellings in printed text. Thank goodness for Spell-Check.] Yet sometimes I can not remember the word/name I am looking for later, e.g. the name Fred Aster when I see a video of him dancing. After about 15 such misses I finally can remember his name. I thoroughly endorse “to do” lists but often forget to use them

The new book “Atomic Habits” by James Clear, about changing habits looks promising if I re-read it 3-5 times.

[QuothTheRaven]

Severity of symptoms

As ADHD symptoms affect each person to varying degrees, the DSM-5 now requires professionals diagnosing ADHD to include the severity of the disorder. How severe the disorder is can change with the presentation during a person’s lifetime. Clinicians can designate the severity of ADHD as “mild,” “moderate” or “severe” under the criteria in the DSM-5.

Mild: Few symptoms beyond the required number for diagnosis are present, and symptoms result in minor impairment in social, school or work settings.

Moderate: Symptoms or functional impairment between “mild” and “severe” are present.

Severe: Many symptoms are present beyond the number needed to make a diagnosis; several symptoms are particularly severe; or symptoms result in marked impairment in social, school or work settings.

As individuals age, their symptoms may lessen, change or take different forms. Adults who retain some of the symptoms of childhood ADHD, but not all, can be diagnosed as having ADHD in partial remission.

chadd.org/about-adhd/overvi....

[skoo]

I was just reading a post on another site and someone referred to themself as having "high functioning ADHD" I think this is the way to gauge ADHD severity the less capable or able the more severe the ADHD