![]() They can have an urgent need to have a BM and experience soiling accidents (encopresis), because the caliber of the BMs gets bigger, the bowel wall gets stretched and, as a result, the signal that alerts them that they have to go (the bowel wall stretching) is weaker and often happen at the last minute.They don’t pay attention long enough to do the whole job they leave something behind so that the caliber of the BMs gets bigger and are harder to pass.They impulsively get up and leave if there’s no action that happens quickly.They don’t sit on the toilet long enough to let their pelvic muscles relax so they can pass a BM.They don’t pay attention to the task at hand once sitting on the toilet, their mind wanders.They get distracted by other activities/things and forget that going to the bathroom was what they intended to do. ![]() They procrastinate acting on body signals because it’s going to be hard, take too much time, or be painful.They ignore body signals because they are hyperfocused on other activities.They don’t pay attention to body signals that alert them that they have to go.The core characteristics of ADHD, including impulsivity, distractibility, short attention span, inefficient task management, and weak self-monitoring can predispose individuals with ADHD to develop CC: The core characteristics of ADD/ADHD can lead to the development of chronic constipation.Īs silly as it may sound, one of the life tasks that requires efficient attention and executive functioning is having regular BMs. “Individuals with ADD find simple sh*t hard to do!” If not properly managed, CC can lead to other health problems, including anal fissures, hemorrhoids, rectal ulcers, impaction, obstruction, megacolon, encopresis (soiling accidents), rectal prolapse, irritable bowel syndrome, urinary retention or frequency, diverticulosis/ diverticulitis, and possibly even cancer of the colon. CC can have a more significant impact on quality of life than other more “serious” conditions, including arthritis, diabetes, and chronic allergies. Seventy percent of individuals with CC say it has adversely affected their work or school performance, and 12 percent have absences because of it. The discomfort, cramping, and nausea associated with CC can have a significant impact on quality of life, including one’s sense of physical and emotional well-being, as well as social functioning. So let’s take a look at five key lessons we’ve learned about what we have come to call the other ADD– Attention Defecation Disorder.Ĭhronic constipation is a serious health problem. If unrecognized and untreated, it can have a significant impact on the individual’s quality of life and lead to other more serious medical problems. One of the most important is that many adults with ADD/ADHD are FOS (full of sh*t)! Not so much figuratively (though this may be true in some cases) but literally! And many don’t even know it.Īll kidding aside, chronic constipation (CC), characterized by difficulty passing bowel movements, abnormal consistency of BMs, or reduced frequency of BMs is a problem for many adults with ADHD. WORKING WITH more than 10,000 patients with ADD/ADHD over the past thirty-five years has taught us many things. Be forewarned that it does contain some adult humor, so if you feel you might be offended, please proceed with caution. We’ve learned a lot about how significant a problem it is and how to best manage it from these authors, and we feel you will too. Chronic Constipation: The Other Add Craig B.Liden, MD, and Terri West, PA-CĮDITOR’S NOTE: This article contains important information about constipation, an extremely common problem for children and adults with ADHD.
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