What’s Really Behind the Symptoms? When It’s Not ADHD

What’s Really Behind the Symptoms? When It’s Not ADHD

If you or your child has been told, “It’s ADHD,” you’re not alone. But in my clinic, we often find that the symptoms commonly associated with ADHD—like inattention, restlessness, mood swings, and poor memory—can actually stem from a range of other underlying imbalances.

Before jumping to a label, it’s important to consider these often-overlooked contributors:

Gut Imbalances: The Gut-Brain Axis in ADHD-like Symptoms

The gut-brain connection is one of the most overlooked root causes in children and adults displaying signs of ADHD. Your gut isn’t just about digestion—it’s home to trillions of bacteria that directly influence your neurotransmitters, especially serotonin, dopamine, and GABA, which are key players in mood regulation, focus, and behaviour.

When the gut lining becomes compromised—a condition often referred to as leaky gut—toxins, partially digested food proteins, and pathogens can escape into the bloodstream. This triggers systemic inflammation and can disrupt brain function, leading to symptoms like:

  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Mood swings and irritability
  • Hyperactivity or restlessness
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Anxiety and meltdowns

Children with gut imbalances often don’t complain of obvious digestive issues, but they may have signs such as eczema, frequent ear infections, bloating, constipation, or loose stools. These are important clues. The microbiome (the balance of gut bacteria) can also be altered by antibiotics, C-section births, lack of breastfeeding, or a highly processed diet—setting the stage for neurological and behavioural imbalances.

Studies now show that a dysregulated gut can interfere with dopamine signalling, the very system targeted by most ADHD medications. This is why correcting gut health often leads to improvements in behaviour, focus, and emotional regulation—without needing to go straight to pharmaceuticals.

At ADHD Naturopathic Clinic, we use tools like GI Mapping, OAT testing, and tailored herbal blends (including soothing gut herbs like Chamomile, Marshmallow Root, and Licorice) to restore gut integrity and rebalance the microbiome—laying the foundation for calmer moods and clearer thinking.

Poor Sleep: The Hidden Driver of Inattention and Mood Swings

Sleep is the foundation of mental clarity, emotional stability, and nervous system regulation. Yet many children and adults who present with ADHD-like symptoms are actually chronically sleep-deprived. Whether due to trouble falling asleep, night waking's, or poor-quality sleep, the result is the same: a brain that struggles to process information and regulate behaviour.

Sleep deprivation raises cortisol, your body’s main stress hormone, which can lead to:

  • Trouble focusing
  • Impulse control issues
  • Emotional outbursts
  • Anxiety and fatigue
  • Daytime hyperactivity (especially in kids)

In children, lack of sleep often manifests as hyperactivity rather than drowsiness. It’s their body’s way of compensating for tiredness. Adults may notice brain fog, irritability, and forgetfulness. We often find that once sleep hygiene, nutrient support, and herbal tonics like Passionflower, Lemon Balm, or Withania are introduced, these ADHD-like symptoms begin to calm significantly.

Food Sensitivities: When “Healthy” Foods Aren’t Helping

Many of the behavioural issues linked to ADHD can be triggered or worsened by inflammatory responses to food. These reactions are often delayed and can occur hours or even days after eating a problem food, making it difficult for families to pinpoint the cause.

Common culprits include:

  • Gluten and dairy
  • Food dyes and preservatives
  • High histamine foods (like aged cheese, fermented foods, or tomatoes)
  • Excess sugar and processed carbohydrates

In sensitive individuals, these foods can trigger immune responses that influence brain chemistry and behaviour. You might notice hyperactivity, irritability, difficulty concentrating, or even aggression after certain meals or snacks. These reactions are not “bad behaviour”—they’re biochemical reactions that need to be addressed holistically.

We use food diaries, intolerance testing, and gut repair protocols alongside herbs like Turmeric, Slippery Elm, and Licorice Root to help identify and heal the source of reactivity.

Low Iron or Nutrient Deficiencies: Fuel for Focus

Iron, zinc, magnesium, B6, B12 and folate are all critical for brain development, attention, and mood regulation. Unfortunately, many children and adults—especially those on restricted diets—are deficient in these nutrients. Even borderline deficiencies can significantly impact the nervous system.

