About ADHD

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

The criteria for ADHD was based on young boys and therefore historically has not been the most accurate picture of ADHD. The mental health field is finally starting to recognizing that ADHD can look very different and is way more nuanced. This is leading to a lot of adults, especially women, finally being diagnosed and getting the help they need and deserve.

So what can it actually look like? For some there is a period when younger that you may have been overly social and talkative, seen as excitable and energetic and then at some point a shift happened. You became more quiet and people may have described you as anxious, socially anxious, or even depressed. What happens is that children with ADHD receive significant amounts of negative feedback and some internalize that feedback quickly which leads to masking. Whatever the messages you were specifically given led to an internalization of your symptoms. Instead of being outwardly energetic that energy shifted inward. Leading to symptoms such as; racing thoughts, having multiple topics going on at once, difficulty concentrating/easily distracted, internal dialogue(s), zoning out or hyper-focusing, subject hopping, impuslivity especially with purchases, difficulty following instructions, difficulty with habits (brushing teeth, shower, eating, laundry), difficulty with follow through, missing details, difficulty with memory of some things and extreme detail of other things, sensory issues, food aversion, social difficulties, easily overwhelmed, and/or difficulty regulating emotions. There is also a high correlation with hyper mobility and other health issues (skin, gut, ligament/joint). Many also experience Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria which is experiencing severe emotional pain because of a failure or feeling rejected. These are just some of the possible symptoms. ADHD is pervasive and impacts all areas of life.

So how can therapy help? Education is the first step. Truly understanding your symptoms and how your life has been impacted is crucial. It also allows you to then teach the people in your life so they can better understand and support you. We can work on skills and tools to help combat some of the symptoms that get in your way. We can also work on learning how to use some of the skills to your advantage. ADHD, while frustrating and difficult, can also be a super power if we understand it and learn to work with it. We can also work on healing wounds from that significant negative feedback.

At this time most places still require psychological testing to confirm a diagnosis of ADHD in order to receive medications. If that is an avenue you would like to explore I can connect you with resources for official testing and medication management. Therapy is still recommended as medication alone will not fully resolve all the symptoms you experience. Other services such as coaching can also be beneficial.