Getting Diagnosed With ADHD As an Adult
For adults who find themselves struggling professionally or personally in any way, recognizing ADHD could be a crucial step in taking control. A diagnosis requires a thorough evaluation that may include reviews of school records and questionnaires filled out by parents and teachers.
Most people with ADHD have symptoms since the age of three, and it's not uncommon to be diagnosed at an adult age. NIMH offers suggestions on how to speak with your doctor about the disorder.
Diagnosis
It is essential to be diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood. This will allow you to gain control over the symptoms that can cause havoc in your professional and personal life. The first step is to talk with your GP or seek out an expert in mental health who has expertise in treating adults suffering from ADHD. If your GP is unfamiliar with ADHD and/or ADHD, they may refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist for an assessment.
Typically an expert in mental health will employ a six-question ADHD screener to determine if you may be suffering from the condition, according to Adler. Then, he or she will talk to you about your symptoms and review your family history and medical history to confirm that any other conditions are not causing your ADHD-like symptoms.
Because people with ADHD tend to overlook details and become easily distracted, they frequently have difficulty following instructions or listening to lectures or at work. They frequently lose essential items required for tasks or activities such as keys, wallets and tools. They might also have difficulty staying focused during long lectures or reading assignments. Other signs of adult ADHD include fidgeting, texting or talking frequently or squirming around in the seat.
When determining whether someone has adult ADHD it is essential to exclude other conditions that can cause similar symptoms, including anxiety, depression bipolar disorder, depression and substance abuse. Stress and physical ailments such as thyroid issues can be similar to the symptoms of ADHD. The DSM-5 is now requiring professionals to consider the severity of a person's symptoms are before identifying the condition. Adult ADHD is classified as mild, moderate or severe.
Many people with ADHD are not diagnosed in their childhood because it's not readily apparent. For adults, being diagnosed can be a life-changing experience as they realize the reason why they struggled in school and never seemed to achieve their full potential at work or at home. They might even feel guilt-ridden for blaming their troubles on themselves or others and can feel sadness over the missed opportunities that could have been achieved when they were properly treated.
Treatment
The first step to receive treatment for ADHD as an adult is to visit the healthcare professional to have an assessment. This can be done either in person or by video calls. In the UK only psychiatrists, psychologists, and specialist nurses have the qualifications to diagnose ADHD. The specialist will inquire about your medical history, which includes mental health issues in the family. This is because many physical and emotional issues can cause symptoms similar to those of ADHD and need to be ruled out before a diagnosis is made.
The doctor will also inquire about your work and lifestyle, and how your symptoms affect your life. They will be particularly interested in whether or not you showed symptoms of ADHD prior to the age of 12 years old. They may also speak with those who were close to you as a child and ask them about their memories.
A thorough medical history can help your doctor decide whether you require medication or other treatment. This is due to the fact that certain medical conditions, such as sleep apnea, thyroid issues and lead poisoning, can trigger symptoms of ADHD. Adults with a history anxiety or depression need to be assessed and treated more carefully because these conditions frequently are in synergy.
If a doctor believes you need medication, he/she will prescribe the right medication. The kind of medication you need will depend on the severity of your symptoms and how they affect your daily life. Stimulants, the most common medication prescribed for ADHD, are stimulants. They are not suitable for everyone and the first medication you try might not be effective or cause undesirable adverse negative effects. Your doctor will need to know if take any other medications such as over-the-counter medications and supplements, because certain types of drugs can interact with ADHD stimulants.
Counseling is a crucial aspect of treatment for adults with ADHD. Individual therapy can help you deal with the feelings of disappointment or underachievement that are frequently associated with untreated ADHD. how to get diagnosed with adhd can also help you how to manage your anger and improve your organization and time management skills.
It is crucial to find a healthcare professional that specializes in mental illness. A psychiatrist or neurologist can diagnose and treat ADHD, but you might prefer to see an expert psychologist or therapist. These specialists are likely to be more knowledgeable about the difficulties of treating adults with ADHD and have worked with other patients who are struggling with similar issues. You can check with your local mental health services or consult ADDitude's directory of professionals to find a specialist who works with adults with ADHD.
Medication
If you're an adult who has had to deal with ADHD, getting a diagnosis is the first step towards addressing your symptoms and improving your life. If you've been unable to achieve your full potential at work, find it difficult to maintain relationships or struggle to complete tasks at home, a diagnosis of ADHD might be the answer you have been searching for.
ADHD treatment for adults starts with an extensive interview and a review of your medical history, which includes the symptoms you've been experiencing. The psychologist or psychiatrist will determine if the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5) criteria for ADHD apply to you. 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 have coexisting disorders, such as anxiety and depression. These disorders can cause or worsen symptoms of ADHD, Jaksa says. He says that stress and frustration due to inadequate performance can trigger feelings of low-self-esteem. "Getting diagnosed can help them gain a perspective on the reasons behind their struggles. This can help to reduce or eliminate their anxieties and help them focus more effectively on areas in which they excel," Jaksa states.
The best treatment for adults suffering from ADHD is typically a combination of medication and behavior therapy. Stimulants improve concentration, reduce the risk of impulsive behavior, and help with organizing. These drugs can improve moods and increase motivation in many instances. People who are taking stimulants must be aware of the potential adverse effects, such as problems with sleeping and eating or drinking enough. Mood swings can also occur in some people who take stimulants for ADHD, and these are often difficult to manage.
Discuss with your health care provider about whether you would be an ideal candidate for clinical trials of new treatments or medicines. These studies help researchers discover better methods to detect and treat or prevent diseases.
Counseling
Untreated ADHD can cause issues in all areas of your life. Your relationships, career and financial health could be negatively affected by procrastination and 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 of your life.
Many adults who are diagnosed with ADHD did not receive a diagnosis as children, because their parents and teachers weren't aware of the disorder or they experienced mild symptoms that weren't recognized. Some may have had the ability to manage their symptoms as children but struggled in adulthood when their work and family obligations increased.
To determine ADHD, mental health professionals must determine that your symptoms are causing significant impairment in two areas of your daily life. In the event of impairment, it could result in losing your job due to of an inability to focus and organizational skills or being placed on academic probation at college due to the inability to learn for tests.
Women are more adept at hiding their symptoms than men, which can make it more difficult to receive a diagnosis. If you're struggling with ADHD symptoms that are affecting your home and work life and family life, speaking openly about them with your doctor will help accelerate the process and allow you to take advantage of reasonable accommodations under ADA and other workplace laws.
Your mental health professional, regardless of the type of ADHD that you have, will be interested in knowing if your symptoms began before the age of 12. They may ask you to speak to people who knew you at this time and may also conduct a series of tests to evaluate your memory and attention levels.
After you are given the diagnosis your therapist will recommend a combination of medication and non-medical treatments to help manage your symptoms. Most people will try several different therapies before they can find the one that works for them. Keep a log of your progress, and make sure to consult your doctor regularly to adjust your treatment plan if needed.