Finding Help for ADHD Symptoms

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common mental health disorder that affects millions of children and adults in the US. The ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) diagnosis is now included in ADHD even without the hyperactivity present. ADHD symptoms interfere with daily living and, in extreme cases, quality of life.

ADHD diagnosed in childhood

ADHD is typically diagnosed during childhood. Parents and teachers begin to notice the behavior between the ages of three and seven. Some children may be in their preteen or teen years before noticing their behavior is causing problems with their peers.

The issue with diagnosing young children based on ADHD symptoms is that many of the symptoms can mirror the typical behavior of toddlers and preschoolers.

Before assuming your child has ADHD, speak with their teachers at school and note your child’s relationships with other children. ADHD is not something that only happens at home or school. Your child’s behavior will remain consistent.

If your child is having trouble in school, but you do not see these behaviors at home, then more than likely, there is something in the school environment that has your child unfocused. Maybe they do not understand the material or are being bullied. Discuss with your child what is going on at school and their concerns.

If your child is demonstrating ADHD symptoms at home and school it may interfere with their academic success. ADHD makes completing tasks and homework assignments difficult. Youth in school may have trouble starting a project requiring a great deal of mental effort and time.

They may procrastinate, choosing to spend time on unimportant things instead of an assignment that could raise their grade point average in school. They may even appear lazy or oppositional. Per ADHD Coach and author Cindy Goldrich, Ed.M., ADHD-CCSP, children with ADHD lack two critical skills initiation and activation.

Cindy Goldrich further writes in her book, 8 Keys for Parenting Children with ADHD, that there are evidence-based non-medication focus strategies to help children be successful such as:

• Practical, non-distracting movement.
• Improving task initiation, planning, and time management.
• Strengthening emotional regulation, cognitive flexibility, and frustration tolerance.
• Teaching effective communication and collaboration skills.
• Managing stress and anxiety in school and at home.
• Creating a growth mindset temperament and improving perseverance.
• Using goal-setting techniques to improve performance and confidence.

If you are a parent or caregiver and recognize some ADHD symptoms, reach out to their pediatrician or a counselor to assess the situation and seek an accurate diagnosis and treatment.

ADHD diagnosed in adulthood

In some cases, children not diagnosed with ADHD symptoms during childhood find it challenging to maintain job responsibilities and personal relationships as adults. They may not have shown severe enough ADHD symptoms as a child, so it was missed. It’s also possible that their parents and teachers believed the youth was exhibiting typical behavior for a child. Whatever the reason the diagnosis was missed, the fact remains that these symptoms have now evolved and are affecting the person’s life as an adult. Some of the ADHD symptoms in adults can include difficulty with time management and organizational skills.

ADHD symptoms in adults affect a person’s cognitive function, behavior, and mood. Adults can develop anxiety or depression. Adults can have trouble sleeping and display irritability and or mood swings.

A counselor will address each aspect and recommend the best type of treatment. Depending on the severity of the ADHD symptoms, a counselor may recommend organization skills, time management techniques, talk therapy, lifestyle changes, and possibly see a psychiatrist for medication management.

How ADHD interferes with relationships

If you are married or have a significant other, you may have problems in your relationship. Poor communication and trouble in active listening can cause relational issues. Your spouse may think that you do not care about them because you cannot seem to remember the little details.

Outbursts and risky behaviors will cause tension in the marriage, especially if you are lashing out at your family or engaging in sexual or deviant behaviors. If you turn to alcohol, chemical substances, or gambling, your marriage may implode the more you take part in these behaviors.

Children can lose friends or make enemies with rash behaviors, often causing fights or hurling verbal insults at others. Forgetfulness and the inability to stay organized can mean missed assignments and carelessness on projects. Because they are distracted easily, children may have trouble giving speeches or finishing a book for a report.

Easing ADHD symptoms

If ADHD symptoms concern you, try to ease them with a few lifestyle changes. You may not witness an immediate change, but certain habits accumulated over time may drastically change your behavior.

Speak to your pediatrician, primary care physician, or nutritionist about how your current diet could negatively affect your cognitive health, behavior, and mood.

Adopting routines can keep you on task and make accomplishing more in your day easier. The trick is creating routines for work, school, and home.

we age, we tend to place exercise on the back burner, yet physical movement is an excellent way to work out aggression and frustration.

Exercise can also increase the ability to focus

Get help for your ADHD symptoms

Sometimes you need a little more than lifestyle changes to ease ADHD symptoms. Contact a Christian counselor today to schedule an appointment. Your counselor will perform an assessment and use results-driven psychological methods with a solid biblically-based foundation to help you overcome your ADHD symptoms. Give us a call today.