Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

ADHD (or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) is a common mental health condition that affects the way an individual thinks, processes feelings and emotions, and responds to their external and internal environments. ADHD is generally first diagnosed in childhood and often perpetuates into adulthood. The way this presents varies from person to person, but here are some common ADHD symptoms:

Low Attention Level: 

• Daydreams often 
• Easily distracted by self and others
• Difficulty staying in one place for extended periods of time (i.e. sitting in a classroom) 
• Easily tunes out what others are saying
• Gets easily frustrated

Disorganization:

• Messy in all areas of life (i.e. bedroom, school desk, backpack, etc.)
• Is often forgetful of items and responsibilities
• Is often late with homework or work assignments 

Hyperactivity/Restlessness:

• Fidgets often and can’t sit still 
• Constantly fiddling with objects (i.e. pens, people, toys, etc.)
• Trouble waiting patiently for things

Impulsivity:

• Blurts out things when others are talking
• Talks excessively 
• Trouble following rules or instructions
• Disruptive
• Makes careless mistakes 
• Takes unnecessary risks

Now that we know some basics about this disorder, let’s talk about how to respond. What actionable steps can you use as treatment for ADHD?

Lifestyle Changes:

Psycophi specializes in teaching lifestyle changes you can make to improve your mental health and reduce the unwanted effects of your mental health condition. Many of our lessons center around changing small habits and routines you have everyday that can lead to big results in taking back control of your life. Our vision is to ultimately help you optimize your life, or in other words, be your best self so you can chase your dreams and find satisfaction and fulfillment.

We have several pages on our website that give you suggestions on changes you can start today to improve your mental health. Check out these links to learn how to change the way you eat, sleep, move, and breathe. These seemingly insignificant but actually fundamental aspects of your everyday life greatly impact your health and wellbeing. 

Making marginal changes in each of these areas is scientifically proven to drastically improve your mood, perspective, and overall state of wellness. We can’t recommend them enough, especially since you can implement them now if you need to wait until you’re able to get in to see a professional psychologist or physician.

Therapy:

There are several forms of therapy available that can be beneficial for those with ADHD. These include psychotherapy, behavioral therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). 

Psychotherapy can help you learn to talk about your feelings caused by your condition, how to cope with your experiences, and how to strengthen your relationships (since ADHD can cause problems between you, friends, family, and authority figures).

Behavioral therapy focuses on teaching you to become self-aware of your behaviors and to learn strategies to build positive behaviors in any given situation. This is a comprehensive article about this style of therapy, as well as cognitive behavioral therapy.

For young children with ADHD, parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT) can be helpful. Parents can also receive training with strategies for the best ways to teach their children positive behaviors and set them up for success.

Medications:

ADHD medications can be divided into two camps: stimulants and non-stimulants. Stimulants work very well to decrease ADHD symptoms and are typically the first line medication used to treat it. Stimulants are a controlled substance and have potential for abuse. Non-stimulants don’t carry the same risk for abuse, and can work well for certain individuals. Doctors will work closely with you to manage and balance your medications.

To learn more about the different types of medications and their potential side effects, check out what healthline says here.