Touch your forehead. That is where ADHD is. It’s called the Frontal Lobe of the Brain. This area of the brain helps to regulate your emotions, control your impulses, & think of the consequences of your actions.
Thanks to scientific research, we know that the brain grows from the inside out & from the back to the front. Again, that is from the inside (the deepest levels of the brain) first & from the back (at the base of the skull by the spinal cord) to the front (forehead). With that knowledge, we can easily understand that the Frontal Lobe (forehead) is one of the last areas to develop. So, it shouldn’t be a surprise that ADHD is a brain development issue. I’ve even heard it said that those with ADHD are about 2 yrs delayed. While a 2 year delay doesn’t mean much in adulthood, imagine the differences between a 3 yr old & a 5 yr old. What happens when a 7 yr old acts like a 5 yr old? Or, what if a 16 yr old acts like a much younger 14 yr old? Would you notice that difference? I would.
So, where does ADHD come from? We don’t actually know. We do know it tends to run in families. We also know it can show up later in life for those who were premature babies. There are even studies that show that ADHD has been linked to lead pipes in homes. In addition, we know that ADHD can overlap with other mental health issues like anxiety, depression, & Autism. Likewise, ADHDers often have sleep problems, may use substances as teens, & frequently have social problems with their peers. Also, we know that ADHD isn’t something you “grow out of” when you become an adult, but some issues may still remain.