Addict Mother - Can it cause ADHD

[Waterbaby2029]

I'm 40 years old and have always felt a bit different.
I had major anxiety as a child and teenager.
I sometimes say inappropriate things, really struggle to do things (often get called lazy). But I'm not being lazy I just can't seem to get it organised especially when others are around as it is just too much.
I just never complete anything and struggle holding down a job.
I really feel that something is not quite right.
Anyway my mother was heroin addict and alcoholic and I was exposed to this when she was pregnant with me.

I'm just wondering if my mums addictions could have caused me mental health issues etc? Does anyone know or have similar experiences as me?

So sorry you had such a rough start. I’m not expert bur I would agree with you. What you were exposed to in vitro could have quite possibly have this affect on you as you were developing. Hope life is a bit easier for you these days

Have you looked into developmental trauma?
It presents similarly to ADHD and sometimes ASD.

If you Google ADHD causes you will find a lot of articles that suggest that factors such as drink, drugs, smoking and premature births are linked to ADHD. In addition lots of research on parental mental health and the effect on the child in utero as well as parental mental health and child outcome.

Appreciate some of this type of reading might be a bit heavy but maybe you can find something that resonates with you that you can explore further.

You can absolutely get an adult diagnosis for ADHD and some people find it really help to finally explain why they feel or act in certain ways. Obviously options for support too but pharmacological and therapeutical.

Good luck.