Living in Chaos and Striving for Control: How adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder deal with their disorder

Abstract

This article reports a Grounded Theory of "Living in Chaos and Striving for Control" developed in response to the central research question of how adults diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) deal with their disorder. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 males diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood. "Chaos" emerged as the basic social-psychological problem facing these participants. The basic social-psychological process employed by them to deal with the problem was identified as "The Double Life". This process became the core category around which the theory was developed. The theory demonstrates that adults with ADHD live in a state of chaos (Category 1), while striving for control (Category 2). When the state of control is achieved (Category 3) it is never permanent, and loss of control (Category 4) is inevitable. The lives of these adults are constantly cycling through chaos and control, and this results in their leading a "double life" (Category 5).

How adults with ADHD get engaged in and perform everyday activities

“…This is consistent with earlier studies (31,39,40) and theories within occupational therapy (5,41), implying that if a person receives encouragement and feels valuable to others, he or she becomes more engaged in performing activities. Our results are also in line with earlier studies (9,31,39) describing how meaningfulness can be achieved when the person's experiences are important to, and appreciated by, others through their support of them. This shows that engagement does not just involve doing but is a matter of doing with someone else (40).…”

ADHD, strain, and criminal behavior: a test of general strain theory

“…People with ADHD are more likely to experience family conflict (Counts et al 2005), peer rejection (Blachman and Hinshaw 2002), and environmental adversity in general (Biederman et al 1995). Furthermore, Toner, O'Donoghue, and Houghton (2006) found that adults with ADHD ''live in a state of chaos'' (247), and when some control is gained, it never lasts. This supports the idea that ADHD leads to more stressful events.…”

Resilience and Well-being in College Students With and Without a Diagnosis of ADHD

“…Risks associated with a diagnosis of ADHD in older adolescents and adults, include: lower educational achievement, increased unemployment or underemployment, problematic interpersonal relationships, less stability of residence, a higher incidence of psychiatric disorders, substance use disorders, and antisocial behavior (Grenwald-Mayes, 2002). Adults with ADHD are more likely to experience more frequent job changes associated with boredom or interpersonal problems in the office (Toner, O'Donoghue, & Houghton, 2006). Improvements in legislation and availability of support services have resulted in increased numbers of students with "hidden disabilities" (ADHD, learning disabilities) seeking admission to colleges (Wolf, 2001) and enrollment of students with ADHD is on the rise (Shaw-Zirt, PopaliLehane, Chaplin, & Bergman, 2005).…”