Getting Diagnosed With ADHD As an Adult
Adults who have difficulty in their personal or professional lives may benefit from a diagnosis of ADHD. A thorough examination is necessary to make an accurate diagnosis. This includes analyzing school records as well as questionnaires completed by caregivers and teachers.
Most people with ADHD have symptoms since childhood, and it is not uncommon to be diagnosed with it as an adult. NIMH offers guidelines on how to talk with your doctor about the disorder.
Diagnosis
Being diagnosed with ADHD as an adult is often the first step towards gaining control over the symptoms that can cause havoc on one's professional and personal lives. First, you should consult your GP or a mental health specialist who has experience in treating adults suffering from ADHD. If your GP is unfamiliar with ADHD and/or ADHD, they could refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist for an assessment.
A mental health professional will typically employ a six-question ADHD screener to determine if you have the condition. The doctor will ask you questions about your symptoms that are similar to ADHD and look over your medical and family history to ensure that other medical conditions aren't the cause of them.
People suffering from ADHD are prone to being easily distracted and miss important details. They have a difficult time adhering to instructions in classes or at work. They often lose things that are essential for their work or activities, like tools, wallets, and keys. They might also have difficulty staying focused when they are reading long speeches or assignments. Other signs of adult ADHD include fidgeting, talking or texting excessively or squirming in the seat.
It is important to rule out other conditions when determining if someone has adult ADHD. This includes anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder. Stress and physical issues like thyroid issues can mimic ADHD symptoms. The DSM-5 now requires professionals to determine the severity of the symptoms a person's experiences are when diagnosing the disorder. Mild moderate, severe, and mild are the categories used to describe adult ADHD.
Many people suffering from ADHD go their whole lives without ever getting a diagnosis because it is not apparent in the early years. A diagnosis can change the course of a person's life as they understand the reasons why they struggled in school and failed to reach their maximum potential at work or home. They might even feel guilty for blaming their issues on others or themselves, and they can experience grief over lost opportunities that could have been achieved in the event that they had been properly treated.
Treatment
To get treatment for ADHD for adults, the first step is to speak with a healthcare professional. This can be done in person or via video calls. In the UK, only psychiatrists, psychologists and specialist nurses have the qualifications to diagnose ADHD. The specialist will need to know your medical history as well as family mental health issues. This is because many emotional and physical conditions can trigger symptoms similar to those that occur in ADHD and need to be addressed before an assessment can be made.
The expert will also inquire about your work and lifestyle and how your issues affect your life. They will be particularly interested in whether or not you displayed symptoms of ADHD prior to the age of 12. They might also talk to those who were close to you as when you were a child and ask them about their memories.
A thorough medical history can help your doctor decide if you need medication or other treatment. Certain medical conditions, such as sleep apnea, thyroid disorders and lead poisoning can cause ADHD symptoms. Adults with a history depression or anxiety will require evaluation and treated with more care, as these conditions often coexist.
If a medical professional believes that you need medication they will prescribe a suitable medication. The type of medication you require will depend on the severity of your symptoms and how they interfere with your life. Stimulants, which are the most popular medication prescribed for ADHD, are stimulants. However, they're not right for everyone and the first stimulant you try may not be effective or cause unpleasant adverse side effects. I Am Psychiatry may inquire whether you're taking any other medications. This includes over-the-counter drugs or supplements, as well as prescription drugs. Certain kinds of drugs may interfere with ADHD stimulants.
Counseling is an essential component of treatment for adults with ADHD. Individual therapy can help you cope with feelings of failure, underachievement and frustration that are often associated with untreated ADHD. It can also teach you how to manage your anger as well as improve your organization and time management skills.
If you have a mental illness it is crucial to find a doctor who is specialized in that condition. A psychiatrist or neurologist can diagnose and treat ADHD. However you might prefer to seek out a specialist therapist. These professionals will likely be more familiar with adults with ADHD and their challenges, as well as having worked with other clients. You can search ADDitude or contact your local mental health services to find a professional who assists adults with ADHD.
Medication
A diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the first step towards managing your symptoms and enhancing your life. If you've found it difficult to achieve your full potential at work, have found it difficult to maintain relationships or struggle to finish tasks at home, a diagnosis of ADHD could be the answer you have been seeking.
The first step to treat ADHD for adults is thorough medical history, 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), 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 are frequently co-morbid with other disorders, like anxiety and depression. These disorders can trigger or worsen the symptoms of ADHD, Jaksa says. He adds that chronic stress and anger due to inadequate performance can trigger feelings of low self-esteem. "Getting diagnosed can help them get a better understanding of the reasons behind their struggles. This can help to reduce or eliminate their worries and help them focus on areas in which they excel," Jaksa states.
Adults with ADHD are usually treated best with a combination of medications and behavior therapy. Stimulants increase concentration, decrease impulse-driven behavior and aid in organization. In many cases, these medications can also enhance motivation and mood. The negative effects of stimulants are insomnia and difficulties eating or drinking enough. The mood swings can also happen in people who are taking stimulants for ADHD and they can be difficult to manage.
Talk to your doctor about whether you are a good candidate for clinical trials of upcoming treatments or drugs. These studies aid researchers in discovering more effective ways to diagnose, prevent or treat diseases.
Counseling
If you're suffering from untreated ADHD it could cause various problems in every area of your life. Your relationships, career and financial health could be negatively affected by procrastination and poor time management, impulsive spending and other signs. The first step to reducing the negative effects and getting back in control is to get a diagnosis and seek treatment.
Many adults who are diagnosed with ADHD were not diagnosed as children, because their parents and teachers were unaware of the condition or they experienced mild symptoms that weren't noticed. Others might have had the ability to manage their symptoms during childhood, but struggled later in life when their work and family obligations increased.
To determine if you have ADHD mental health professionals must determine that your symptoms are causing significant impairment in two areas of your everyday life. Impairment can result in losing your job due to of a lack of focus and organizational skills or being put on academic probation at college due to inability to study for tests.
Women are better at hiding symptoms than men. This makes it more difficult for them to receive a diagnosis. If, however, you are suffering from ADHD symptoms that affect your work and home life and family life, speaking openly about them with your doctor can speed up the process and allow you to get reasonable accommodations under the ADA and other workplace laws.
Whatever type of ADHD you suffer from the mental health professional will want to see that your symptoms started prior to age 12. They may request that you talk with people who knew you at this time period. They may also take a number of tests to determine your memory and attention levels.
After receiving an diagnosis, your specialist will recommend a combination medication and non-medication treatment to help manage your symptoms. Most people will try a few different treatments before settling on the most effective one. It is recommended that you keep a journal of your progress and consult with your doctor on a regular basis so they can assist in adjusting your treatment plan as needed.