ADHD A To Z - E Is For Energy - When Did Too Much Energy In Children Start To Imply They Have ADHD?

ADHD and having too much energy have somehow became interrelated.

Tell me what kid, at one point or another, doesn't have too much energy? Also, who are we to judge when too much energy is too much? What exactly are we comparing this to?

Let's be real for a moment.

Energy, ADHD, and behavioral problems seem to go hand in hand. That doesn't even consider energy and inattention.

Inattention does not mean a child has too much energy. Yes, inattention might mean a child has too much energy or can't focus. However, inattention could also be a cry for help. It could be a call for attention.

Inattention is one of the fundamental criteria for diagnosing ADHD, yet there are so many reasons a child might not be paying attention.

Bored

Scared

Tired

Frustrated

Confused

Preoccupied

Isolated

Lonely

Dreaming

Escape

While inattention is an important factor in determining whether or not a child has ADHD, or a specific subtype of ADHD, most people overlook or neglect to consider that a child experiences the world far more differently than an adult. In return, children also react to the world far more differently than we do as adults.

For instance, if a child is exposed to an event that they just cannot developmentally understand, one way of responding to it is through a release of energy or by being preoccupied. Whereas an adult can talk about their feelings, or process events verbally, a child has to rely on what he or she knows best. In many cases, "acting out" is how a child relates to an experience they otherwise cannot explain, make sense of, or relate to.

Suddenly, inattention becomes energy which then turns to what most people see as bad, abnormal, or unexpected behavior.

Next thing you know, your child is being labeled as having ADHD or as a problem child. Unfortunately, it might just be your child having a difficult time responding to the world or events around himself that he just doesn't have any other way to deal with.

To learn more about ADHD and what might really be impacting your child, I invite you to visit and sign up for your 7 part mini-course on the dirty little secrets behind ADHD.

I would also like to invite you to ask your most pressing question about ADHD and how it could be affecting your family and your child.