Low iron, in particular, is a common root cause of:

  • Fatigue and brain fog
  • Short attention span
  • Irritability
  • Pale skin and dark under-eye circles
  • Poor memory or comprehension

These symptoms often overlap with ADHD, leading to misdiagnosis. Through functional blood testing, OAT (Organic Acid Testing) and Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA), we assess whether poor nutrient status may be driving the symptoms—and correct this gently with herbal nutritives like Nettle, Dandelion Leaf, and Yellow Dock, and and our Iron Boost tonic and targeted supplementation where needed.

Anxiety & Emotional Overwhelm: Not Just “Naughty Behaviour”

Many children and teens with anxiety are often labelled with ADHD because their emotional dysregulation looks like impulsivity, avoidance, or zoning out. Adults may appear distracted or irritable, but underneath they’re often overwhelmed, tense, or exhausted from nervous system overdrive.

When the brain is constantly scanning for danger (even perceived danger like social pressure or sensory overload), it can’t settle into the focus and calm needed for learning or working.

Chronic anxiety also drains nutrients and suppresses digestion, compounding the issue. Herbs like Chamomile, Skullcap, and Lemon Balm, as well as nervous system tonics like Withania and Holy Basil, can help bring the system out of fight-or-flight mode and into a space of calm and focus—without sedation.

Thyroid and Hormonal Imbalances: The Metabolic Misdiagnosis

In both adults and children, imbalances in thyroid hormones or sex hormones can mimic ADHD symptoms. The thyroid, in particular, influences energy, metabolism, memory, and mood. If it’s under-functioning (hypothyroidism), symptoms may include:

  • Slow thinking or poor memory
  • Brain fog
  • Fatigue or sluggishness
  • Anxiety or depression
  • Difficulty concentrating

These symptoms often worsen during puberty, perimenopause, or other hormonal shifts. For children, this might look like attention issues or mood instability; for adults, it might mean struggling to stay motivated or focused at work.

Thyroid issues are frequently missed with standard blood testing alone. At ADHD Naturopathic Clinic, we consider comprehensive hormone panels, nutritional status, and symptoms holistically. We may use herbs like Bladderwrack, Licorice Root, and Rhodiola, alongside adaptogens and dietary adjustments to restore hormonal balance and improve cognitive function.

Heavy Metals & Environmental Toxins: The Invisible Load on the Brain

In today’s world, our bodies—especially children’s developing brains—are exposed to an increasing burden of environmental toxins. From heavy metals like lead, mercury, and aluminium, to chemicals in plastics, flame retardants, pesticides, and personal care products, these substances can quietly accumulate and disrupt neurological function.

For some children and adults showing ADHD-like symptoms, it’s not a “behaviour problem” at all—it may be toxic overload. Heavy metals such as lead, mercury, aluminium, and cadmium can accumulate in the body over time, disrupting brain function, nervous system regulation, and detox pathways. These toxins aren’t just picked up from the environment—they can also be passed down from parents, not only through the placenta during pregnancy but also through the father's sperm, impacting the child’s neurological development even before birth.

These toxins can:

  • Disrupt neurotransmitter signalling
  • Interfere with mitochondria (your energy factories)
  • Cause oxidative stress and inflammation
  • Impair detox pathways in the liver and gut
  • Lower antioxidant levels, such as glutathione

This can result in symptoms like:

  • Brain fog
  • Poor memory
  • Mood swings
  • Fatigue or hyperactivity
  • Sensory processing issues

In children, exposure to heavy metals has been directly linked to impaired cognition, attention issues, and emotional dysregulation. Mercury from fish or dental amalgams, aluminium from vaccines or antacids, and lead from old paint or contaminated water are just a few common sources.

At ADHD Naturopathic Clinic, we assess toxic burden through HTMA (Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis), OAT testing, and thorough case history. If toxicity is playing a role, we create gentle, tailored detox protocols using detox-supportive herbs such as: Milk Thistle, Chlorella, Schisandra, Dandelion Root, Turmeric

It’s essential to support the emunctories (liver, lymph, gut, skin, kidneys) and not push detox too fast, especially in children. This is where herbal medicine shines—offering gentle, nourishing detoxification that restores clarity and calm over time.

Genetic Variants and ADHD Symptoms

Genes don’t determine your destiny—but they can shape how your brain and body respond to the world. Many people experiencing ADHD-like symptoms have underlying genetic variations that influence how they make neurotransmitters, detoxify, or manage stress.

One of the most well-known is MTHFR (methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase). When this gene isn’t functioning optimally due to a mutation, it can impact:

  • How well you convert folate into its active form
  • Your ability to produce neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine
  • Detoxification and clearance of environmental toxins

In short, an MTHFR mutation can lead to poor methylation, which is essential for brain health, mood regulation, energy, and even sleep quality.

