The month of October is National ADHD Awareness month. ADHD stands for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.
You may have heard of this diagnosis in relation to children. But did you know that adults can be diagnosed with ADHD too?
Are you an adult that struggles with low frustration tolerance, or difficulty tolerating unpleasant feelings or situations, poor planning, frequent mood swings, or difficulty coping with stress? It’s easy to be hard on yourself for not completing tasks or having trouble focusing. However, these may just be symptoms of a bigger issue.
Adults with ADHD can experience a wide range of symptoms. Here are some examples:
- Problems with remembering appointments or obligations
- Difficulty getting organized
- Finalizing details when trying to complete a task
- Avoiding a task or delaying getting started
- Feeling “on the go”
- Making careless mistakes when working on a difficult or boring project
- Fidgeting or squirming when you have to sit for long periods of time
- Distracted by noise or stimuli unrelated to the task at hand that you’re trying to complete
- Feelings of restlessness and/or difficulty relaxing
How do we know what’s normal and what’s ADHD? If the symptoms you’re experiencing are recent or have only occurred in the past with no consistent pattern, chances of ADHD are unlikely. However, when your symptoms are severe enough where they are impacting more than one area of your life and causing ongoing issues, it could be due to undiagnosed ADHD.
Here are some helpful tips to address ADHD:
- Contact your primary healthcare provider to discuss a screening for ADHD
- Check out the book “The Power of Different: The Link Between Disorder and Genius” by Gail Saltz, M.D.
- Find it here on amazon
- Look into purchasing objects to fidget with such as Play-Doh, stress balls, or fidget cubes
- An Accommodations assessment can be performed in the workplace to determine if any changes can be made to improve workspace and job performance. Ask your employer about pursuing this assessment.
- Explore medication options with a primary care provider, psychiatrist, or psychiatric nurse practitioner.
- Make lists of tasks you need to complete
- Use a day planner to help you organize your day
- Set reminders on your phone for appointments or obligations
- Set aside 5-10 minutes daily to organize your workspace
- Exercise and spend time outside
- Look for meditation videos on YouTube to practice mindfulness
- Contact Capital EAP to schedule a counseling session
If you’re interested in learning more about ADHD, click the links below:
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd/index.shtml
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/adult-adhd/symptoms-causes/syc-20350878
For more coping techniques, check out this guide:
By, Kristi Zalinka, MHC Intern