ADHD may be one of the most common mental health conditions that have come to light in recent years, with our understanding of the condition much different than it was 2 decades ago. However, a few major misunderstandings still persist and can contribute to people delaying their diagnosis and necessary treatment. Here are some of the major myths about ADHD that need to be dispelled:Myth 1: ADHD is not a real medical disorderThere’s a substantive amount of research that has shown, through brain scans, how differently an ADHD person may think as compared to a neurotypical person. In addition to this, there are also differences in brain chemicals in this region, such as dopamine, norepinephrine and glutamate operate. There’s also a lot of data suggesting that the genes may influence ADHD. Iit has been noticed that between identical twins, if one twin has ADHD the other is likely to have it too. Myth 2: People with ADHD are more lazyOften accused of being lazy, patients with ADHD are often left feeling guilty for working differently. However, this does not mean that they are less productive. People with ADHD just need a different kind of work structure to function effectively. A more organized routine with checks and balances can help someone with ADHD train their hyperfocus towards their work and getting tasks done. It’s a myth that can be particularly harmful, since these judgements can reinforce poor self-esteem in individuals that affects their ability to initiate and sustain their focus on tasks. Myth 3: ADHD isn’t a ‘serious’ conditionADHD is a tough condition because it requires a lot of effort to truly portray how a neurodivergent brain functions. It isn’t life-threatening or immediate, which can lead to people underestimating its implications which is very substantive as this can seep into it affecting their overall quality of life. Myth 4: ADHD is caused by bad parentingIn a similar vein, parents with children who are suffering from ADHD may actually share some guilt, due to the fact that many people falsely believe that bad parenting “causes” ADHD. However, this simply isn’t possible.Parenting can play an important role in providing structure and positive growth in a child, however, it cannot induce ADHD as a condition. Even the best of parents can only help in managing the symptoms or, in some cases, the advantages of ADHD, they cannot prevent it. Myth 5: Girls don’t get ADHD as oftenAs hyperactivity is one of the key symptoms of ADHD, there’s a false assumption that girls are less likely to have ADHD. This is simply due to a misunderstanding of the outward-presenting symptoms of ADHD and unfortunately, girls are often less likely to be evaluated for the condition in the first place. The issue, however, is that girls who go with their ADHD undiagnosed may go on to develop more internal symptoms related to their mood, anxiety or antisocial tendencies which they then struggle to understand. Dispelling this myth is key towards raising awareness and helping the ADHD community get the resources they need.