What Freud Can Teach Us About ADHD Diagnosis In Adults
Getting an ADHD Diagnosis in Adults
Many people seek a diagnosis after realizing they have trouble at work or with relationships due to ADHD. NIMH recommends that those seeking a diagnosis speak with their primary care provider or a mental health professional.
They will take a detailed history and take tests like symptom-rating scales or psychological tests. They might also undergo an examination to rule out medical issues that could look like ADHD or seizures or thyroid problems.
Finding a Diagnostic
Receiving a diagnosis of ADHD can be eye-opening and liberating, but it can also be stressful. Adults who have been struggling with ADHD symptoms for a long time may eventually seek out professional help due to frustrations at work, in their relationships, or because relatives or friends have informed them they may be suffering from ADHD. It is crucial to remember that a health professional can take a long time to diagnose ADHD and the process involves much more than completing standard tests or conducting interviews with a clinical psychologist.
The first step in the process is to determine whether your ADHD symptoms meet criteria for the disorder: Several of them begin before the age of 12. They can be found in a variety of settings, for example, school, home, and work. They affect daily life.
Your healthcare provider may need to perform additional evaluations in order to make a diagnosis. This is because symptoms of ADHD are also triggered by mood disorders such as anxiety, bipolar disorder, and other physical conditions or illnesses. This could include clinical interviews and rating scales for symptoms, and psychological testing to evaluate your thinking abilities as well as your problem-solving abilities and memory.
It's important to be completely honest with your health professional. And this could mean discussing how the issues that you're facing in various aspects of your life affect your mood. The professional who is evaluating your mental health you may also ask to talk to your spouse, family members, and friends to gain a better understanding of your issues. They might even ask for permission to have them fill out questionnaires about their experiences with you and compare them with your personal.
Symptoms
Adults with ADHD might notice that their symptoms impact the way they live their lives, particularly at school and at work. They may have difficulty keeping a job, staying in relationships or being able to make ends meet due to the inattention and impulsivity which makes it difficult to follow directions, remember things, organize tasks or complete projects. The symptoms may be mild or moderate. It could also be severe.
To determine ADHD, doctors use the standard tools, such as checklists, interview questions and questionnaires. They also look at the family and medical histories of patients as well as other mental health issues. If a person has several of the 9 symptoms, their provider uses guidelines from the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition Text Revision (DSM-5-TR) to assign a diagnosis: inattentive, hyperactive/impulsive or combined type.
The signs of an inattentive personality include trouble paying attention to details, daydreaming and seeming easily distracted. Trouble following and finishing tasks and a tendency lose track of time or get side-tracked are also inattentive symptoms.
People with the hyperactive/impulsive type often fidget, move around frequently and have trouble sitting still for long periods of time. They also tend to forget things quickly and frequently struggle to organize their work, home or everyday activities. They may lose their phones, keys or wallets often. They are often unable to wait for their turn at school, work or playing. They can be easily annoyed or stressed and have frequent mood swings.
In adults, it's more common for people with ADHD to have co-occurring disorders like conduct disorders or oppositional defiant depression or anxiety, tic disorders or Tourette syndrome and other substance abuse issues. Co-occurring disorders can complicate treatment and make it harder to diagnose ADHD.
Treatment
If you think you have ADHD the first step in getting a diagnosis is to talk with your primary care provider. He or she may refer you to a specialist in mental health. They will look over your symptoms and issues at school, work or home to see how they impact your daily life. They will conduct a structured interview and may seek the assistance of family members or other friends who know you well. They will also go over the medical and family background of your family, and will conduct a physical examination.
Your doctor will also consider the length of time you've had these symptoms and what impact they have on your life. In order to receive a diagnosis of ADHD the symptoms must be present for at minimum six months, and they cannot be explained by a different disorder, such as depression or anxiety. They must also interfere with daily tasks such as getting to school, completing assignments on time, or maintaining the job.
During your examination Your mental health specialist may use standardized behavior rating scales and ADHD symptom checklists. You will also be administered an assessment of your cognitive abilities that will check your working memory and executive functioning, as well as your spatial and visual abilities. More will also check for other conditions that could cause similar symptoms, like seizures or a thyroid disorder.
If your doctor determines that you have ADHD, he or she will explain the various medications available and discuss the treatment options. In most cases the combination of medication and talk therapy (counseling) is best. Therapy can help you manage your symptoms and improve communication with family members and other coworkers. Therapy can also aid in resolving problems that may develop in relationships and marriages due to the difficulties ADHD can cause.
Medication
ADHD symptoms in adults are generally less severe than those in childhood. However they can still create problems at home and at work. The disorder can lead to difficulties in obtaining or keeping an employment, difficulties with social relationships and relationships, academic failures, poor self-esteem and emotional distress, temper tantrums and even antisocial behaviors.
The medications can help treat the condition by increasing and balancing neurotransmitters in the brain that regulate the flow of information within the brain. Stimulants are among the most frequently prescribed medications for ADHD in adults. Jornay, Xelstrym, Cotempla and Adhansia are all examples of stimulants. Adults can also be treated using the non-stimulant atomoxetine and antidepressants like bupropion. These medications work slower than stimulants and are better suited to those who can't take stimulant medication because of health problems or serious adverse reactions.
Psychotherapy, also known as cognitive-behavioral therapy, can help in the treatment of comorbid disorders such as anxiety and depression related to ADHD. Studies suggest that psychotherapy is the most efficient treatment for these conditions than just using medications in isolation. Psychotherapy is focused on teaching techniques to manage the disorder and improve functioning at school, at work and in relationships. The goal is to increase the self-esteem of the individual, reduce problematic behavior and improve their functioning and success. It is recommended that each psychotherapy method for adults ADHD patients include a cognitive behavior component. Researchers found that ADHD patients who received both therapy and medication showed more improvement than those taking only pills.
Counseling
Adults who aren't ready to take medication can find relief through counseling and therapy. Individual therapy can help address issues like low self-esteem, feelings of being insecure and frequent job changes that typically are a part of ADHD. It can also improve communication and strengthen relationships by helping patients and loved ones to understand the disorder and learn strategies for coping.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a method of teaching patients how to control their behavior and alter negative thoughts. This type of treatment can reduce symptoms of inattentive ADHD and hyperactive-impulsive ADHD, as well as comorbid mood disorders such as depression and anxiety disorders.
Therapists can also concentrate on developing time-management and organizational skills, or teach coping mechanisms for dealing with impulse control, emotional regulation, and relationship problems that may arise from an impulsive behavior. These methods can help you live more productively, particularly at work.
Counseling can also assist people with ADHD when applying for accommodations for work that are available under the Americans with Disabilities Act, which can greatly increase job satisfaction and performance. This could include altering the structure of their jobs to allow them to be more flexible in meeting deadlines and completing tasks in time.
It is essential to choose the appropriate therapist for adults ADHD treatment. The therapist's approach and whether they have been able to treat ADHD in adults is important when interviewing potential therapists. It is important to verify the credentials of the therapist and insurance coverage. Some therapists have a sliding scale fee, or offer online therapy services which make therapy accessible to people who cannot afford to pay out from their pockets.