Getting Diagnosed With ADHD As an Adult
Adults who are struggling in their work or personal life, diagnosing ADHD can be a significant step towards gaining control. A thorough examination is necessary to determine if you have an accurate diagnosis. This includes reviewing the school records and filling out questionnaires completed by teachers and caregivers.
It is not unusual for adults to be diagnosed with ADHD. Visit NIMH for suggestions on talking with your health professional about the condition.
Diagnosis
It is important to get diagnosed with ADHD at an early age. This will help you get control of the symptoms that can cause chaos in your professional and personal life. First, you must consult your GP or a mental health specialist who has experience treating adults suffering from ADHD. If your GP is unfamiliar with ADHD or other disorders, they might refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist for assessment.
A mental health professional will usually use a six question ADHD screener to determine if you are suffering from the condition. Then, the doctor will talk to you about your symptoms and look at your medical history and family history to make sure that any other conditions are not causing your symptoms of ADHD.
People suffering from ADHD tend to be easily distracted and forgetting important details. They may have trouble adhering to instructions in classes or at work. They often lose things that are essential for their work or activities, including tools, wallets, and keys. They might also have difficulty staying focused when listening to long speeches. Fidgeting, over-talking or texting, or squirming, are other signs of adult ADHD.
It is essential to rule out other medical conditions when determining whether someone suffers from adult ADHD. This includes anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder. Stress and physical conditions such as thyroid issues can be a source of ADHD symptoms. The DSM-5 is now requiring professionals to assess the severity of the symptoms a person's experiences are before identifying them with the disorder. Adult ADHD is classified as mild, moderate or severe.
Many people with ADHD live their entire 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 because they now understand why they struggled at school and never reached their maximum potential at work or home. Some may even feel guilty for blaming their problems on themselves or others and may experience regret over missed opportunities that could have been achieved when they were properly treated.
Treatment
The first step to receive treatment for ADHD as an adult is to visit a medical professional for an assessment. This can be done in person or via video calls. Only psychiatrists, psychologists, and specialist nurses are qualified to diagnose ADHD in the UK. The professional will need to know your medical history as well as your family's 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 a diagnosis can be made.
The professional will ask you about your lifestyle and work and how your symptoms affect your life. They will be especially interested in if you showed symptoms of ADHD prior to the age of 12. They may also wish to interview people who knew you in your childhood and ask about their experiences.
A thorough medical history can aid the doctor in determining if you need medication or other treatments. This is due to the fact that certain medical conditions, like thyroid problems, sleep apnea and lead poisoning, can trigger symptoms of ADHD. Adults who have a history of anxiety or depression need to be assessed and treated with greater care since these conditions can are in synergy.
If a doctor believes that you require medication, they will prescribe a suitable medication. The type of medicine you need will depend on your symptoms and how they affect your life. Stimulants, which are the most popular medication prescribed for ADHD, are stimulants. They aren't for all people and the first treatment you try might not be effective or cause unwanted adverse effects. Your healthcare provider might ask whether you're taking any other medication. This includes prescription drugs or supplements as well as prescription drugs. Certain kinds of medications can interfere with ADHD stimulants.
Counseling is an important component of treatment for adults suffering from ADHD. Individual therapy can help you cope with the feelings of failure or underachievement that are frequently associated with untreated ADHD. It can also help you how to manage your anger as well as improve your organization and time management skills.
If you suffer from a mental illness it is crucial to find an expert in healthcare who is trained in that condition. A psychiatrist or neurologist can diagnose and treat ADHD, but you might prefer to see psychologists or specialist therapists. These experts are likely to be more knowledgeable about the challenges of treating adults with ADHD and have had experience in helping other clients with similar struggles. You can use search engines like ADDitude or your local mental health service to find a professional who works with adults who have ADHD.
Medication
If you're an adult who has been struggling with ADHD getting a diagnosis is the first step to managing your symptoms and improving your life. If you're struggling to reach your full potential in the workplace, have difficulty maintaining relationships, or are having difficulty completing tasks at home then an ADHD diagnosis could be just what you require.
ADHD treatment for adults begins with an extensive interview and a review of your medical history, which includes 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 are applicable 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 who are not treated for ADHD often have coexisting disorders, such as anxiety and depression. Jaksa says that these disorders can cause or worsen symptoms of ADHD. He says that stress and anger due to low performance can cause feelings of low self-esteem. "Getting a diagnose can help them get a better understanding of the causes of their struggles. This can help to reduce or eliminate their worries and help them focus on areas where 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 organizing. In many instances they can improve mood and increase motivation. Side effects of stimulants include insomnia and difficulty eating or drinking enough. adhd diagnosis uk adults who take stimulants to treat ADHD can have mood swings that could be difficult to manage.
Talk to your doctor about whether you are suitable for clinical trials of new treatments or drugs. These studies assist researchers in finding more effective ways to diagnose, prevent or treat diseases.
Counseling
Untreated ADHD can cause issues in all areas of your life. Your career, relationships and financial health can be negatively impacted by procrastination or poor time management, excessive spending and other signs. Getting a diagnosis and seeking treatment is the first step towards reduce the negative impact and regaining control over your life.
Many adults who are diagnosed with ADHD were not diagnosed when they were children because their parents and teachers were unaware of the disorder or they experienced mild symptoms that weren't noticed. Some adults may be able to manage their symptoms in childhood, but had difficulty with these issues in adulthood due increased work and family obligations.
In order to be diagnosed with ADHD mental health professionals must discover that your symptoms are causing significant impairment in at least two areas of your life. The effects of ADHD can include losing your job due to a deficit in focus and organization skills or being placed on academic probation at college because you are unable to concentrate on your tests.
Women are better at hiding symptoms than men. This makes it harder for women to be diagnosed. If you're suffering from ADHD symptoms that are affecting your work and home life speaking up with your doctor can accelerate the process and let you benefit from reasonable accommodations under ADA and other workplace laws.
Regardless of the type of ADHD you have, your mental health professional will want to verify that your symptoms started before age 12. They may ask to talk to people who were close to you at this time, and may conduct a series of tests to test your memory and attention.
After receiving an diagnosis, your doctor will suggest a combination of medication and non-medication therapy to help manage your symptoms. A majority of patients will try a variety of different methods before they discover the one that works for them. Keep a journal of your progress, and make sure to consult your doctor regularly to adjust your treatment plan if needed.