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The Most Effective Treatments for Adult ADHD
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is usually considered a childhood problem, and nearly 6 million American children struggle with it every day. But about 60% of those children continue to experience symptoms of the disorder as adults.
At Sidhu Psychiatric, board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner Kanwaljit “Kavi” Sidhu and our team provide psychiatric services for children and adults at our office in Palm Harbor, Florida. That includes diagnosing and treating ADHD in adults as well as children. Here, we discuss the most effective treatments for ADHD in adults.
Recognizing adult ADHD
Adult ADHD, as with childhood ADHD, includes a combination of persistent problems, such as:
- Trouble paying attention
- Moving around constantly
- Demonstrating impulsive behavior
Adult ADHD and the interpersonal difficulties it causes can lead to unstable relationships, poor performance at work or school, low self-esteem, and other behavioral problems.
Though it's called adult ADHD, symptoms generally start in early childhood, as early as at three years, and continue into adulthood. In some cases, ADHD may not be recognized or diagnosed until the person is an adult.
In addition, adult ADHD symptoms may not be as clear as childhood symptoms. In adults, hyperactivity may decrease, but inattentiveness and impulsiveness can make everyday tasks a challenge.
Adults with ADHD may have difficulty with organization and time management, focus, and prioritization, leading to missed deadlines and forgotten meetings or social events. The inability to control impulses ranges, too, from impatience waiting in line or driving in traffic to mood swings and angry outbursts.
Diagnosis
Almost everyone develops some ADHD-like symptoms at some point in their lives. If you’re just experiencing difficulties for the first time, or if those difficulties occurred only occasionally in the past, it’s unlikely you have ADHD. An ADHD diagnosis is only given when symptoms are severe enough to create ongoing problems in more than one area of your life, and these problems can be traced back to early childhood.
An ADHD diagnosis is made even trickier because certain symptoms mimic those caused by other conditions, including mood disorders. And many adults with ADHD also have at least one other comorbid mental health condition, such as depression or anxiety.
The most effective treatments for adult ADHD
Because ADHD symptoms in adults are often more subtle than in children, many adults go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. A contributing factor may be the societal expectation that ADHD only affects children.
At Sidhu Psychiatric, we understand adult ADHD, and we know what to look for. If we provide a diagnosis of ADHD, we follow that up with proven, effective treatment. Standard treatments for adult ADHD involve medication, education, skills training, and psychological counseling, and we find a combination of modalities is generally the most effective treatment.
Keep in mind that while the treatments help you manage ADHD symptoms, they can’t cure it. In addition, there’s a lot of trial-and-error to find the treatment(s) that are right for you.
Stimulants
Stimulants are the most common medications used to treat ADHD in general; these include methylphenidate or amphetamine,, but we may prescribe other medications if needed. Stimulants appear to boost and balance levels of neurotransmitters (nerve signaling pathways) in the brain.
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Psychotherapy is an integral part of your treatment plan, and we often recommend cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This is a structured type of counseling that teaches you specific skills to recognize unhelpful behaviors and learn new skills to manage them effectively. It also helps you change negative thinking patterns into positive ones. It not only helps you cope with life challenges, but it also helps address other mental health conditions, such as depression or substance use disorder.
Therapy also focuses on organizational skills and time management, which not only helps you, but also helps the people you live and work with. In addition, therapy targets improving communication with others and developing conflict resolution and problem-solving skills.
Couples therapy and sessions in which family members learn more about ADHD and how it manifests may significantly improve your relationships with your family, friends, and co-workers too.
If you’re an adult and feel you’re experiencing ADHD symptoms, it’s time to come into Sidhu Psychiatric for an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. Call our office at 727-382-1383 or contact us online today.