Actor
Kit Harington makes his ADHD diagnosis public – what the brain dysfunction means for everyday life
Many people know Kit Harington from the series “Game of Thrones”
© VALERIE MACON / AFP
Kit Harington recently revealed that he has ADHD. What attention and hyperactivity disorder is, what symptoms it causes and what it means for those affected.
Actor and “Game of Thrones” star Kit Harington has his “The Hidden 20%” podcast ADHD diagnosis made public. Harington checked into a rehabilitation clinic in 2019 for depression and alcohol problems. There he was diagnosed with attention and hyperactivity disorder. That opened his eyes and showed him that his entire past had already been determined by it. As a teenager he suffered from extreme mood swings and was nicknamed the “Prince of Darkness”. But how does ADHD manifest itself in life? We answer the most important questions at a glance.
What is ADHD?
ADHD is an abbreviation that stands for attention and hyperactivity disorder. It is a brain dysfunction that is congenital or develops shortly after birth. Anyone who has ADHD is very impulsive, physically very restless and has severe problems with attention and concentration. But the impulsiveness of those affected can also have a positive impact. People with ADHD are often very creative, flexible and spontaneous.
ADHD always first appears in childhood. However, it may only become noticeable and diagnosed in adolescence or adulthood.
How does ADHD manifest itself in adulthood?
Adults with ADHD are restless, have difficulty concentrating and completing a task, are restless, impatient, among other things. Symptoms also include mood swings and difficulty maintaining relationships. It can be difficult to diagnose ADHD in adults because the symptoms also occur with mental disorders or with alcohol and drug abuse.
What does ADHD mean for those affected?
“Anyone who has ADHD simply implements impulses that we all have, instead of first thinking about whether this is really a good thing. So impulse control is not intact, which can also be seen in the brain,” explained psychiatrist Dr. Andreas Jähne in an interview with stern. For people with ADHD, everyday life is a challenge. Many people try to cope somehow and fight against their unstructured nature, the expert continues.
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What causes ADHD?
ADHD has no clear cause, but hereditary factors are often involved. Research suggests that abnormalities in neurotransmitters (chemicals in the brain that transmit nerve impulses) are involved in ADHD, says the MDS manuals. However, the causes of the functional disorders in the brain have not yet been conclusively clarified. This means that changes in the way the brain functions are primarily responsible for ADHD.
Sources:MSD Manual,ADHD information portal,Podcast “The Hidden 20%”