Does your child have ADHD? Let's talk about how social stigma affects children

Has a doctor confirmed that your child has ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder? If so, you and your child may have had to deal with a lot of talk, wrong attitudes, and looks from society at times. We call this 'Stigma'. This is a very serious thing. Because these wrong opinions can have a big, long-term impact on the way a child thinks about themselves, behaves with friends, and learns. So, let's talk about this in a little more depth today.

What are the stigmas about ADHD in society?

Even though many people are aware of ADHD today, there are still misconceptions about it in society. You and your child may have heard stories like this. "ADHD is not a real illness," "Children are like that because they are lazy," "They are less intelligent," etc.

But that's not the truth. Research has shown that people with ADHD have structural changes in the frontal lobe of their brains . These changes affect their 'executive functions', which are things like planning, organizing, and maintaining attention.

Let's look at this table to understand these things clearly.

Many children with ADHD also have a condition called anxiety . Then, when they have to do a difficult task, their anxiety increases. So they try to avoid that task. To someone who doesn't know the inside story, this may seem like 'laziness'.

How does this stigma affect parents?

These wrong attitudes can also affect you as a parent. Some people may think that if your child is acting out of control or can't stay in one place, it's your fault for 'bad parenting'.

Please understand, that is not true at all. Parental behavior does not affect whether a child develops ADHD. It is caused by genetic and other biological factors that we discussed earlier.

However, parents have a big role to play here. Parents and teachers who understand the ADHD condition, support the child, and recognize the child's abilities can help manage the child's symptoms and provide the necessary guidance for success.

Is there a difference in how this affects girls and different cultural backgrounds?

Yes, there are some differences in the way we identify and view this condition.

Girls and ADHD

This is a very important point. Even today, some people think that girls don't get ADHD . The main reason for this is that girls are less likely to act out and act out in a way that is visible to the outside world, like boys.

Instead, girls tend to blame themselves. When they can't do something, when they have trouble paying attention, they think it's their own fault. This puts them at higher risk of developing mental health conditions like depression, eating disorders, and anxiety than girls without ADHD.

Often, people do not associate these symptoms (depression, anxiety) with ADHD. Therefore, the diagnosis of ADHD in girls can be delayed and treatment can be delayed.

Cultural influence

In countries like Sri Lanka, in some cultural backgrounds, a child's education is given a very high value. Then, if a child is weak in learning, it is sometimes seen as a 'parental failure' or 'lack of discipline in the child' rather than a brain disorder. Due to such misconceptions, it may be late for the child to receive the correct medical support they need.

What harm does this wrong attitude cause to the child?

Regardless of a child's race, religion, or gender, this ADHD stigma can cause serious problems. This can affect not only the child's mental well-being, but also the rest of the family.

• Low self-esteem: The child begins to think about himself, "I'm lazy," "I can't do anything right."
• Mental problems : The risk of developing conditions such as anxiety and depression increases.
• Sleep problems: Stress can cause problems such as insomnia.
• Drug use: As you get older, there is a risk of turning to drugs or alcohol to relieve this stress.
• Bullying: Other children may laugh at or ostracize the child for their differences.

What can we do as parents?

There are no overnight solutions to this, but as a parent, there are many things you can do for your child.

• Think positively: Instead of always focusing on your child's shortcomings, appreciate their strengths and abilities. Understand that ADHD is not a mental illness, it's just a condition.
• Explain to your child: In simple, age-appropriate terms, explain to them that ADHD is not their fault, but a small difference in the way their brain works. This can help them reduce their self-blame.
• Inform others: Tell your family and close friends about this. If someone expresses a wrong opinion, try to correct it calmly and kindly.
• Talk to teachers: Work with your child's teachers to plan ways to help your child in class (e.g., sitting in the front row, giving assignments in chunks).
• Follow your doctor's instructions: Follow your doctor's instructions and treatment exactly. If your child has any problems, don't be shy or afraid to talk to your doctor about it.

ADHD, ADHD stigma, child mental health, attention problems, parenting advice, depression, anxiety