Why might some neurodivergent people feel especially at ease around animals? In this personal reflection, a psychiatrist with ADHD explores how dogs’ direct affection, wordless communication and everyday routines can offer a sense of acceptance — while reminding us that animals have needs, boundaries and personalities of their own. “The more I study man, the…
Differentiating between borderline personality disorder (BPD) and ADHD can be a complex clinical challenge, as misdiagnosis is common among inexperienced practitioners. While both conditions can present with intense emotions, impulsivity, and relationship difficulties, their underlying mechanisms and developmental timelines are fundamentally different. Accurate diagnosis requires looking beyond surface-level symptoms to understand a patient’s childhood history,…
A common misconception about ADHD is that it strictly involves an inability to pay attention. However, many individuals with ADHD experience hyperfocus — an intense, prolonged absorption in a highly salient or rewarding activity. Understanding ADHD as a difficulty in regulating and shifting attention, rather than a simple deficit, helps explain why someone might struggle…
The conversation around neurodivergence has grown significantly, yet medical facts and social concepts are frequently confused. Written from a clinical psychiatrist’s perspective, this article breaks down what it truly means to be neurodivergent, distinguishing between common terms like neurodiversity, ADHD, and autism. By exploring how different brains process the world, we can move beyond simple…
For many adults living with ADHD, the relentless pursuit of new experiences is not a personal failing, but a profound neurobiological drive rooted in the brain’s reward system. Left unmanaged, this chronic need for stimulation can lead to exhaustion, relational strain, and professional instability. This guide explores the neuroscience behind novelty-seeking and provides evidence-based strategies…
While much of the public conversation around Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) focuses on hyperactivity and childhood symptoms, adults living with ADHD face a unique set of cognitive challenges—one of the most frustrating being the frequent misplacing or losing of everyday items. Keys, phones, wallets, documents—objects seem to disappear constantly, often causing stress, embarrassment, and even financial…
When most people think of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), they picture hyperactivity, distractibility, and forgetfulness. What’s often overlooked yet equally debilitating is emotional dysregulation, the intense and unpredictable mood shifts that can leave individuals feeling hijacked by their own emotions. Though not formally part of the diagnostic criteria in the DSM-5, emotional dysregulation is increasingly recognised…
ADHD and Financial Management: Understanding the Impact of Poor Impulse Control For individuals living with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), managing finances can be a persistent and often overwhelming challenge. While ADHD is commonly linked to difficulties in attention, organisation, and hyperactivity, one of its most significant yet under-discussed symptoms is impulse control dysfunction. This cognitive trait…
ADHD is a neuro developmental condition characterised by chronic executive dysfunction and impulsivity,which involvesan intensecraving for dopamine and the pursuit of activities that stimulate its release, such as food, sugary snacks, and coffee. These activities offer a temporary boost to the feel-good hormone dopamine. Let us now examine the connection between type 2 diabetes…
Neurotransmitters are chemicals that the brain employs as messengers to transmit signals and facilitate communication between nerve cells,known as neurons. Dopamine represents a specific type of neurotransmitter. What exactly are dopamine receptors, and what roles do they play? Dopamine receptors are proteins located on the surface of brain cells. They receive the neurotransmitter dopamine…
