Is there a link between ADHD and a connection to dogs?

I don’t normally write my blogs in the first person, but this subject is so personal to me that it couldn’t be done any other way. So, forgive me if this sounds more like a diary entry, but this one is truly from the heart.

I kept it nice and short… we all know you probably won’t get to the end!

Neurodiversity.

ADHD.

Spectrum disorder.

Autism.

These words have slowly crept into the lexicon of our social and work-based narrative these days and it seems more and more people are receiving a diagnosis.

I have always felt different. It’s something I could never explain as a child, and even now I find it difficult to specify why, but since I can remember, there has been an emotional undercurrent within me that has always left me feeling like my existence teeters on the periphery of what I consider to be “normal” life.

As a child, I was untidy, disorganised, forgetful, and generally scattered; I’ve always been an avid learner though, and so I did well in my early school years. So, like so many other girls, I didn’t outwardly appear like I was struggling. I often preferred to read, or draw, or write stories rather than participate in playground games, which I always found uncomfortable and awkward. I wasn’t completely isolated, but other children seemed to be able to form bonds very easily and I always felt like I wasn’t particularly liked.

This drip feed of insecure feelings in childhood, perpetuated by the constant racing thoughts, and the shame in not being able to do basic things that other people did without thinking (such as remember my lunchbox and make new friends) developed into terribly low self-esteem, anxiety, uncontrollable mood swings, and a chronic feeling of inadequacy and overwhelm in my teenage and adult years.

It was back in 2015 when someone first mentioned to me that I may have ADHD, but, like so many other things I don’t get round to doing, it’s taken me 8 years to finally push for a diagnosis. It wasn’t exactly a surprise when I was formally diagnosed this month but learning that I scored in the 93^rd percentile for combined inattentive and hyperactive ADHD, (where 80 is considered high) despite appearing “high functioning” (don’t even get me started on how annoying this term is!) threw up a million questions about my identity.

In my pursuit of understanding my neurodivergent brain and how it intertwines with my personality, my hyperfocus landed me on the relationship between neurodiversity and my connection with dogs. Low and behold, there seems to be lots of connected dots as to why many neurodivergent people have a magnetism to animals.

Emotional Support

Lots of neurodivergent people struggle with social interactions, whether it be social anxiety, or just general difficulty connecting in the seemingly natural way that neurotypical people can. Dogs offer uncomplicated, unconditional love and their non-judgmental nature can be especially comforting to individuals who may struggle with the complexity of human social interactions.

Routine and Structure

Many neurodiverse individuals thrive on routine and structure, but for those of us with ADHD, getting our priorities in order can sometimes feel impossible. Taking care of a dog can provide a sense of order to our daily lives. Dogs require regular feeding, exercise, and grooming, which can help establish and maintain routines, and a sense of accomplishment (dopamine hit) that we often lack.

Peaceful moments

Having ADHD is chaotic. Even if your hyperactivity isn’t physical, the internal hyperactivity is constant and exhausting. We find it hard to switch off and relax, but a dog can make this much easier. The non-verbal, emotional connection with your dog brings a tiny bit of peace to the seemingly endless mental bedlam.

Health benefits

People with ADHD have much higher cortisol levels (stress hormone). Dogs have been proven to reduce cortisol levels and even lower blood pressure. The fact that people are much more likely to take daily exercise with their dog also positive physical and mental health implications which can help with symptoms of ADHD.

Empathy and Understanding

Some neurodiverse individuals, particularly those with ADHD, have a deep capacity for empathy and understanding that often gets misinterpreted by people. We can get overwhelmed by our emotions and feel like people don’t understand us. Dogs have a magical way of letting us know that they “get it” that transcends human connection for some of us.

Neurodiversity is exactly that, diverse. These aren’t the lived experiences of everyone, but knowing now that I have ADHD certainly explains why I have always felt so much more comfortable around dogs than people.

It also explains why I’ve ended up with these five… a direct result of my uncontrollable impulses! Wouldn’t change those decisions for a “normal” brain though…