Getting Diagnosed With ADHD As an Adult
For adults who are struggling professionally or personally, diagnosing ADHD is a significant step in taking control. A diagnosis requires a thorough assessment, often including reviews of school records and questionnaires filled out by parents and teachers.
It is not uncommon for adults to be diagnosed with ADHD. NIMH provides suggestions on how to speak with your doctor about the condition.
Diagnosis
It is important to get diagnosed with ADHD as you reach adulthood. This will allow you to gain control over the symptoms that can cause chaos in your personal and professional life. First, you should consult your GP or an expert in mental health who has experience treating adults suffering from ADHD. If your GP isn't familiar with ADHD or other disorders, they may refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist to conduct an assessment.
Typically an expert in mental health will employ the six-question ADHD screener to determine if you are susceptible to the disorder, says Adler. Then, he will talk to you about your symptoms and review your medical history and family history to confirm that other medical conditions are not causing your ADHD-like symptoms.
People suffering from ADHD are prone to being easily distracted and forgetting important details. They may have trouble following directions in class or at work. They often lose important items for tasks or activities such as keys, wallets and tools. They may also have difficulty staying focused when reading or listening to long speeches. Other signs of adult ADHD include fidgeting, texting or talking excessively or squirming in the seat.
It is essential to rule other conditions out when determining whether someone suffers from adult ADHD. These include depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder. Stress and physical ailments such as thyroid issues can be a source of ADHD symptoms. In the DSM-5 professionals are now required to assess the severity of an individual's symptoms when diagnosing them with ADHD. Mild moderate, severe, and mild are the categories used to describe adult ADHD.
Many people suffering from ADHD live their entire lives without ever getting a diagnosis because it's not obvious in childhood. For adults, being diagnosed can be a life-changing event because they can finally understand the reason why they struggled in school and never seemed to attain their full potential at work or at home. They may feel guilty for blaming their issues on others or themselves, and they can experience sadness over the missed opportunities that could have been had when they were properly treated.
Treatment
The first step to receive treatment for ADHD as an adult is to consult a healthcare professional for an assessment. This can be done in person or via video call. In the UK, only psychologists, psychiatrists, and specialist nurses have the qualifications to diagnose ADHD. The doctor will inquire about your medical history, including mental health issues in the family. This is due to the fact that there are many mental and physical ailments that can cause symptoms similar to ADHD. These conditions need to be eliminated in order to establish a diagnosis.
The professional will also ask about your work and lifestyle, and how your symptoms impact your daily life. They will be especially interested in if you had symptoms of ADHD prior to the age of 12 years old. They might also interview people who knew you in childhood and ask about their memories.
A thorough medical history will aid your doctor to determine whether you require medication or another treatment. Some medical conditions such as thyroid disorders, sleep apnea and lead poisoning can trigger ADHD symptoms. Adults with an history of depression or anxiety may need more careful evaluation and treatment because these conditions often coexist with ADHD.
If a medical professional believes you need medication, they will prescribe the appropriate medication. The type of medication you need will depend on the severity of your symptoms and how they affect your daily routine. Stimulants are among the most commonly prescribed medication for ADHD. They aren't for all people and the first treatment you try might not be effective or cause undesirable negative side consequences. Your healthcare provider will want to know if you are taking any other medications such as over-the-counter medications and supplements, as certain types of drugs can interact with ADHD stimulants.
Counseling is an important component of treatment for adults suffering from ADHD. Individual therapy can help you to cope better with feelings of anger and failure that are often associated untreated ADHD. It can help you learn to control your anger, improve your time management and organizational abilities.
If you suffer from a mental illness it is essential to locate an expert in healthcare who is trained in that condition. A psychiatrist or neurologist can diagnose and treat ADHD. However, you may prefer to consult a specialist psychotherapist. These specialists are likely to have more experience with adult ADHD and the challenges they face as well as having previous experience working with clients. You can contact your local mental health clinic or ADDitude's directory to find a professional who works with adults with ADHD.
Medication
If you're an adult who has struggled with ADHD, getting a diagnosis is the first step towards addressing your symptoms and improving your quality of life. If you've found it difficult to reach your maximum potential at work, find it difficult to maintain relationships or struggle to complete tasks at home and at work, a diagnosis of ADHD could be the answer you have been searching for.
ADHD treatment for adults starts with thorough interviews and a thorough review of your medical history, including the symptoms you've been experiencing. The psychologist or psychiatrist determines if you meet the requirements for ADHD in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5), published by the American Psychiatric Association. To be diagnosed with ADHD, you must have at least five symptoms of inattention or hyperactivity-impulsivity that persist throughout most of your day and interfere with social, academic or professional functioning.
Adults with untreated ADHD frequently have coexisting disorders, like anxiety and depression. Jaksa says that these conditions can exacerbate or cause symptoms of ADHD. He says that stress and frustration due to low performance can cause feelings of self-esteem loss. "Getting diagnosed will help them gain a perspective on the root of their issues. This may reduce or eliminate their anxieties, and allow them to focus more effectively on areas where they excel," Jaksa states.
The best treatment for adults with ADHD is typically a combination of medication and behavior therapy. The use of stimulants can help improve concentration, decrease impulsive behavior and help with organization. In diagnosing adhd uk can enhance motivation and mood. The negative effects of stimulants are insomnia and difficulties drinking or eating enough. The mood swings can also happen in people who are taking stimulants to treat ADHD, and these can be difficult to manage.
Discuss with your health care provider regarding whether you're a good candidate for clinical trials of upcoming treatments or medications. These studies aid researchers in discovering better ways to diagnose and treat illnesses, as well as prevent them from occurring.
Counseling
Untreated ADHD can cause problems in all areas of your life. Procrastination and other signs can have a negative impact on your relationships, career, and financial health. The first step to reducing the negative effects and getting control back is to obtain a diagnosis and seek treatment.
Many adults who are diagnosed with ADHD were not diagnosed as children, either because their family and teachers were unaware of the condition or they had mild symptoms that were not spotted. Certain adults may have been able to manage their symptoms in childhood, but had difficulty with them in adulthood due to increasing family and work obligations.
To be diagnosed with ADHD mental health professionals must determine that your symptoms are causing significant impairment in at minimum two areas of your life. In the event of impairment, it could result in losing your job because of an inability to concentration and organizational skills, or being put on academic probation at college due to inability to do well on tests.
Women are better at hiding symptoms than men. This can make it more difficult for them to receive a diagnosis. If you have ADHD symptoms that impact your home or work life it is possible to accelerate the process of diagnosis by being honest with your doctor. You may also be eligible for reasonable accommodations under ADA laws and other workplace laws.
Whatever kind of ADHD you suffer from the mental health professional will want to determine if your symptoms started prior to the age of 12. They may ask you to speak to people who knew you at this time and may also take a number of tests to assess your attention and memory abilities.
After receiving an assessment, the therapist will recommend a combination medication and non-medication treatment to manage your symptoms. Most people will try several different treatments before finding the right one. Keep a journal of your progress, and visit your physician regularly to alter your treatment plan as necessary.