Getting Diagnosed With ADHD As an Adult
For adults who find themselves struggling in their work or personal life in any way, recognizing ADHD is a significant step towards gaining control. A diagnosis requires a thorough assessment, often including reviews of school records and questionnaires completed by teachers and caregivers.
It is not uncommon for adults to be diagnosed with ADHD. NIMH has guidelines on how to talk with your doctor about the disorder.
Diagnosis
Getting diagnosed with ADHD as an adult is often the first step in gaining control over the symptoms that can cause havoc on a person's professional and personal lives. First, you must consult your GP or a mental health specialist who has experience in treating adults with ADHD. If your GP is unfamiliar with ADHD, he or she may refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist for an assessment.
A mental health professional will usually employ a six-question ADHD screener to determine if you have the condition. He or she will then interview you about your ADHD-like symptoms and examine your medical and family history to ensure that other medical conditions aren't the cause of them.
Since people who suffer from ADHD are more likely to be unable to pay attention and are easily distracted, they often have difficulty following instructions or listening to lectures or on the job. They often lose things that are essential for their work or activities, such as tools, wallets, keys and wallets. They may also have trouble staying focused when reading or listening to long speeches. Other symptoms of adult ADHD include fidgeting, talking or texting excessively or squirming in the seat.
It is important to rule other conditions out when determining whether someone suffers from adult ADHD. These include depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder. Stress and physical ailments like thyroid problems can also be a source of ADHD symptoms. In the DSM-5 professionals are required to assess the severity of an individual's symptoms when determining if they are suffering from ADHD. Adult ADHD is classified as moderate, mild or severe.
Many people with ADHD are not diagnosed in their childhood because it's not obvious. For adults, a diagnosis can be a life-changing revelation because they can finally understand the reason why they struggled in school and failed to achieve their full potential at work or at home. They might feel guilty about blameing other people or themselves for their struggles and could be devastated by missed opportunities if they were properly treated.
Treatment
The first step to receive treatment for ADHD as an adult is to consult a medical professional for an assessment. This can be accomplished in person or via video conference. In the UK, only psychiatrists, psychologists and specialist nurses have the qualifications to diagnose ADHD. The specialist will inquire about your medical history, including mental health issues within the family. getting diagnosed with adhd as an adult is due to the fact that there are many mental and physical conditions which can trigger symptoms similar to ADHD. These conditions must be eliminated in order to establish a diagnosis.
The doctor will also inquire about your lifestyle and work, and how your symptoms impact your daily life. They will be particularly interested in whether or not you showed signs of ADHD prior to the age of 12 years old. They may also want to interview people who knew you as a child and ask them about their experiences.
A thorough medical history can help your doctor decide if you need medication or other treatment. This is due to the fact that certain medical conditions, including thyroid problems, sleep apnea and lead poisoning may cause symptoms of ADHD. Adults who have a history of anxiety or depression may need more careful evaluation and treatment because these conditions often coexist with ADHD.
If a medical professional believes you need medication, he or she will prescribe the appropriate drug. The kind of medication you will require will depend on the severity of your symptoms and the way they impact your daily life. The stimulants are the most frequently prescribed medications for ADHD. However, they are not right for everyone and the first one you try might not be effective or trigger uncomfortable adverse side effects. Your doctor will need to know if use any other medication that are not prescription drugs, such as over-the counter ones and supplements, since certain types of drugs can interact with ADHD stimulants.
Counseling is also an important component of the treatment process for adults suffering from ADHD. Individual therapy can help you cope with feelings of failure frustration, underachievement, and anger that are frequently associated with untreated ADHD. It can teach you how to control your anger, as well as improve your time management and organizing skills.
It is crucial to find an expert in healthcare who specializes in mental disorders. A psychiatrist or neurologist is able to diagnose and treat ADHD however, you may prefer to see an expert psychologist or therapist. These specialists are likely to be more familiar with adults with ADHD and their struggles, as well as having experience working with other clients. You can contact your local mental health service or with ADDitude's directory to find a professional who is working with adults suffering from ADHD.
Medication
If you are an adult who has had to deal with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, getting a diagnosis is the first step towards addressing your symptoms and improving your quality of life. If you've struggled to realize your full potential at work, have found it difficult to maintain relationships or struggle to complete tasks at home A diagnosis of ADHD could be the answer you have been searching for.
The first step in treating ADHD for adults is a thorough medical history review, which includes your symptoms. The psychiatrist or psychologist determines if you meet the criteria for ADHD in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5) which is 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 often suffer from co-occurring disorders, including anxiety and depression. These disorders can trigger or worsen the symptoms of ADHD, Jaksa says. Chronic stress and frustration over the lack of performance can cause feelings of low self-esteem he says. "Getting a diagnose can help them gain a perspective on the causes of their struggles. This could help alleviate or eliminate their anxiety, and allow them to focus more effectively on areas where they excel," Jaksa states.
Adults with ADHD are usually treated with a combination of medications along with behavior therapy. Stimulants increase concentration, decrease the risk of impulsive behavior, and help with organization. These drugs can boost moods and improve motivation in many instances. People who are taking stimulants must be aware of potential negative effects, which could include insomnia and trouble with eating or drinking enough. Certain people who use stimulants to treat ADHD can suffer from mood swings that may be difficult for them to manage.
Discuss with your doctor about whether you are suitable for clinical trials of novel treatments or medications. These studies aid researchers in discovering more effective methods to detect, prevent or treat diseases.
Counseling
If you're suffering from untreated ADHD it could cause a variety of problems throughout your life. Your relationships, career and financial health may be negatively impacted by procrastination, poor time management, impulsive spending, and other signs. Finding a diagnosis and seeking treatment is the first step to reducing these negative impacts and regaining control over your life.
Many adults diagnosed with ADHD didn't receive a diagnosis when they were children because their parents and teachers weren't aware of the disorder or they experienced mild symptoms that were not noticed. Others might have managed their symptoms during childhood, but struggled in adulthood as their family and work obligations increased.
To diagnose ADHD mental health professionals must determine that your symptoms cause significant impairment in two areas of your daily life. In the event of impairment, it could mean losing your job because of lack of focus and organization skills or being put on academic probation in college due to the inability to study for tests.
Women are more adept in hiding their symptoms than men, which may make it more difficult to receive a diagnosis. If you're suffering from ADHD symptoms that impact your home or work life, you can accelerate the process of diagnosing by being honest with your doctor. You may also be able to get reasonable accommodations under ADA laws and other workplace laws.
No matter what type of ADHD you suffer from, your mental health professional will want to determine if your symptoms began before age 12. They might ask you to speak to people who knew you during this time and may also conduct a series of tests to evaluate your attention and memory abilities.
If you're given the diagnosis, your therapist will recommend the use of a combination of medication and non-medication treatments to help manage your symptoms. The majority of people will test several different treatments before finding the right one. Keep a record of your progress and make sure to consult your doctor frequently to modify your treatment plan if needed.