Other genetic mutations that may contribute to ADHD-type symptoms include:

  • COMT – influences how fast you break down dopamine; slow variants may lead to overstimulation or emotional overwhelm
  • MAOA/MAOB – involved in the breakdown of serotonin and other neurotransmitters
  • GAD1 – affects how your body converts glutamate (a stimulating neurotransmitter) into GABA (a calming one)
  • DAO or HNMT – linked to histamine intolerance, which can cause hyperactivity, irritability, and inflammation

When these genes aren’t functioning well, it doesn’t necessarily cause ADHD—but it can create the perfect storm of irritability, poor focus, impulsivity, or emotional dysregulation, especially when combined with gut dysfunction, nutrient deficiencies, or stress.

At ADHD Naturopathic clinic, we offer genetic testing and interpretation to uncover these patterns and guide truly personalised treatment.

This helps us match you or your child with the right forms of nutrients (like methylated B vitamins), avoid supplements that may aggravate symptoms, and choose herbs that support your unique biochemistry—not just your diagnosis.



What Makes ADHD Worse (Even If It’s Not ADHD)

Whether someone has a formal ADHD diagnosis or is simply struggling with similar symptoms, there are a few common lifestyle and environmental triggers that can make things significantly worse. These often go overlooked—but once addressed, they can lead to profound improvements in focus, behaviour, and emotional regulation.

  1. High Sugar and Refined Carbohydrates - Blood sugar highs and crashes wreak havoc on the nervous system. After a spike in energy comes the crash—leaving you (or your child) tired, moody, and unfocused. For kids, this can look like hyperactivity followed by meltdowns. For adults, it's fatigue, brain fog, and poor productivity. A diet high in processed foods can amplify ADHD-like behaviours dramatically.
  2. Screen Time Overload - Too much screen time—especially fast-paced games or constant device switching—can overstimulate the brain’s dopamine system, leading to reduced attention span and reward-seeking behaviour. It also increases sleep disruption and reduces time spent in outdoor play or creative activities that naturally regulate mood.
  3. Lack of Movement - Exercise isn’t just for physical health—it’s vital for brain function. Regular movement boosts circulation, balances neurotransmitters, and calms the nervous system. Kids stuck indoors or adults in sedentary jobs often experience more restlessness, irritability, and poor concentration.
  4. Poor Gut Health - We’ve already touched on this, but it’s worth repeating: an unhealthy gut can reduce nutrient absorption, impair detoxification, and directly affect brain function. Even when people eat well, underlying gut dysfunction can block progress until it’s addressed.
  5. Unmanaged Stress - Stress drains magnesium, B vitamins, and energy reserves needed for focus and emotional balance. A stressed-out nervous system tends to swing between fight-or-flight and complete shutdown.  Whether its school anxiety, work burnout or sensory overload - stress always worsens symptoms that mimic or overlap with ADHD.   
  6. Underlying Infections - Things like candida overgrowth, chronic viruses (like Epstein-Barr), and even parasites can trigger systemic inflammation and immune activation. In children, this often presents as restlessness, sleep issues, or behavioural regressions. In adults, it may appear as chronic fatigue, irritability, and lack of motivation.

 

In functional medicine, we look beneath the surface—because treating the wrong condition can lead to unnecessary supplements, stress, and lack of progress.


Getting to the Root Cause—You Don’t Have to Guess

If you or your child are struggling with focus, behaviour, or emotional ups and downs, know this: it’s not always ADHD, and you don’t have to figure it out alone.

At ADHD Naturopathic clinic, we take a functional medicine approach—looking deeper into what’s really driving the symptoms. Whether it’s gut imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, toxins, stress, or hidden infections, we use testing, case history, and tailored support to uncover the root cause.

We then create personalised herbal and nutritional protocols to bring the body back into balance—gently, naturally, and with the whole person in mind.

Common tests we may use include:

You’ll walk away with a clearer understanding of what’s going on—and a plan that’s achievable and effective.


Ready to Start?

If this blog resonates with you, it might be time to stop guessing and start testing.

 

Book a consultation to uncover what’s really going on and get support tailored to your unique constitution.

 

Or visit our online shop (Oak Tree Herbal Clinic) to explore our hand-crafted herbal blends for nervous system and gut support.

 

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