Getting Diagnosed With ADHD As an Adult
Adults who have difficulty in their professional or personal lives can benefit from diagnosing ADHD. A thorough assessment is required to make a diagnosis. This includes reviewing school records as well as questionnaires completed by caregivers and teachers.
It is not unusual for adults to be diagnosed with ADHD. Check out NIMH for suggestions on talking to your doctor about the disorder.
Diagnosis
It is crucial to be diagnosed with ADHD in adulthood. This will allow you to manage the symptoms that can cause chaos in your professional and personal life. The first step is to consult your GP or a mental health specialist who is experienced in treating adults with ADHD. If your GP does not have any experience in treating ADHD, they may recommend you to a psychiatrist or psychologist to conduct an assessment.
A mental health professional would typically use a six question ADHD screener to determine if you have the condition. Then, the doctor will talk to you about your symptoms, and examine your medical history and family background to ensure that there are no other conditions not causing the symptoms of ADHD.
People with ADHD tend to be easily distracted and forgetting crucial details. They have a difficult time following directions in class or at work. They tend to lose things necessary for tasks or activities, such as keys, wallets and tools. They might also have difficulty staying focused when listening to long speeches. Fidgeting, excessive talk or texting, or squirming, are other signs of adult ADHD.
In determining if someone suffers from adult ADHD, it is important to rule out other conditions that could cause similar symptoms, such as anxiety, depression bipolar disorder, anxiety and addiction to drugs. Stress and physical ailments like thyroid issues could be similar to the symptoms of ADHD. In the DSM-5 professionals are required to take into consideration the severity of an individual's symptoms when diagnosing them with ADHD. Adult ADHD is classified as mild, moderate or severe.
Many people with ADHD have a lifelong struggle without ever getting a diagnosis because it is not apparent during childhood. For adults, a diagnosis could be a life-changing experience because they can finally understand the reason why they struggled in school and never seemed to reach their potential at work or at home. They may feel guilty about blameing other people or themselves for their struggles and could be devastated by missed opportunities when they were treated with respect.
Treatment
The first step to receive treatment for ADHD as an adult is to consult a medical professional to have an assessment. This can be conducted in person or by video calls. Only psychiatrists, psychologists and specialist nurses are able to diagnose ADHD in the UK. The specialist will want to know your medical history and family-related mental health issues. This is due to the fact that a number of emotional and physical conditions can cause symptoms similar to those that occur in ADHD, and these must be ruled out before an assessment can be made.
The doctor will inquire about your lifestyle and work as well as how your symptoms affect your daily life. They will be particularly interested in whether or not you displayed signs of ADHD prior to the age of 12 years. They might also interview people who were close to you in childhood and ask them about their experiences.
A thorough medical history can aid your doctor to determine if you need medication or any other treatment. This is due to the fact that certain medical conditions, such as sleep apnea, thyroid problems and lead poisoning can cause symptoms of ADHD. Adults with an underlying history of depression or anxiety may need more careful evaluation and treatment because these conditions often coexist with ADHD.
If a doctor believes that you require medication, they will prescribe a suitable medication. The kind of medication you require is determined by the severity of your symptoms and how they affect your life. The stimulants are the most frequently prescribed drugs for ADHD. They are not for everyone, and the first drug you try might not be effective or cause undesirable adverse negative effects. Your healthcare provider will need to know if are taking any other medications, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements, as certain types of drugs can interact with ADHD stimulants.
Counseling is also an essential component of the treatment process for adults suffering from ADHD. Individual therapy can help you cope better with feelings of anger and failure that are often associated untreated ADHD. It can teach you how to manage your anger, as well as improve your time management and organizational abilities.
It is crucial to find a healthcare professional that specializes in mental disorders. A psychiatrist or neurologist can diagnose and treat ADHD. However you might prefer to seek out a specialist therapist. These experts are likely to be more knowledgeable about the challenges of treating adults with ADHD and have experience helping other patients who are struggling with similar issues. You can contact your local mental health service or ADDitude's directory to find a specialist who can assist adults with ADHD.
Medication
A diagnosis of ADHD is the first step to managing your symptoms and improving your life. If you've found it difficult to achieve your maximum potential at work, find it difficult to maintain relationships, or struggle to finish tasks at home and at work, a diagnosis of ADHD could be the answer you have been looking for.
ADHD treatment for adults begins with an extensive interview and a review of your medical history, including the symptoms you've been experiencing. The psychiatrist or psychologist 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 are often co-morbid with disorders such as depression and anxiety. Jaksa says that these disorders can cause or worsen symptoms of ADHD. A constant stress and anger over poor performance can also result in feelings of low self-esteem Jaksa says. "Getting diagnosed can help them understand the reasons behind their struggles. This could help reduce or eliminate their anxieties, and allow them to focus on areas where they excel," Jaksa states.
Adults with ADHD are usually treated by a combination of medication along with behavior therapy. how to get an adult adhd diagnosis help improve concentration, reduce the risk of impulsive behavior, and help with organization. In many cases they can improve mood and increase motivation. People who take stimulants should be aware of the potential negative effects, which could include insomnia and trouble with drinking or eating enough. Also, mood swings can occur in people who are taking stimulants for ADHD, and these can be difficult to manage.
Talk to your health care provider regarding whether you're a good candidate for clinical trials of upcoming treatments or medicines. These studies aid researchers in discovering more effective ways to diagnose, prevent or treat diseases.
Counseling
If you have untreated ADHD it could cause various problems in all areas of your life. Procrastination and other signs can have a negative impact on your relationships, career, and financial health. The first step to reducing the negative effects and getting control back is to obtain an assessment and seek treatment.
Many adults diagnosed with ADHD were not diagnosed as children or because their families and teachers were not aware of the disorder, or because they had mild symptoms that were not noticed. Some might have managed their symptoms in childhood but struggled later in life as their family and work obligations increased.
To diagnose ADHD Mental health professionals must determine that your symptoms result in significant impairments in two areas of your everyday life. In the event of an impairment, you could lose your job due to a lack in organization and focus or being placed on academic probation at your college because you're unable to concentrate on your tests.
Women tend to be better at hiding their symptoms than men, which could make it harder to receive an accurate diagnosis. If you're suffering from ADHD symptoms that impact your work or home life it is possible to accelerate the process of diagnosing by being honest with your doctor. You might also be eligible for reasonable accommodations under ADA laws and other workplace laws.
Regardless of the type of ADHD you suffer from the mental health professional will want to see that your symptoms were present before age 12. They might ask you to speak to people who knew you at this time period. They may also take a number of tests to determine your attention and memory levels.
If you're given a diagnosis, your therapist will recommend a combination of medications and non-medication therapies to manage your symptoms. Most people will try a few different treatments before settling on the most effective one. Keep a journal of your progress, and make sure to consult your physician regularly to alter your treatment plan if needed.