Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in adults

Treatment

Medications are often the first line of treatment for Adults with ADHD.

Apart from that, therapy for adults with ADD/ADHD can be helpful for both the emotional issues related to the disorder and practical, day-to-day issues.

• Talk therapy – Adults with ADD/ADHD often struggle with issues stemming from longstanding patterns of underachievement, failure, academic difficulties, job turnover, and relationship conflict. Individual talk therapy can help deal with this emotional baggage, including low self-esteem, the feelings of embarrassment and shame experienced as a child and teenager, and resentment at the nagging and criticism received from people close to you.
• Marriage and family therapy – Marriage and family therapy addresses the problems ADD/ADHD can create in relationships and family life, such as conflicts over money problems, forgotten commitments, responsibilities in the home, and impulsive decisions. Therapy can help explore these issues and focus on constructive ways of dealing with them and communicating with each other. Therapy can also improve relationships by educating the partner about ADD/ADHD.
• Cognitive-behavioural therapy – Cognitive-behavioural therapy encourages identifying and changing the negative beliefs and behaviours that are causing problems in life. Since many individuals with ADD/ADHD are demoralized from years of struggle and unmet expectations, one of the main goals of cognitive-behavioural therapy is to transform this negative outlook into a more hopeful, realistic view. Cognitive-behavioural therapy also focuses on the practical issues that often come with ADD/ADHD, such as disorganization, work performance problems, and poor time management. 
• Causes
• Symptoms
• Effects
• If left untreated
• Treatment