Do You Often Wonder: Do I Have ADHD? 

Do you have difficulty paying attention, no matter how hard you try? Does it frequently seem as though a million ideas are darting around your head at once? Alternately, it may be the case that sometimes you’re so focused on a task that you lose track of time and ignore others around you. Perhaps you have trouble managing your time or prioritizing tasks, and you’ve found yourself rushing to complete things at the last minute and missing deadlines. Do you overlook details, feel unmotivated or simply forget to follow through on something you promised yourself or others you’d do? Is forgetfulness a regular part of your life, whether you’re misplacing your keys or neglecting the bills? Perhaps, in social situations, you often interrupt others during conversation or speak and act before thinking, only to feel ashamed and regretful soon after. You may struggle to sit still and sometimes find it nearly impossible to pay attention to a meeting, movie or conversation without fidgeting or even getting up at inappropriate times. Have these difficulties caused relationship issues and misunderstandings? Do things that seem easy to others feel intolerable to you or bring on intense worry, sadness or mood swings? Do you wish you had a better understanding of your experience with adult ADHD and felt more equipped to recognize and control signs of ADHD? 

Living with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can be a frustrating, disorienting and overwhelming experience. ADHD in adults can manifest in many ways. You may feel fed up by difficulties with focus, organization and prioritizing. You might also struggle with impulsivity, recklessness, substance abuse and symptoms of emotional distress that are often associated with anxiety and depression, such as lethargy, persistent sadness, insomnia and more. Perhaps you often feel down on yourself and wonder why you can’t just sit down, feel calm and engage in the things you want to engage in. The self-doubt, forgetfulness and procrastination that often accompany ADHD can make it difficult to maintain relationships and/or steady employment. Because symptoms in adults can be difficult to detect, you may not realize that many of the problems you face, including staying organized or being on time, relate back to ADHD.

ADULT ADHD IS VERY COMMON

It’s often easy to spot hyperactivity in kids, but ADHD in adults is subtler and more difficult to detect. You may have avoided seeking out help because people around you have reinforced stigmas by calling you lazy, which has fueled low self-esteem and led you to doubt the reality of ADHD. Many adults who struggle with ADHD don’t know they have it, especially if their symptoms did not lead them to act disruptively as children. Although the cause of ADHD is unknown, research suggests a clear genetic component. In fact, many adults seek treatment for ADHD after their children have been assessed and they’re able to recognize the signs and symptoms in themselves. 

For people with ADHD, the part of the brain that’s responsible for detecting error and controlling impulsivity is far less activated compared to the general population. Recent neuroscience research shows that this hardwiring leads to individuals to seek novel experiences — a trait that can make everyday life feel under-stimulating. To compensate for this, people with ADHD are drawn to new and exciting experiences and get noticeably impatient and restless with the regimented structure that characterizes our modern world. While ADHD can foster creativity and quick thinking, it can also make it difficult to achieve your short-term and long-term goals, often leading to anxiety, depression or a low sense of self-confidence. The good news is that with the assistance of a qualified therapist who specializes in ADHD treatment, you can learn to navigate distractions, impulses and difficulties with greater ease and experience more satisfaction in your everyday life. 

ADULT ADHD COUNSELING CAN HELP YOU EFFECTIVELY MANAGE DAY-TO-DAY LIFE

Talking to an experienced professional who accepts you and understands what you’re going through can be a powerful and validating experience. In a safe, supportive and empathic environment, you will be able to describe your experiences and emotions, and together, we can recognize and explore how you’re uniquely impacted by this disorder. Through guided adult ADHD therapy sessions, you will learn about how the brain works and how people with ADHD—particularly you —think, act and feel. You can also learn new strategies that allow you to have more agency as you work toward your therapy goals.   

Our therapeutic approach is collaborative and strength-based. We’re here to listen to your primary concerns and provide you with tools and techniques that allow you to achieve your desired therapeutic outcome. If you’re an adult seeking ADHD treatment for the first time, chances are you already have some tricks that effectively help you navigate your life. In therapy, we can improve those strategies, as well as address any underlying anxiety, depression or other mental health concerns that may be holding you back. We can also discuss ADHD medication, diet, supplements and other lifestyle choices that can help you feel more balanced. 

Throughout this process, we’ll provide benchmarks that allow us to track your progress. We’ll also encourage detailed feedback from you. This feedback gives us insight into your life and allows us to adjust our course of treatment as needed. Our overall goal is to enhance your inherent strengths and help you develop new skills that allow you to cope with and overcome hindering thoughts, behaviors and emotions. With your willingness to engage in the therapeutic process, it’s possible to gain insight into what’s going on and become more focused. As ADHD specialists, we know, both personally and professionally, the profound and lasting impact this work can have. 

YOU MAY STILL HAVE SOME QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROCESS… 

Will I need to take ADHD medication? 

That is completely up to you. Our practice does not prescribe medication. Our goal is to work with your inner strengths and help you arrive at long-term, sustainable solutions with or without the use of medication. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, in some cases, medication can be very helpful. We’re available to make a referral or work alongside a trusted medical professional if need be. 

I’m really overwhelmed and worry I don’t have time for ADHD treatment. 

If you have ADHD, being overwhelmed and having difficulty scheduling and prioritizing may be common issues that you face, but if you don’t take the time to work on these problems, they likely won’t change or get better. With the guidance of an ADHD specialist, it’s possible to get to a point where everyday life doesn’t feel as chaotic. 

We also understand that life is busy, which is why we offer flexible scheduling options to all my clients. Allotting time to address your concerns can help you use time more effectively and efficiently, which will help you improve your overall well-being and quality of life. 

I thought only kids have ADHD. 

It’s true that many kids—11 percent of American children—have been diagnosed with ADHD. Although symptoms of ADHD sometimes do lessen over time, especially as children naturally develop greater impulse control as they mature, many adults continue to struggle with a variety of symptoms, especially if they are diagnosed later in life. In reality, ADHD is a neurological condition that never fully goes away. If you have been diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, the truth is that you did have it as a child, even if it went unnoticed. The good news is that there are many resources available to help adults manage this disorder. A little extra help can go a long way in improving your overall quality of life. 

EXPERIENCE MORE EASE AND CONTROL

If you’re recognizing signs of ADHD and would like to learn more about ADHD treatment, please call our office manager at 919-268-2182 to request a free 15-minute phone consultation. We are happy to answer questions you have about adult ADHD counseling or our practice in Cary, NC.