Introduction
The present case of a young man, Alex, is typical of a person diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Social anxiety and unwillingness to communicate with people prevent him from self-fulfillment in adulthood. The discrepancy between his idea of life and his current reality has led him to the experience of self-harm and severe depression. Help for young people with ADHD needs to be directed towards addressing feelings of loss and integration into society, in line with theories of human growth and development.
Challenges Alex Faces in Job Searching
Alex turned to a counselor because of difficulty in finding a job, and a more global problem of inability for social adaptation. Firstly, ADHD has a significant effect on him: he may have difficulty performing work duties due to a low ability to concentrate on tasks (Lin & Gau, 2019). Presumably, Alex is currently experiencing a depressive episode, which prevents him from becoming an effective employee. Social difficulties and reluctance to contact people increase his symptoms while in the workplace.
At the same time, Alex feels a sense of loss, which is facilitated by his separation from the familiar environment: moving from his mother. Alex may feel different from others, which drives him into frustration. The problems that Alex faced, despite his neurodivergence, may be specific to teenagers and young adults. My personal experience was partly similar to the situation described. I also felt frustrated and was not sure about my life path. Being separated from my parents was as painful for me as it was for Alex. A similar experience can be explained by the fact that each person goes through certain life stages during growth and development.
Factors Contributing to Alex’s Feelings of Being Lost
Adolescence can be the most difficult period for a person. According to Erikson’s theory of psychosocial development, at the stage of identity formation versus role confusion, a person is looking for unique personal features (Darling-Fisher, 2019). Alex could have difficulty during this stage in recognizing his role in society.
At the next stage, which lasts from 18 to 40, a person is faced with building a life outside the family framework, and the inability to form new social ties negatively affects the personality (Darling-Fisher, 2019). Piaget’s theory of development characterizes the age above 12 years as a period of formation of thinking about abstract ideas and systematic planning (Zuhri, 2023). ADHD and depression may have prevented Alex from developing harmoniously during these stages. Alex may have had difficulties with learning, social adjustment, and identity recognition, leading to problems in young adulthood.
Genetic, environmental, socioeconomic factors, and childhood experiences are concepts that influence human growth and development. For Alex, his childhood experience of being compared to a successful sister and his mother’s overprotectiveness prevents him from realizing his role and planning his life path. Due to this childhood confusion at separation,
Alex feels unable to function separately in the adult age (Balasundaram & Avulakunta, 2023). In addition, not enough effort was put into integrating the child into society, which led to the persistence of difficulties in communication (Balasundaram & Avulakunta, 2023). Social factors, which may be peer pressure and high expectations prevent Alex from developing at a harmonious pace.
Conclusion
In conclusion, ADHD, in Alex’s case, is a major factor that makes him feel frustrated. However, a child’s experience and social pressure are important things that prevent normal social integration and psychological well-being. Alex was unable to form an independent person due to a failed separation from his mother. His experience may be similar to the difficulties other young adults experience due to the common stages of human development in transitioning from adolescence to young adulthood.
References
Balasundaram P., & Avulakunta, D. (2023). Human growth and development. StatPearls Publishing.
Darling-Fisher, C. S. (2019). Application of the modified Erikson psychosocial stage inventory: 25 years in review. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 41(3), 431-458. Web.
Lin, Y. J., & Gau, S. S. F. (2019). Developmental changes of neuropsychological functioning in individuals with and without childhood ADHD from early adolescence to young adulthood: A 7-year follow-up study. Psychological Medicine, 49(6), 940-951. Web.
Zuhri, M. N. (2023). Cognitive psychology development in the early adolescence. Journal of Education on Social Issues, 2(1), 44-51. Web.