According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), 6.11 million children in the United States have ADHD. However, with the advancement of medical science, it is found that ADHD is not only limited to kids. Adults can also be diagnosed with this disorder. In fact, more than 5% of the adults in the U.S. are living with this condition.
Furthermore, according to the national institute of mental health, the prevalence of this condition is expected to grow to 8.1%.
If you are recently diagnosed with adult ADHD, you must have several doubts about it. Don’t worry; this article will provide you with all the information regarding the disorder and help you clear all the doubts.
So, let’s get started!
What is ADHD?
ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. It is a very common mental disorder that makes it challenging to concentrate on one thing or to sit still. Generally, it is diagnosed during the school years. Nonetheless, some people might identify this disorder in the later stages of life.
Moreover, it is of three types:
- Inattentive,
- Hyperactive/impulsive, and
- Combined.
The diagnosis is usually based on the symptoms and past 6-month behavior.
Symptoms of ADHD
The symptoms are also divided into two parts:
- Inattentive, and
- Hyperactive.
Signs Of Inattentive ADHD:
- Shorter attention span
- Careless mistakes
- Losing things very often
- Trouble doing time-consuming activities
- Poor organizing skills
- Frequently changing activities
- Difficulty in following instructions
Signs Of Hyperactivity:
- Inability to sit still
- Continuous physical movement
- Frequent fidgeting
- Excessive talking and interrupting conversations
- Acting without thinking
- Constant Mood Swings
- Quick temper and irritability
- Difficulty in waiting for someone or something
These symptoms can lead to poor social interactions and might also cause issues in relationships and careers. Furthermore, these conditions can also trigger other related issues such as Bipolar disorder, OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), or personality disorder. Even so, if proper treatment and coaching are taken, these symptoms can be reduced to a great extent.
What Does A Person Feel After Diagnosis?
Generally, the reactions of every person are different. Some may feel surprised or deny the reports. At the same time, some might feel relieved to finally understand the reason behind their behavior.
Similarly, some people might feel angry or sad to trouble their family or friends. Emotions are all different for everyone.
Nonetheless, being diagnosed with a disorder means that you have the chance to improve your way of life. This disorder is not 100% curable. However, with constant efforts, medications, and therapy, you can easily cope with the symptoms and manage your behavior.
But, before you learn the ways to treat this disorder, you must let go of the shame or self-blame. Remember that it’s just a brain condition that can be improved. You just need to move past all the negative feelings and accept the condition.
Treatment And Support For ADHD
Following are the best ways to treat an ADHD adult. You can either use any one of them or create a combination that you are more comfortable in. Nevertheless, it would be best if you consult with your doctor or therapist.
- Coaching
The first option is to work with a coach or support group. They can help you become more productive and organized. You can find various Adult ADHD support groups that understand what you are going through. With your sincere commitment to learning and their efforts to guide and support you, you’ll be able to grow on personal and professional levels.
Additionally, rather than improving your executive functional skills, the coaching will focus on creating a tailor-made game plan. It will help in taking steps for growth as per your situation and personality.
Tip: To select the best coaching, watch the interviews and read the testimonials. It’ll help you understand how the coaching organization works and if it’s good for you or not.
- Therapy
The second option is to schedule a talk therapy. It goes without saying that this diagnosis must have created a disbalance in your life. There must be thousands or millions of things that you might want to talk about. Perhaps, it must be very overwhelming.
Talking with a therapist or counselor can help you manage all these thoughts and behavior with the help of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). They can help you understand the reason behind your every action and how it affects your life. Moreover, they will not focus on past behaviors. Instead, they will help you improve your present situation by teaching emotion control and the ability to plan.
Along with you, your family and friends can also take counseling to understand your behavior. It’ll help improve your relationship. Not to forget, the therapy will also help ease stress and anxiety, which is common in adult ADHD.
- Medication
Last but most importantly, if your doctor or psychiatrist has prescribed you some medicines to ease your symptoms, you must take them. Whether you like it or not. It is not an option but is only for the betterment of your health.
Also, every patient has different symptoms and requires a different dosage. So, it might take some time to find out the medication that works best for you. That means you need to be patient. In addition to this, if you have any allergies or any other disorder, you must disclose it to the doctor. They might also recommend antidepressant pills or any other treatment.
These medications will help improve your concentration power and impulse control. However, if you have behavioral problems, you need to take coaching.
Note: Along with medicines, you can also try Yoga and Meditation. Several studies have shown that it helps in reducing stress and improving the functioning of the brain. It will also help control emotions and make rational decisions.
To Sum It All Up!
Medical science has yet to discover the prime cause of ADHD. For now, there is evidence that it could be genetics. But, nothing is for sure, except for one thing, i.e., with proper coaching and therapy, you’ll be able to elevate the concentration power and overall behavior. Also, do not miss your medication. A combination of all these treatments will help you overcome all your challenges and strengthen relationships.
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