Did you know that many adults have gone their whole lives without a proper ADHD diagnosis. By the time an undiagnosed adult enters treatment they are struggling in the marriage, feel like they may lose their job, have lost significant friendships, struggle with addiction, or have issues with the law. Typically, they are not only struggling with ADHD but with co-occurring mental health conditions as well such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and or substance abuse. Often these individuals come to therapy having spent their whole lives feeling like they don’t fit in, they struggled to keep friends or jobs, had a difficult time in school, and struggle with feeling like other people don’t understand them. Whether you were diagnosed as a child, as an adult or looking for a diagnosis, we can help. Once diagnosed our therapist can help you understand your form of ADHD and how this has presented itself in your life. Next, we move towards teaching coping skills, distress tolerance skills, emotion regulation, and effective communication skills.
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that an individual is born with. We now know that not everyone’s brains function the same way and for individuals with ADHD, ADD or Autism Spectrum Disorder this is called neurodivergent because their brain’s do not function the same way as a majority of individuals.
There are three different ways ADHD presents itself, depending on which types of symptoms are strongest in the individual: (https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/facts.html#Types)
Predominantly Inattentive Presentation: It is hard for the individual to organize or finish a task, to pay attention to details, or to follow instructions or conversations. The person is easily distracted or forgets details of daily routines.
Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Presentation: The person fidgets and talks a lot. It is hard to sit still for long (e.g., for a meal or while doing homework). Smaller children may run, jump or climb constantly. The individual feels restless and has trouble with impulsiveness. Someone who is impulsive may interrupt others a lot, grab things from people, or speak at inappropriate times. It is hard for the person to wait their turn or listen to directions. A person with impulsiveness may have more accidents and injuries than others.
Combined Presentation: Symptoms of the above two types are equally present in the person.
Common Symptoms of ADHD (taken from https://adhdonline.com/symptoms/) include:
Difficulty paying attention
Friends and family often note that they don’t feel like they have your attention when they are talking with you
You sit down to answer an email but then the dryer beeps so you get up to empty it and then a new idea strikes as you walk down the hall and… well you never did reply to that email
In conversations, you frequently interrupt the person speaking
Your desk/to-do list/inbox/etc. are littered with unfinished tasks
Keys, socks, glasses of water, remote controls, phones, and more go ‘missing’ daily
Mood swings
Everyone’s emotions have the potential to take them on a little roller coaster ride. But yours do much more regularly. It looks something like this:
Friends and family have noted that you have a quick temper
You get frustrated easily – whether by your kiddo who can’t find their shoes, the person in front of you at the drive thru taking forever, or your own inability to finish a task
In daily life, you often feel like your emotions are not within your control
Sleep – or, rather, lack of sleep – feels tied to your mood swings but you can’t seem to get enough zzz’s
Disorganization
That one junk drawer you dig through to find a pen doesn’t count. Here we’re talking about an overall struggle to keep things orderly. Look for these symptoms:
Friends and family lovingly joke that your room/house/car is a mess as they watch you search for things
You struggle to prioritize your work which leaves you feeling flustered and behind most of the time
More than a few missed deadlines haunt you at any given moment
Hyperactivity
Doodling during a less-than-thrilling meeting? We’ve all been there. But if your hands, feet, or entire body must always be in some sort of motion, that might be something to look into. Specifically, look for these:
Friends and family regularly ask you to stop tapping your foot, shaking a table, or making an annoying sound with your fingers
You find yourself standing up and walking around during meetings, or that you focus better when you keep your hands busy with a fidget toy
Hyperfocus
Where did the time go? You find yourself swept up in the flow of an activity, a book, or a task and losing hours at a time regularly.
Impulsivity and creativity
You take risks. You don’t always think through the consequences. But that freedom also leaves people telling you that you’re the most creative person they know.
Women with ADHD
Recent research has shown that ADHD presents differently in females than males which has led to many girls never receiving a diagnosis. Girls with ADHD tend to be quiet, reserved, extremely shy or never stop talking, and anxious as opposed to boys who tend to be loud, impulsive, and unable to sit still. Since typical male behaviors are more disruptive, they have been researched more leading to ADHD assessments looking for behaviors that are common in boys versus girls. There are new assessments for accurately diagnosing females however they so new that they are not common practice yet. If you have been told in the past that you don’t meet the qualifications for ADHD, as a female, don’t let that deter you from seeking treatment again. There is a lot of new research and information becoming available to help women get the help they need. At Hope in Healing Therapy, we are keeping ourselves informed in order to help these women learn how to gain back control of their lives and reach their potentials.
DSM-5 Criteria for ADHD
People with ADHD show a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity–impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development:
Inattention: Six or more symptoms of inattention for children up to age 16 years, or five or more for adolescents age 17 years and older and adults; symptoms of inattention have been present for at least 6 months, and they are inappropriate for developmental level:
Often fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, at work, or with other activities.
Often has trouble holding attention on tasks or play activities.
Often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly.
Often does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish schoolwork, chores, or duties in the workplace (e.g., loses focus, side-tracked).
Often has trouble organizing tasks and activities.
Often avoids, dislikes, or is reluctant to do tasks that require mental effort over a long period of time (such as schoolwork or homework).
Often loses things necessary for tasks and activities (e.g. school materials, pencils, books, tools, wallets, keys, paperwork, eyeglasses, mobile telephones).
Is often easily distracted
Is often forgetful in daily activities.
Hyperactivity and Impulsivity: Six or more symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity for children up to age 16 years, or five or more for adolescents age 17 years and older and adults; symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity have been present for at least 6 months to an extent that is disruptive and inappropriate for the person’s developmental level:
Often fidgets with or taps hands or feet, or squirms in seat.
Often leaves seat in situations when remaining seated is expected.
Often runs about or climbs in situations where it is not appropriate (adolescents or adults may be limited to feeling restless).
Often unable to play or take part in leisure activities quietly.
Is often “on the go” acting as if “driven by a motor”.
Often talks excessively.
Often blurts out an answer before a question has been completed.
Often has trouble waiting their turn.
Often interrupts or intrudes on others (e.g., butts into conversations or games)
In addition, the following conditions must be met:
Several inattentive or hyperactive-impulsive symptoms were present before age 12 years.
Several symptoms are present in two or more settings, (such as at home, school or work; with friends or relatives; in other activities).
There is clear evidence that the symptoms interfere with, or reduce the quality of, social, school, or work functioning.
The symptoms are not better explained by another mental disorder (such as a mood disorder, anxiety disorder, dissociative disorder, or a personality disorder). The symptoms do not happen only during the course of schizophrenia or another psychotic disorder.
For more information about diagnosis and treatment throughout the lifespan, please visit the websites of the National Resource Center on ADHD and the National Institutes of Mental Health.