Getting Diagnosed With ADHD As an Adult
Adults who have difficulty in their professional or personal lives can benefit from diagnosing ADHD. A diagnosis requires a thorough evaluation that may include reviews of school records and questionnaires filled out by teachers and caregivers.
Most people suffering from ADHD live with symptoms since the age of five, and it's not uncommon to be diagnosed with it as an adult. NIMH has suggestions on how to speak with your doctor about the disorder.
Diagnosis
It is important to get diagnosed with ADHD as you reach adulthood. This will allow you to gain control over the symptoms that can cause chaos in your personal and professional life. The first step is to speak with your GP or consult a mental health professional who has expertise in treating adults suffering from ADHD. If your GP does not have any knowledge of ADHD, they may refer you to either psychologist or psychiatrist for an assessment.
Typically an expert in mental health will employ the six-question ADHD screener to determine if you might have the condition, according to Adler. Then, he or she will talk to you about your symptoms, and examine your family history and medical background to ensure that other medical conditions are not causing your symptoms of ADHD.
People with ADHD tend to be easily distracted and can miss important details. They often have difficulty following directions in class or at work. They are more likely to lose items that are essential for their work or activities, such as keys, wallets and tools. They might also have difficulty staying focused when they are reading long speeches or assignments. Fidgeting, excessive talk or texting or squirming are other signs of adult ADHD.
It is essential to rule out other medical conditions in determining if a person has adult ADHD. These include depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder. Stress and certain physical conditions such as thyroid issues can also mimic the symptoms of ADHD. In the DSM-5 professionals are now required to consider the severity of an individual's symptoms when diagnosing them with ADHD. Mild, moderate and severe are the classifications for adult ADHD.
adhd diagnosis uk adults with ADHD live their entire lives without ever being diagnosed because it's not obvious in childhood. A diagnosis can alter the course of a person's life because they now understand why they struggled at school and failed to reach their full potential at work or home. They might even feel guilt-ridden for blaming their troubles on others or themselves and can feel grief over lost opportunities that could have been a reality if they had been properly treated.
Treatment
To get treatment for ADHD for adults, the first step is to talk with a healthcare professional. This can be done in person or via video call. In the UK, only psychologists, psychiatrists, and specialist nurses have the qualifications to diagnose ADHD. The specialist will want to know your medical history as well as your family's mental health issues. This is because a variety of emotional and physical conditions can cause symptoms that are similar to those associated with ADHD and need to be eliminated before an assessment is made.
The professional will ask you about your job and lifestyle as well as how your symptoms impact your life. They will be particularly interested in whether or not you displayed symptoms of ADHD prior to the age of 12 years. They may also interview those who were close to you as when you were a child and ask them about their experiences.
A thorough medical history will help the doctor decide whether you need medications or other treatments. Some medical conditions such as sleep apnea, thyroid disorders, and lead poisoning, can cause ADHD symptoms. Adults who have a history of depression or anxiety will need to be assessed and treated with greater care, as these conditions often are in synergy.
If a doctor believes that you require medication, they will prescribe a suitable medicine. The type of medication you require will depend on the severity of your symptoms and how they affect your life. Stimulants are among the most commonly prescribed medications for ADHD. However, they're not right for everyone and the first stimulant you try might not be effective or trigger bothersome adverse side effects. Your healthcare provider will need to know if use any other medication that are not prescription drugs, such as over-the counter ones and supplements, since certain kinds of drugs may interact with ADHD stimulants.
Counseling is a crucial part of the treatment process for adults with ADHD. Individual therapy can help you deal with the feelings of failure frustration, underachievement, and anger that are often associated with untreated ADHD. It can teach you how to manage your anger, improve your time management and organizing skills.
If you have mental illness it is crucial to find an expert in healthcare who is trained in the field. A psychiatrist or neurologist is able to diagnose and treat ADHD, but you might prefer to see an expert psychologist or therapist. They are likely to have more experience with adult ADHD and the challenges they face and also have experience working with other clients. You can search ADDitude or contact your local mental health clinic to find a professional that assists adults with ADHD.
Medication
A diagnosis of ADHD is the first step towards managing your symptoms and improving life. If you're struggling to achieve your full potential at work, have difficulty maintaining relationships, or experience trouble completing tasks at home then an ADHD diagnosis might be the answer you've been looking for.
ADHD treatment for adults begins with thorough interviews and a thorough 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 suffer from untreated ADHD are often co-morbid with disorders like anxiety and depression. Jaksa says that these disorders can worsen or cause symptoms of ADHD. He also says that constant stress and frustration due to poor performance can lead to feelings of low self-esteem. "Getting diagnosed can help these individuals understand the reasons behind their struggles. This could help alleviate or eliminate their anxiety and help them focus more effectively on areas in which they excel," Jaksa states.
Adults suffering from ADHD are usually treated best with a combination of medications and behavior therapy. Stimulants can improve concentration, decrease impulsive behavior and aid in organizing. These medications can improve moods and boost motivation in many instances. Side effects of stimulants include sleepiness and having trouble eating or drinking enough. Certain people who use stimulants to treat ADHD may have mood swings that could be difficult for them to manage.
Talk to your doctor about whether you are a good candidate for clinical trials of new treatments or medicines. These studies assist researchers in finding more effective methods to detect and treat or prevent diseases.
Counseling
Untreated ADHD can cause issues in all areas of your life. Your relationships, career and financial health can be negatively affected by procrastination, poor time management, impulsive spending, and other symptoms. The first step in reducing the negative effects and getting back in control is to get a diagnosis and seek treatment.
Many adults who are diagnosed with ADHD were not diagnosed as children, because their family and teachers were unaware of the disorder or they experienced mild symptoms that were not noticed. Some might have managed their symptoms in childhood but struggled later in life when their family and work obligations increased.
To determine ADHD mental health professionals must find that your symptoms cause significant impairment in two areas of your everyday life. In the event of impairment, it could result in losing your job due to of lack of focus and organizational skills or being placed on academic probation in college due to inability to learn for tests.
Women are more adept at hiding symptoms than men. This makes it harder for them to receive a diagnosis. If you have ADHD symptoms that affect your home or work life it is possible to accelerate the process of diagnosis by being honest with your doctor. You may also be able to get reasonable accommodations under ADA laws and other workplace laws.
Regardless of how to get an adhd diagnosis uk of ADHD you have Your mental health professional will see that your symptoms started prior to the age of 12. They may request that you talk to people who were around you during this period and could take a number of tests to evaluate your attention and memory abilities.
After receiving a diagnosis, the doctor will suggest a combination of medication and non-medication treatment to help manage your symptoms. The majority of people will test different treatments before they find the one that is most effective for them. Keep a log of your progress, and make sure to consult your doctor regularly to adjust your treatment plan as necessary.