I have been doing a lot of study on ADHD and trauma - What I have discovered is that trauma has a curious way of revealing itself in you. For one such client it has shown inattentiveness, do you struggle with staying focused? Finishing homework? or struggle with understanding subjects and or lessons in school? For the most part these things are NOT normal.   

   Now as an adult, I find myself trying to manage my concentration, emotional regulation, and impulsivity.  As I have looked back at my growing up years, I find my trauma history has had much to do with these things! They are VERY similar to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It is important to note here that it has been reported that children who have been exposed to traumatic childhood experiences can display behavior that is similar in nature to those who have been diagnosed with ADHD.   

       Currently, there are no studies that link the two and it is uncertain if there is even one there. But I would certainly say it is a good possibility.   This is not surprising when you look at the research: It is also interesting to note in adults, there is increasing evidence that people who have PTSD will likely have additional symptoms that cannot be accounted for, more closely resembling ADHD.  

   Dr. Nicole Brown, who is a resident at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, noticed a specific increase in her youth patients exhibiting behavioral issues but not responding to medications. This led to Brown investigating what that link could be. Through her research, Brown and her team discovered that repeated exposure to trauma at a young age (either physical or emotional) would increase a child’s risk for toxic levels of stress, which in turn might impair their own neurodevelopment.  

  

 

 

 

  It was reported in 2010 that nearly 1 million children (about the population of Delaware) may be misdiagnosed with ADHD each year, which is why it is so valuable that trauma-informed care takes place from a younger age. In many ways, this opens the possibility for better treatments, and perhaps even earlier detection of PTSD in adults. 

Childhood trauma can come from things that happen to you or that you see happen or hear about happening to someone else. Anyone can go through trauma. But certain groups are more likely to experience ACEs, including women and youths who are Black, Hispanic, or Latinx. 

 Smitha Bhandari, MD who is board certified in adult psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry, and forensic psychiatry through the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology gives these examples: 

Examples of traumatic events include: 

•      Physical, sexual, or emotional abuse and neglect

•      Seeing someone hurt your mother.

•      Being around drug use or mental illness at home

•      Losing a parent to death or divorce

•      Having a family member in jail or prison

It can also include: 

•      Growing up poor

•      Living in a violent area

•      Experiencing systemic racism or discrimination

•      Being in a bad car accident

•      Having a life-threatening illness

ADHD vs. Trauma Response in Adults 

ADHD is a brain development disorder. Trauma, or traumatic stress, is an emotional response to an alarming or painful event. Both can cause ongoing behavior and attention problems. 

Studies show adults diagnosed with ADHD are more likely than those without ADHD to also have posttraumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. That is a mood disorder you might develop after a traumatic event. People with PTSD can have ongoing trauma symptoms, or ones that come and go. 

It is hard to untangle adult ADHD from PTSD. That is because the two disorders share symptoms, such as: 

•      Concentration problems

•      A strong reaction to small events

•      Restlessness

•      Angry outbursts

•      Difficult time sleeping.

•      Zoning out when stressed (also called dissociation)

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Some researchers think ADHD boosts your odds of developing PTSD after you go through something traumatic. Others think it might go the other way. More research is needed to understand this connection better. 

Can Childhood Trauma Cause Adult ADHD? 

Your genes, environment, and lifestyle all shape who you are. And certain things must fall in place for you to develop ADHD. 

But childhood trauma seems to be a big predictor of long-lasting ADHD symptoms. 

Scientists think early and ongoing exposure to ACEs raise your “toxic levels of stress.” That is bad for anyone’s physical or mental health. But it seems to also raise your chances of having moderate to severe ADHD. 

The number and types of ACEs you have also seem to matter. There’s evidence that ADHD is more likely in adults who experienced two or more of these during their childhood: 

•      Low household income

•      Divorce

•      Family mental illness

•      Neighborhood violence

•      Family member in jail or prison

When it comes to ADHD, here is what research says about childhood trauma and the following: 

Early brain development. Younger brains are constantly learning and adapting to the outside world. Research shows that childhood trauma can shape how certain areas of your brain form. That includes stress-sensitive structures and connections that control how you think, feel, and act. 

Early life stress may result in changes that cause you to have common ADHD symptoms, including: 

•      An ongoing sense of fear

•      A heightened response to stress that does not go away easily.

•      Difficulty regulating your emotions.

•      Trouble planning or paying attention.

•      Lack of impulse control