What the ADHD Iceberg Reveals About Uncommon ADHD Symptoms

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a well-known but often misunderstood mental health condition. When people think of someone with ADHD, what often comes to mind is restlessness and inattentiveness. In reality, ADHD is a complex neurodevelopmental condition with both visible and invisible symptoms. One way to better understand the array of symptoms is through the ADHD iceberg.

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Let’s dive into what the ADHD iceberg tells us about ADHD symptoms, lesser-known symptoms of ADHD, and how to find support for ADHD.

What Is the ADHD Iceberg Analogy?

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The ADHD iceberg is a way to help people better understand the complexities of ADHD. Picture an iceberg—there’s a visible tip that you can see above the water and a larger portion hidden beneath the water.

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The iceberg tip represents the easily observable symptoms of ADHD, such as hyperactivity and lack of focus. However, beneath the surface are the hidden, lesser-known symptoms of ADHD like executive dysfunction and hypersensitivity. These hidden symptoms often go unnoticed, though they are sometimes the toughest to navigate. 

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The ADHD iceberg analogy emphasizes how important it is to understand both the visible and invisible symptoms of ADHD. Through understanding the full ADHD experience, people with ADHD can hopefully have more compassion for themselves and loved ones can offer the right support. 

Visible Symptoms: Common Characteristics of ADHD 

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There are three types of ADHD: inattentive ADHD, hyperactive-impulsive ADHD, and combined ADHD. Symptoms will vary depending on the type of ADHD, but all three types include symptoms that can be disruptive to someone’s daily life.

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Visible symptoms of ADHD can be separated into two categories: inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity. 

Inattention

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Inattention is the inability to focus. Common visible ADHD symptoms include:

• Difficulty paying attention
• Easily distracted and often leaves tasks unfinished
• Constantly losing things
• Walking into things
• Avoids tasks that require sustained concentration
• Poor time management and organizational skills
• Lack of attention to detail
• Difficulty following instructions‍
• Forgetfulness‍
• Trouble listening during conversations

Hyperactivity and Impulsivity

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Impulsivity includes acting without thinking through consequences, while hyperactivity refers to excessive physical movement and restlessness. Common visible ADHD symptoms include:

• Difficulty waiting for their turn
• Sudden emotional outbursts
• Frequent spending
• Oversharing personal information
• Interrupting others
• Blurting out responses
• Excessive fidgeting or squirming
• Constantly moving around or standing
• Talking excessively

Invisible Symptoms: Lesser-Known Symptoms of ADHD

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When we look beneath the surface of the ADHD iceberg, many symptoms and struggles are not immediately visible. These uncommon ADHD symptoms can often go unnoticed, yet still have a major impact on the overall well-being of people with ADHD.

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Executive Dysfunction

Executive functioning is the cognitive and mental skills that allow us to plan, organize, remember details, focus, make decisions, and control our impulses. 

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People with ADHD tend to have weaker executive functioning, so they often have trouble with tasks like prioritizing and managing their time, completing projects or responsibilities, remembering details, and even remembering to eat.

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Low Motivation

People with ADHD often struggle with finding motivation to begin or complete tasks. This is largely due to the chemistry of the ADHD brain. 

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Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in regulating emotions, driving motivation, and triggering the reward response. Because people with ADHD tend to have reduced or delayed dopamine release, they may struggle to find motivation or feel pleasure or satisfaction from their accomplishments.

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Time Blindness

Another less visible though not uncommon ADHD symptom is time blindness—the inability to accurately perceive time. People with ADHD may struggle with time management, punctuality, and planning because it is challenging for them to estimate how long a task or activity may take.  

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Time blindness can lead to showing up late to events or turning in work or school assignments past the deadline. This can also cause challenges in their personal and romantic relationships, since others may perceive them as unreliable.

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Sleep Problems

Many people with ADHD struggle with various sleep challenges, including trouble falling asleep, nightmares, waking up frequently throughout the night, and difficulty waking up.

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Symptoms like hyperactivity and racing thoughts can make it hard for someone with ADHD to wind down at night. Lack of sleep impairs the brain’s function and can make other ADHD symptoms worse. For example, when you’re feeling physically, emotionally, and mentally tired, it can be even more difficult to pay attention or focus on your daily tasks. 

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ADHD Paralysis

ADHD paralysis, also known as decision paralysis, happens when someone with ADHD is presented with too much information or stimuli to the point they have trouble functioning. This causes them to freeze or feel mentally stuck. When ADHD paralysis strikes, it can be hard to think clearly, start an activity, make decisions, or finish tasks.

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Emotional Dysregulation

A key component of ADHD is emotion dysregulation, characterized by difficulty controlling and managing emotional responses. People with ADHD can sometimes have intense or overwhelming emotions, sudden mood swings, a low frustration tolerance, or difficulty calming down. 

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Sometimes, it can be very challenging for people with ADHD to handle everyday stressors, even minor ones. This may lead to sudden emotional outbursts that seem disproportionate to the situation at hand. 

Low Self-Esteem

While low self-esteem is not a symptom of ADHD, it is something that unfortunately many people with ADHD often have to navigate. ADHD is still misunderstood by many, and people with ADHD may face criticism for certain behaviours or actions that are a result of their condition. 

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People with ADHD may struggle in academic, work, or social settings, which can lead to a cycle of negative thoughts. It can be easy to internalize failures and think they are inherently flawed or that they will not succeed in life. Feelings of low self-esteem may lead to anxiety and depression.

Hypersensitivity

Another symptom beneath the ADHD iceberg is hypersensitivity to both emotional and physical stimuli. People with ADHD are sometimes more sensitive to and distracted by sounds, lights, and other physical stimuli. Internally, they can feel emotions very strongly and have heightened sensitivity to criticism. For some, even minor or unintentional criticism or rejection can evoke a strong emotional reaction.

How to Find ADHD Support

ADHD is a complex condition with a broad range of symptoms. The ADHD iceberg analogy helps us understand the full spectrum of ADHD symptoms, from easily observable characteristics to lesser-known ADHD symptoms. This understanding ultimately enables mental health professionals and loved ones to provide more effective support to individuals with ADHD.

Managing ADHD symptoms can be challenging, but you don’t have to manage your ADHD alone. With the right support, tools, and strategies, you can navigate both the internal and external symptoms of ADHD. 

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Therapy can sometimes seem intimidating, especially if you are new to therapy, but finding the right therapist doesn’t have to be challenging or overwhelming. At Phare Counselling, we’re committed to removing barriers to access and focusing on matching folks with the right mental health professionals. Our team includes licensed ADHD counsellors who can provide personalized guidance and strategies for managing ADHD. Ready to get started? Book a free consultation call today.

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Author Bio:

Wendy Chan is a writer and editor who is passionate about health, wellness, and self-care. She has worked in marketing and communications for nearly a decade, creating educational content for brands and companies across Canada. Since 2020, she has been a writer and researcher for Phare Counselling.

Wendy specializes in authoring informative and accessible content on mental health, wellbeing, higher education, and technology. She holds a BFA in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia. You can find her in Vancouver or Toronto, depending on the weather.

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