#### People with ADHD do not have a lack of attention only an issue regulating attention --- The common association of the lack of attention being the defining trait stems from the name of the disorder itself: _**Attention Deficit** Hyperactivity Disorder_. The deficit for attention however has little to do with a plain inability to pay focused attention to a stimulus for an expected duration and more to do with a neurotransmitter imbalance. The inattention is a symptom, not the problem of the disorder. Inattention is one of the three defining factors of an ADHD mind: - Hyperactivity - Impulsivity - Inattention This inattention comes from a lack of sufficient stimulation from the intended activity or task. The lack of stimulation and therefore release of dopamine that the ADHD mind lacks in sufficient quantity, the inattention is the seeking of other stimuli that can provide this release of dopamine. This is why [[ADHD hyperfocus is a double edged sword of both deep work and avoidance]]. The hyper-focus causing activity provides the dopamine release and focus on the activity, but at the cost of excluding everything else. A byproduct of this dynamic is an inability to independently regulate attention to the point of impacting the individuals ability to eat or provide for their own basic needs. --- Tags: [[Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder]] - [[Neurology]] - [[Productivity]] - [[Neurodivergent]] References: Related: