Adult ADHD Treatment
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Are You Trying To Cope With Any Of The Common Symptoms Of ADHD?
Ask Yourself The Following Questions.
Are you easily distracted from activities you wish to focus upon?
Have you been told your mind seems elsewhere?
Do you often have a hard time organizing tasks and activities?
Have people suggested that you might act before you have thought things through?
Do you shy away from tasks that require sustained mental effort?
Are you often forgetful in daily activities such as paying bills, running errand, returning calls or keeping appointments?
Do you find yourself talking excessively?
Have people suggested that you are moody?
Do you have difficulty waiting in line at a retail store?
Do you find that you are frequently restless?
Have you had difficulty waiting for your turn in a conversation?
It’s a fact that we all experiences these difficulties some of the time. The question becomes are any of these things a moderate of concern to you.
You are not alone!
ADHD is very common in Jacksonville, FL area these days! Thousands of adults are affected by the problem, seeking ADHD doctors, psychiatrists and therapists.
The good news is, that with adult ADHD treatment with the help of a compassionate and kind Jacksonville ADHD specialist, you can greatly reduce your distraction, impulsivity and lack of focus. To a large extent, you can overcome many of the symptoms of the disorder.
That’s correct! Contrary to what many Jacksonville area ADHD specialists will say, ADHD is not genetically or biologically hard wired to stay! With time and a commitment to ADHD treatment through good evidence-based counseling and therapy substantial improvement is possible! I Have seen it happen with adult ADHD.
You My Wonder if You Fit Any of The Different Types Of Adult ADHD?
Sometimes people have combination of attention deficits and hyperactivity or impulsivity. Other times people can be predominantly inattentive or predominantly hyperactive or impulsive.
Adults who grapple from attention deficit disorder sometimes experience symptoms related to behavioral health problems such as depressed mood, anxiety or substance abuse.
Often times individual with adult ADHD experience a cluster of symptoms. The common clusters are as follows:
Attention difficulties such as difficulty sustaining attention and focus to tasks. This inattention is not due to defiance or lack of understanding.
Hyperactivity/restlessness including having difficulty sitting still or being restless or fidgety. Sometimes others can feel ‘worn out’ by the person’s overactivity.
Temper characterized by irritability, ‘short fuse’ or lower tolerance for frustration.
Affective liability noted by emotional responses that are irregular or out of proportion to the circumstances.
Emotional over-reactivity such as being easily brought to anger, tearfulness or anxiousness.
Disorganization displayed by lacking orderliness in thoughts and or actions.
Impulsivity seen by inability to stop and think before speaking or acting. Not thinking about the consequences of one’s behavior. Sometimes people will make decisions without thinking about long-term consequences. For example, taking a job without adequate information about the job or even how much you will earn.
How Prevalent Is ADHD In Adults?
According to the National institute of Health about 4.4% of adults experience ADHD. Researchers have also found that adults can often experience inattention and restlessness. But, impulsivity may also remain a significant problem.
We also know that there are gender differences. Adult ADHD is more prevalent in males than females. Prevalence was higher for males (5.4%) versus females (3.2%). The ratio is about 1.6 males to 1 female or 1.6:1 prevalence. Also females are more likely to be predominantly inattentive or ADD than are males. Studies have suggested that the non-Hispanic white group (5.4%) had a higher prevalence than all other race/ethnicity groups.
Are There Differences Between Adult and Childhood ADHD?
Adult symptoms of ADHD continue into childhood and are not considered new. This is because ADHD is considered a neurological condition that displays symptoms before age 12 years of age.
Many adults with continued symptoms notice problems with paying attention to detail, talking too fast having difficulty with organization and or problems with focus and concentration.
Adults with ADHD often have noticed that the hyperactivity they experienced in childhood has lessened. Many adults have developed methods for coping with the increased activity level.
There is no evidence that ADHD develops as an adult. Concentration problems are often the result of anxiety, stress in relationships or at work, depression or even a concussion.
As an experienced clinician, I have observed concentration problems arising from thee emotional symptoms or concussion. But, that is not ADHD.
Are Those With Adult ADHD more Prone to Other Life Problems?
Associated problems and issues that often co-exist with adult ADHD the has continued from childhood may include difficulty focusing, forgetfulness and poor time management.
Other my suffer from low self-esteem, anxiety, mood swings, depression or relationship probes ghat seem chronic.
Still other have difficulties at work due to chronic lateness, poor time precaution or even substance abuse.
The problem is that often times medication alone will not help resolve these issues.
The hard truth is that people with ADHD are at risk for impaired mental health (anxiety, substance use, depression, suicide),impaired psychosocial functioning (academic
underachievement, work and relationship difficulties, underemployment, legal troubles) and traffic accidents. This is why help in Jacksonville for Adult ADHD is so important. These problems are not inevitable.
What Common Diseases and Disorders May Contribute to or Mimic ADHD-like Symptoms?
Cognitive Disorders - These would include mild cognitive impairment, traumatic brain injury (TBI) or dementia. In my work with active duty soldiers and veterans I have seen mild TBI with symptoms very similar to ADHD.
Toxicity or Infections - These include things like nutritional deficiencies like lack of thiamine; heavy metal exposure or infections such as Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) common in females and also males.
Psychological Problems - As mentioned elsewhere depression, anxiety, pTSD, substance use disorder and bipolar disorder.
Other Disease such as Parkinson’s Disease (PD), developmental disorders like Asperger’s syndrome or autism, sleep apnea, thyroid disease or liver problems.
Medications can mimic ADHD such as steroids, caffeine or nutritional supplements, nicotine, or opioids or anti-anxiety medicines, anti-seizure drugs or antihistamines.
Types of Treatment for Adult ADHD
As have said before, I am a strong advocate of scientifically-based treatments for all forms of human suffering. These methods can include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution-Focused Counseling, Habit Change, Mindfulness Stress Reduction, Education on Wellness topics related to your personal situation, Assertive Communication Skills, and many others.
It is a fact that some people with moderate to severe ADHD will still benefit from medication. In fact, research tells us that about 70% of those with significant adult ADHD derive some benefit from medication.
Medication
STIMULANT MEDICATION MAY BE PART OF THE SOLUTION
Stimulant medication is not without risks however. As with any mediation there are potential side effects. These medications most often prescribed by personal care physicians and also psychiatrists must be chosen wisely and monitored by potential side effects.
Even when mediation is continued in Adults with ADHD, augmenting medication with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and/or psychosocial interventions such as skill-building may produce better treatment outcomes.
Is Medication To Much of a Good Thing?
To much of a good thing can be potentially problematic. In the U.S., the total number of stimulant prescriptions has increased significantly over the years. The number of prescriptions has leveled off for children but is continuing to increase for adolescents and adults. In 1993 there were about 10 million prescriptions. But by 2014 the number had risen to almost 60 million.
And, there has been a 6x increase between 1994 – 2009 in the proportion of psychiatrist office visits and 8x increase among non-psychiatrists with adult patients in which stimulants were prescribed.
Is the increasing frequency of diagnosis a result of increased recognition or a diagnostic epidemic?
What About Side Effects?
Side effects include cardiovascular effects such has increased blood pressure, heart palpitations or irregular heart rate. Neurological or brain effects can include headache, insomnia, anxiety dizziness, and tremors or twitching. Psychological effects can include anger problems, irritability, nervousness, restlessness and mood swings to name a few.
The can be fact on the skin, weight loss, stomach pain, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting. Dry mouth can be common. Inflammation in the sinus has also be found in some studies but is more rare.
The fact is that substance use disorder is a risk for those who may take the medication to enhance performance at work or in school.
Non Drug Therapies Alone or in Combination
ADHD TREATMENT - Cognitive Behavioral Treatment
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of treatment that focuses upon the interplay between thought (cognitions), behaviors emotions to assist those with ADHD to function more effectively in their daily lives. The emphasis is on cognitions (thoughts, images, beliefs, self-talk) in the process of change. CBT helps people recognize their existing maladaptive thoughts and behavior patterns in order to enable hem to modify them with alternative beliefs, thoughts and new habits. How a person with ADHD thinks may need modification.
Areas of Adult ADHD Treatment with CBT
People seeking adult ADHD treatments or therapy want to be better able to follow their plans, work tasks, educational pursuits, and keeping up with daily tasks and errands. Often times poor freedom from distraction, poor self-control, and difficulty with organization affect our best intentions and plans. Whether the ADHD suffer is taking medication or not, CBT can be helpful to the individual in achieving their personal goals and objectives. The following are examples of areas where CBT intervention for adult ADHD is helpful:
ONLINE COUNSELING FOR ADHD HELPS
Developing an Effective To Do List
Setting up a Daily Planner
Defining and Prioritizing
Time and Task Management
Developing a Plan of Action
Motivation and Energy
Managing Information
Problem Solving
Managing the Workplace
Relationship Management
Overcoming Anxiety and Depression
Dealing with Anger
Coping with Toxic Relationships
Improving Self-Esteem
Adult ADHD Treatment Is Challenging- Will It Be Worth It?
This is the question on many minds. Many people are reluctant to take the first step to improving their lives. One of the symptoms of adult ADHD is avoidance and procrastination. Thus, it is natural that you are thinking about this. But try to not over think it.
My approach is to go slowly so that you can handle the therapy and it is a meaningful experience. The pace is set by you! Most people make a lot of progress and believe the process was worth taking the risk to move forward. Day-to-day live, work and relationships often improve substantially.
What’s Next ….
Interested In Adult ADHD Treatment And Think We Might Be A Good Fit? Simply Contact Me For A Free Consultation And Strategy Session.
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5®). American Psychiatric Pub.
Bell, V. (2017). We need to get better at critiquing psychiatric diagnosis. Retrieved from https://mindhacks.com/2017/09/19/why-we-need-to-get-better-at-critiquing-diagnosis/
British Psychological Society (2018). Understanding psychiatric diagnosis in adult mental health. Retrieved from: https://www1.bps.org.uk/system/files/user-files/Division%20of%20Clinical%20Psychology/public/DCP%20Diagnosis.pdf
Frances, A. J., & Widiger, T. (2012). Psychiatric diagnosis: lessons from the DSM-IV past and cautions for the DSM-5 future. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 8, 109-130.
Perkins, A., Ridler, J., Browes, D., Peryer, G., Notley, C., & Hackmann, C. (2018). Experiencing mental health diagnosis: a systematic review of service user, clinician, and carer perspectives across clinical settings. The Lancet Psychiatry, 5(9), 747-764.
World Health Organization. (1992). The ICD-10 classification of mental and behavioural disorders: clinical descriptions and diagnostic guidelines. Geneva, World Health Organization.
World Health Organization. (1993). The ICD-10 classification of mental and behavioural disorders: diagnostic criteria for research. Geneva, World Health Organization.
Zigler, E., & Phillips, L. (1961). Psychiatric diagnosis: A critique. The Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 63(3), 607.
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