Speaking from the Heart: Understanding ADHD Types — Which One Are You?
Do you ever wonder why your ADHD doesn't look like someone else's? Maybe you struggle to focus but aren't overly energetic, or perhaps you're full of restless energy yet can concentrate when needed. The truth is, ADHD isn't one-size-fits-all — there are three main types, each with its challenges and strengths. Understanding which one you have is more than just a label; it's the key to finding strategies that genuinely work for you. So, which ADHD type are you — inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive, or a combination of both? Let's explore how to find out.
Why Knowing Your ADHD Type Matters
ADHD impairs the executive functioning in the brain, which is a cognitive ability enabling one to manage attention, plan the future and control impulses. Symptoms may appear in very different ways, and thus establishing your type is crucial. It enables mental health professionals to personalize your treatment, helping you accept and recognize your strengths and challenges, and lessening the aggravation of feeling misunderstood.
The 3 Main Types of ADHD
1. Predominantly Inattentive Presentation
Individuals who have this kind of ADHD usually have problems maintaining concentration, completing tasks, and remembering things. These kids may appear unfocused, cluttered, or forgetful, but they are trying their best. However, this may be manifested in an adult losing track of their keys and/or phones, procrastinating over great projects, and/or daydreaming during a meeting.
Common signs include:
Struggling to pay attention to details
Frequently losing important items
Forgetting daily tasks or appointments
Avoiding work that requires sustained concentration
This presentation was once referred to as "ADD," though the term is no longer used in medical diagnoses. Strategies such as breaking tasks into smaller steps, using planners or reminder apps, and building consistent routines can be highly effective in managing symptoms.
2. Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Presentation
It is a matter of high energy and impulsive behavior rather than focusing on the difficulties of this type. Although it is evident in those people who do not know how to sit still, in adults, it usually manifests itself differently. A person with such presentation can feel fidgety and awkward, often clapping their hands or kicking their feet, and may also chatter or struggle to queue up when speaking out.
You might notice:
Frequently interrupting others during conversations
Talking more than intended or blurting out thoughts
Feeling restless and unable to stay still for long
Acting on impulses without thinking of the outcome
Managing this type often involves learning techniques for impulse control, incorporating physical activity into the day, and practicing mindfulness to slow down racing thoughts and movements.
3. Combined Presentation
The most frequent type is mixed and incorporates---in addition to inattentiveness--- vital signs of hyperactivity/impulsivity. Individuals associated with this presentation may struggle to plan and carry out tasks in an orderly manner, as they are both mentally and physically restless.
In mature individuals, this typically manifests as a tendency to have unfinished projects or activities and to make hasty decisions, leading to frustration and subsequently poor performance. Combined ADHD tends to require a comprehensive treatment regimen which typically incorporates therapy sessions, potential medication, a daily schedule, and adjustments that will accommodate focus and self-control.
Getting a Professional ADHD Assessment
The best way to determine your type of ADHD is by an expert assessment, in case you suspect that you are experiencing it. In Hearts to Healing Therapy, a one-hour ADHD consultation costs US$150, with a US$50 deposit and a US$100 balance due on the assessment day. In this appointment, our professionals will discuss your personal history, examine problems you are facing, apply evidence-based screening tools, and familiarize you with your profile of ADHD.
A diagnosis is not a label- a name. It's a key that allows us to open that door and to learn more about ourselves and practical strategies to improve how we work with our brain instead of against it.
Living Well With Your ADHD Type
ADHD should not be a hindrance to you, whatever type you are. A combination of the appropriate strategies can allow you to cope with your symptoms and capitalize on your strengths. Scheduling, sleep, exercising, and healthy diets are all practices that help the individual be more focused and emotionally stable. Therapy also provides excellent tools for organizing, time management, and emotional regulation and enables you to have a strong support network to keep you motivated.
Final Thought:
Understanding your ADHD type is an essential first step toward creating a life where you can thrive. Whether you identify more with inattentive symptoms, hyperactive-impulsive traits, or a combination of both, there are effective ways to manage your challenges and highlight your strengths.
If you're ready to gain clarity and take control, book your ADHD consultation with Hearts to Healing Therapy today. With the proper support, you can move from feeling overwhelmed to living with focus, balance, and confidence.
