Treating Adults With ADHD
If you have ADHD, even the simplest tasks can be difficult. It can be difficult to get out of bed in the morning, meet deadlines, and maintain healthy professional and personal relationships.
To be diagnosed with ADHD, you must experience five or more symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that began before age 12 and interfere with school and work functioning.
Medications
Stimulants are the most popular medications for treating adults with ADHD. These medications balance and increase the levels of neurotransmitters within the brain, which are essential for the brain's ability to regulate impulses and plan and follow through in tasks, and to concentrate. They can also ease symptoms that affect daily functioning, such as disorganization or difficulty maintaining relationships.
There are a variety of stimulant medications. The two most common are methylphenidate and amphetamine. They are both available as pills, liquids patches or liquids and are used alone or in combination with psychotherapy. Adults with ADHD are usually prescribed long-acting tablets that release the medication slowly. The tablets are consumed only once per day. They are believed to be more effective than intermediate- or short-acting drugs that require patients to take their medication as many as four times per day.
When taking a stimulant, it is crucial to inform your doctor about any adverse effects you're experiencing. Common side effects include a bloated stomach as well as a decrease in appetite and changes in blood pressure and heart rate. The stimulants can cause the tics to become more apparent, and can lead to small growth delays in children and adolescents.
Antidepressants are often prescribed by a physician to manage impulsivity-related symptoms in those who aren't treated with medication for adult ADHD. FDA has not approved antidepressants to treat ADHD. However studies have proven that they are effective in a number of instances.
It is also important to keep in mind that even though medication can improve the ability to plan and organize out everyday tasks, they're not the only solution for ADHD. People with ADHD must still make an effort to establish and maintaining healthy relationships, practicing good sleep habits regularly, exercising regularly and incorporating a balanced diet into their lives.
People suffering from ADHD have issues in their relationships due to erratic behaviors, poor time management, and poor organizational skills. Classes that teach conflict resolution or communication skills or therapy that focuses on relationships issues, can be helpful. Counseling is also beneficial to many couples because it assists them to overcome patterns of blame that cause their marriages in trouble or hinder families from working effectively.
Psychotherapy
If you're an adult with ADHD and you're a child of ADHD, you might find that psychotherapy will help you take control of your life and reduce the symptoms. Your therapist will usually offer emotional support, and will help you improve your time management skills, organizational skills and problem-solving capabilities. Psychotherapy can also help you deal with family and relationship issues that often arise when dealing with ADHD.
Talk therapy can be carried out over the phone or in person. In some cases, it's used in combination with medication to treat mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. It can also be beneficial in treating other problems, such as coping with chronic pain or an illness that is serious.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one form of psychotherapy. This involves identifying negative thoughts and changing them to improve behavior. Typically, this involves examining the past experiences and challenges. Your therapist will show you how to dissect these situations to recognize and modify the negative thinking patterns that can contribute to them.
Dialectical behavior therapy is a different alternative. DBT teaches you a variety of skills that can aid you in managing your emotions and behavior. It can help you develop mindfulness which helps your mind be calm and focused on the present moment. It can also help you control your emotions, so that they don't trigger impulse-driven behaviors.
Other types of psychotherapy include interpersonal therapy and the practice of hypnotherapy. Interpersonal therapy can help you develop the ability to express and recognize your emotions in a healthy way, while hypnotherapy can help you relax and feel calm during stressful situations. These methods can help you increase your confidence and self-esteem, as well as aiding you in dealing with anger and frustration.
Finally, family and marriage therapy can address problems that ADHD causes in your relationships with family members. It can help you communicate better with your partner or spouse and discover efficient ways to tackle issues with money, anger over neglected responsibilities, and disagreements regarding how to deal with the impulsive decisions.
Counseling
A thorough physical exam is the first step to treating adults with ADHD. A doctor will be looking for underlying conditions that can influence ADHD and include depression, anxiety disorders mood swings, and other psychiatric illnesses. Mood disorders often co-exist with ADHD and can cause more symptoms. Adults suffering from ADHD should also be screened for alcohol and drugs addiction.
Talk therapy can help those with ADHD learn how to manage their symptoms and improve their relationships. Counseling for adults with ADHD is available in a variety of formats, including group and individual sessions for therapy online, counseling platforms for online and phone based therapy. The purpose of counseling is to help individuals build essential skills, such as managing stress and anger controlling emotions, as well as improving communication and problem-solving.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a common type of talk therapy that teaches coping techniques to deal with ADHD. It involves working with a therapist in order to identify and change negative thinking patterns that lead to issues such as insufficient time management and impulsive behaviours. CBT can be used in conjunction with medications or on its own.
Family counseling is a common aspect of treatment for people suffering from ADHD. Couples and children may be frustrated by the difficulties dealing with someone who has ADHD especially when it creates relationship issues. Couples therapy can teach partners how to communicate more effectively, resolve conflicts and support their goals in the face of the challenges that ADHD can bring about.
There are various other types of talk therapy, including mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) and dialectical behavior therapy. MBCT uses meditation training to improve a person's self-awareness and control impulsive behaviors. It also teaches strategies to reduce stress, focus and enhance executive functioning.
Certain patients suffering from ADHD find that making changes to their diet and incorporating more exercise help to reduce the symptoms. Exercise can improve concentration, improve mood and reduce hyperactivity. A diet that is rich in healthy food choices can provide essential nutrients and assist with impulsive behaviors. Sleep hygiene is also important to ensure a restful sleep. Making sure you have a regular bedtime, and following a consistent wake up routine can help reduce hyperactivity, improve concentration and overall health.
Coaching
Coaching for add and treatment suffering from ADHD is focused on practical solutions, unlike psychotherapy, which can assist with emotional issues. A professional coach will teach you how to reduce distractions, set up a productive workspace and prioritize tasks. They can also help you relax methods that can reduce impulsivity and improve concentration.
Another issue that adults with ADHD is sustaining motivation to finish tasks and goals, and a coach can assist by providing encouragement and discipline. They can utilize strategies such as the Pomodoro Technique to help maintain focus and efficiency. They can also help people establish healthy eating and exercise habits to boost their energy levels.
Coaching can help adults suffering from ADHD improve their communication skills. They can also help them create and maintain positive relationships by focusing on their strengths instead of issues. Additionally coaching can help adults suffering from ADHD recognize their own patterns and behaviors and how they affect others.
Many adults with ADHD struggle to manage their emotions, which can impact their self-esteem as well as their social and career performance. A coach can instruct methods to reduce stress and improve attention and coping abilities including mindfulness and meditation. This can help improve sleep, which is often interrupted by racing thoughts and a sleepless night.
A coach can also assist people develop healthier eating habits, which is often problematic for those with ADHD. They can give suggestions on how to shop for groceries, prepare meals, and keep healthy snacks in the pantry. This can help to avoid eating foods high in sugar, salt or fats that could trigger ADHD symptoms.
Coaching is a crucial component of treatment for adults suffering from ADHD, and it can be used in conjunction with medication and psychotherapy to help them manage their symptoms. In order to find a coach who is a good match, it is essential to investigate their credentials thoroughly. A licensed mental health professional could be helpful in recommending someone. Or, a person who suffers from ADHD can find their own coach via forums on the internet or by word of mouth.