Getting Diagnosed With ADHD As an Adult
Adults who are struggling in their professional or personal lives may benefit from a diagnosis of ADHD. A diagnosis requires a thorough assessment, often including reviews of school records and questionnaires filled out by parents and teachers.
The majority of people with ADHD have symptoms since childhood, and it is not unusual to be diagnosed with it at an adult age. Check out NIMH for tips on talking with your health professional about the condition.
Diagnosis
It is crucial to be diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood. This will help you get control of the symptoms that can cause havoc in your professional and personal life. The first step is to speak with your GP or consult an expert in mental health who has expertise in treating adults with ADHD. If your GP does not have any experience with ADHD and is unable to help, they can refer you to either psychologist or psychiatrist to conduct an assessment.
A mental health professional will usually employ a six-question ADHD screener to determine if you have the condition. The doctor will interview you about your ADHD-like symptoms and look over your medical history and family history to ensure that other conditions aren't causing them.
Since people with ADHD are more likely to overlook details and become easily distracted, they often struggle with following directions or listening in class or on the job. They often lose things essential to their tasks or activities, like tools, wallets, keys and wallets. They may also have trouble staying focused during long speeches or reading assignments. Other signs of adult ADHD include fidgeting, talking or texting excessively or squirming in their seats.
When determining whether someone has adult ADHD It is crucial to eliminate other conditions that may cause similar symptoms, like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and substance abuse. Stress and physical ailments like thyroid issues could be similar to the symptoms of ADHD. The DSM-5 now requires doctors to consider the severity of the symptoms a person's experiences are when determining if they have diagnosed the condition. Adult ADHD is classified as mild, moderate or severe.
Many people who suffer from ADHD never receive a diagnosis in childhood, because it's not obvious. For adults, a diagnosis can be a life-changing revelation as they realize why they struggled in school and could not reach their potential at work or at home. They may feel guilty for blaming their issues on others or themselves and can feel sadness over the missed opportunities that could have been a reality in the event that they had been properly treated.
Treatment
To get treatment for ADHD for adults, the first step is to consult an expert in the field of healthcare. This can be done in person or via video calls. In the UK, only psychologists, psychiatrists, and specialist nurses are qualified to diagnose ADHD. The specialist will inquire about your medical history, including mental health issues that are present in the family. This is because many physical and emotional conditions can trigger symptoms that are similar to those associated with ADHD and need to be addressed before an assessment is made.
The expert will inquire about your job and lifestyle as well as how your symptoms affect your life. They will be especially interested in if you had signs of ADHD prior to the age of 12. They might also interview those who knew you in your childhood and ask about their memories.
A thorough medical history can help the doctor decide whether you require medications or other treatments. adhd diagnosis uk adults as sleep apnea, thyroid disorders and lead poisoning can trigger ADHD symptoms. Adults with a history of anxiety or depression may need more careful evaluation and treatment, because these conditions often coexist with ADHD.
If the professional believes you require medication, they will prescribe a suitable drug. The kind of medication you will require will depend on the severity of your symptoms and the way they impact your daily life. Stimulants, which are the most popular medication prescribed for ADHD, are stimulants. However, they're not right for everyone, and the first one you try might not be effective or cause unpleasant side effects. Your doctor may inquire whether you are taking other medications. This includes over-the-counter medications or supplements as well as prescription drugs. Certain kinds of drugs can interact with ADHD stimulants.
Counseling is an important part of treatment for adults suffering from ADHD. Individual therapy can help you cope better with feelings of anger and failure that are frequently associated with untreated ADHD. It can help you learn to control your anger, as well as improve your time management and organizational skills.
It is crucial to find an expert in healthcare who specializes in mental disorders. A psychiatrist or neurologist can diagnose and treat ADHD however, you may prefer to see an expert psychologist or therapist. These specialists are likely to be more familiar with the challenges of treating adult ADHD and have experience helping others who have similar issues. You can contact your local mental health services or ADDitude's directory to find a professional who works with adults with ADHD.
Medication
A diagnosis of ADHD is the first step in managing your symptoms and improving your life. If you're struggling to realize your full potential at work, have difficulty maintaining relationships, or experience difficulties completing your tasks at home then an ADHD diagnosis might be just what you need.
The first step in treating ADHD for adults is a thorough medical history review, including your symptoms. The psychologist or psychiatrist determines whether 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 who suffer from untreated ADHD often suffer from co-occurring disorders, like anxiety and depression. Jaksa states that these disorders can worsen or cause symptoms of ADHD. He adds that chronic stress and frustration due to low performance can cause feelings of low self-esteem. "Getting an assessment can help them get a better understanding of the root causes of their difficulties and may help to reduce or alleviate some of their anxiety and allow them to concentrate more effectively on areas in which they excel," Jaksa says.
Adults suffering from ADHD are usually treated with a combination of medications in conjunction with behavior therapy. Stimulants improve concentration, reduce impulsive behavior and aid in the process of organizing. In many instances these drugs can improve mood and increase motivation. Side effects of stimulants include insomnia and difficulty drinking or eating enough. People who take stimulants to treat ADHD may suffer from mood swings that may be difficult to manage.
Talk to your health care provider about whether you are a good candidate for clinical trials of new treatments or medicines. These studies assist researchers in finding more effective methods to prevent, diagnose or treat diseases and conditions.
Counseling
If you're suffering from untreated ADHD, it can cause various problems in all areas of your life. Your career, relationships and financial health may be negatively impacted by procrastination or poor time management, impulsive spending and other signs. The first step to reducing the negative effects and getting control back is to obtain a diagnosis and seek treatment.
Many adults diagnosed with ADHD were not diagnosed as children or because their families and teachers weren't aware of the disorder or because they displayed mild symptoms which were not spotted. Some adults might have been able to manage their symptoms as children but had difficulty with their symptoms in adulthood due to the increased demands of work and family.
To be diagnosed as having ADHD, mental health professionals must determine that your symptoms cause significant impairment in at least two areas of your life. Impaired can be losing your job due to a lack in organization and focus, or being placed on academic probation at college because you're unable to concentrate on your tests.
Women tend to be better at hiding their symptoms than men, which may make it difficult to receive a diagnosis. If, however, you are struggling with ADHD symptoms that affect your work and home life speaking up with your doctor can accelerate the process and let you take advantage of reasonable accommodations under the ADA and other workplace laws.
Regardless of the type of ADHD you suffer from, your mental health professional will want to verify that your symptoms began before age 12. They may suggest that you speak to people who were close to you at the time, and they might also administer a series tests to assess your memory and attention.
After you are given a diagnosis your therapist will recommend a combination of medications and non-medication treatments to manage your symptoms. Most people will try various treatments before they find the best one. Keep a log of your progress and consult your doctor regularly to adjust your treatment plan if needed.