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Getting Diagnosed With ADHD As an Adult
Adults who have difficulty in their professional or personal lives may benefit from a diagnosis of ADHD. A diagnosis requires a thorough assessment, often including reviews of school records and questionnaires filled out by caregivers and teachers.
It is not unusual for adults to be diagnosed with ADHD. See NIMH for tips on talking to your health care provider about the disorder.
Diagnosis
It is essential to be diagnosed with ADHD at an early age. This will allow you to get control of the symptoms that can cause chaos in your personal and professional life. First, you must consult your GP or an expert in mental health who has experience in treating adults suffering from ADHD. If your GP does not have any knowledge of ADHD or other disorders, they could refer you to a psychiatrist or psychologist for an assessment.
A mental health professional will typically use a six question ADHD screener to determine if you have the condition. Then, the doctor will ask you questions about your symptoms and review your medical history and family history to confirm that any other conditions are not causing your ADHD-like symptoms.
People with ADHD are prone to being easily distracted and miss important details. They have a difficult time following instructions in class or at work. They tend to lose things essential to their tasks or activities, like tools, wallets, keys and wallets. They may also have trouble staying focused during long speeches or reading assignments. Other symptoms of adult ADHD include fidgeting, texting or talking too much or squirming in their seats.
When determining whether a person has adult ADHD, it is important to exclude other conditions that may cause similar symptoms, such as anxiety, depression bipolar disorder, anxiety and substance abuse. Stress and physical ailments like thyroid problems can also mimic ADHD symptoms. In the DSM-5, professionals are now required to assess the severity of an individual's symptoms when determining if they are suffering from ADHD. Adult ADHD is classified as mild, moderate or severe.
diagnosing adhd with ADHD are not diagnosed in childhood, because it's not evident. For adults, a diagnosis can be a life-changing revelation as they realize the reason why they struggled in school and could not reach their potential at work or at home. They may feel guilty for blameing other people or themselves for their problems and may also be resentful over missed opportunities that could have been if they were treated properly.
Treatment
To seek treatment for ADHD in adults The first step is to consult an expert in healthcare. 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 want to know your medical history and your family's mental health issues. This is because there are a variety of mental and physical ailments that can cause symptoms similar to ADHD. These conditions must be ruled out in order to establish a diagnosis.
The professional will ask you about your lifestyle and work, as well as how your symptoms impact your life. They will be particularly interested in whether or not you had symptoms of ADHD before the age of 12. They may also speak with people who were close to you as an infant and inquire about their childhood memories.
A thorough medical history will help the doctor decide whether you need medications or other treatments. This is due to the fact that certain medical conditions, like thyroid problems, sleep apnea and lead poisoning may cause symptoms of ADHD. Adults who have a history of depression or anxiety will require evaluation and treated more carefully, as these conditions often occur in conjunction.
If a doctor believes you need medication, he/she will prescribe the appropriate medication. The type of medicine you need will depend on your symptoms and how they impact your life. Stimulants are among the most commonly prescribed medication for ADHD. However, they are not for everyone and the first one you try may not be effective or cause unpleasant side effects. Your healthcare provider might ask if you are taking any other medications. This includes over-the-counter drugs or supplements as well as prescription drugs. Certain kinds of drugs can interact with ADHD stimulants.
Counseling is also an important part of the treatment process for adults with ADHD. Individual therapy can help you cope better with feelings of frustration and failure that are often associated with untreated ADHD. It can teach you how to manage your anger, as well as improve your time management and organization skills.
If you have a mental illness it is essential to locate a doctor who is specialized in that condition. A psychiatrist or neurologist can diagnose and treat ADHD, but you might prefer to see psychologists or specialist therapists. These professionals will likely have more experience with adult ADHD and their struggles and also have worked with other clients. You can use search engines like ADDitude or your local mental health services to find a specialist who works with adults who have ADHD.
Medication
A diagnosis of ADHD is the first step towards managing your symptoms and improving life. If you're struggling to reach your full potential at work, have difficulty maintaining relationships, or have difficulty completing tasks at home, an ADHD diagnosis may be just what you need.
The first step to treat ADHD for adults is a thorough medical history review, which includes your symptoms. The psychiatrist or psychologist determines whether you meet the criteria for ADHD in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5), published by the American Psychiatric Association. 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 with untreated ADHD are often afflicted with disorders such as depression and anxiety. These disorders can cause or worsen symptoms of ADHD, Jaksa says. A constant stress and anger over poor performance can also result in feelings of low self-esteem, Jaksa says. "Getting diagnosed can help them gain a perspective on the reasons behind their struggles. This could help reduce or eliminate their anxieties and help them focus on areas in which they excel," Jaksa states.
Adults suffering from ADHD are usually treated with a combination of medications in conjunction with behavior therapy. Stimulants can boost concentration, decrease impulsive behavior and aid in organizing. In many instances, these medications can also enhance motivation and mood. People who take stimulants should be aware of the potential side effects, which include insomnia and difficulty drinking or eating enough. Also, mood swings can occur in people who are taking stimulants for ADHD, and these can be difficult to manage.
Talk to your doctor about whether you are a good candidate for clinical trials of new treatments or drugs. These studies help researchers discover better methods to detect, prevent or treat diseases.
Counseling
Untreated ADHD can cause issues in all areas of your life. Your relationships, career and financial health could be negatively impacted by procrastination or poor time management, impulsive spending and other symptoms. Getting a diagnosis and seeking treatment is the first step in lessening the negative effects and regaining control of your life.
Many adults diagnosed with ADHD were not diagnosed as children, because their teachers and family were unaware of the disorder or they had mild symptoms that weren't noticed. Some adults might have been able manage their symptoms as children but struggled with them in adulthood due to the increased demands of work and family.
In order to be diagnosed as having ADHD, mental health professionals must determine that your symptoms cause significant impairment in at least two areas of your life. Impairment can result in losing your job due to of an inability to concentration and organizational skills, or being placed on academic probation at college due to the inability to study for tests.
Women are more adept in hiding their symptoms than men. This can make it harder for them to receive a diagnosis. If you have ADHD symptoms that affect your life at work or at home, you can speed up the diagnosis process by being honest with your doctor. You might also be eligible for reasonable accommodations under ADA laws and other workplace laws.
Your mental health professional, regardless of the type of ADHD you suffer from, will want to know if your symptoms began before the age of 12. They might ask you to talk to people who were around you during this period and could perform a series of tests to evaluate your attention and memory abilities.
If you're given the diagnosis, your therapist will recommend the use of a combination of medication and non-medical treatments to help manage your symptoms. The majority of people will test different methods before they discover the one that works best for them. It is recommended that you keep a journal of your progress and speak with your doctor on a regular basis so they can help you adjust your treatment program as needed.