Get Help for Adult ADHD & ADD

Adult adhd is real

If you have or think you have Adult ADHD/ADD - attention deficit disorder or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder you might have problems with:

• Anxiety
• Chronic lateness or forgetfulness
• Difficulty being organized
• Problems at work
• Depression
• Low self-esteem
• Anger issues
• Impulsiveness
• Easily frustrated or angered
• Procrastination problems
• Relationship and marriage struggles
• Self-medicating through substance use/abuse or other addictions

Treatment for Adult ADHD

MEDICATION: For a vast majority of adults with ADHD, medication is effective and helpful in increasing attentiveness and other executive functions - such as emotion regulation, reducing impulsiveness, and helping with procrastination problems. Basically, medication can help "wake up" a "sleepy brain". 

However, just like with a physical illness, medication can help but sometimes physical therapy is necessary - same goes for ADHD/ADD treatment. 

COUNSELING: Research shows that medication is most effective when combined with "talk therapy". Working with a therapist is also helpful for those that have decided to not take medication for ADHD. 70-80% of adults with ADHD also have a co-existing condition such as anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder, and therapy can help work through the challenges that these conditions can cause, especially when combined with the struggles of ADHD.

Benefits of therapy for ADHD:

• Reduce shame and blame for something that isn't your fault
• Manage co-existing conditions such as anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder
• Learn new skills to help manage your daily life and get stuff done
• Change old bad habits and establish new habits
• New ways to manage emotions
• Improve relationships
• Gain better time management and planning skills
• Treatment is goal oriented and solution focused to help you get results

ADHD Marriage Counseling

Not all therapists, counselors, or coaches are created equal, and some may even make the problem worse - especially if undiagnosed or untreated ADHD is present in one or both partners in the marriage.

When I work with couples struggling with Attention Deficit symptoms in a marriage or relationship, I believe that the following is vital for effective treatment:

A therapist or counselor who:

• is knowledgable about ADHD, especially in adults and how it impacts marriages and relationships.
• Refuses to play the blame game, seeing one person (either the ADHD spouse or the non-ADHD partner) as the "cause" of the problem - which just leads to increased shame, anger and resentment.
• is an advocate for your marriage, giving hope for the future, and doesn't undermine your goals to stay together as a couple. A good marriage counselor will never tell you whether you should stay together or get divorced.
• is focused on the present with the understanding that the best path forward is to let go of your past and create a new relationship with each other for the future.

(There might be circumstances, such as past traumas or other mental health conditions that need to be healed and addressed, and at the same time, treating and managing ADHD as a couple is focused on the present - solutions to problems facing you now - and how to have a wonderful future together as a couple.)

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