While plenty of children are diagnosed with ADHD, in recent years, there have been many adults diagnosed as well. This diagnosis can be a welcome relief to some, a feeling that they finally have a way to understand how their brain works. Others may be overwhelmed with the diagnosis.
Whether you are now an adult who has known your diagnosis since childhood or are just beginning the process of understanding your ADHD, therapy can be a useful tool in navigating the world.
A therapist is a teammate who helps you navigate the ups and downs that you experience as a person with ADHD. Just like medication, therapy provides you with a considerable amount of assistance. Your brain is unique to you. You will have strengths and weaknesses. Functioning well in your job, caring for your home and belongings, and caring for your physical needs may be challenging in different ways than other people.
A therapist’s role is to help you find strategies that work for you.
Common struggles for those with adult ADHD
- Time management.
- Meeting deadlines.
- Organization.
- Impulsivity and motivation.
- Forgetfulness.
- Trouble sleeping.
- Difficulty with listening and attention.
- Easily bored.
Most adults with ADHD say that they want to manage their time, work projects, homes, etc. Many of them have tried strategies that receive rave reviews from adults without ADHD. But those strategies often go up in a cloud of good intentions. Therapy focuses on finding strategies that work for the individual, not the collective.
Across the spectrum of people with ADHD, there is a great deal of variance in what works. There is no one-size-fits-all approach.
Therapy can help adults with ADHD manage their time and meet deadlines by:
- Finding personalized strategies.
- Addressing underlying issues.
- Developing coping mechanisms.
- Building self-awareness.
- Providing accountability and support.
Strengths of adults with ADHD
Therapy is not just to assist with struggles; it can also be a place to unlock your strengths. Remember, you are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139) and have assets that can benefit you and others.
Creativity and seeing things outside the box are common ADHD traits. Going to therapy can help you pay attention to how this kind of thinking benefits your life. While a bored brain may become easily distracted, the hyper-focused and engaged brain can work exceptionally hard.
It is a matter of discovering what things engage your brain and curiosity. Brushing your teeth is boring, but it may be paired with something more engaging. A therapist may suggest ways of pairing boring but necessary tasks with other things that excite your brain.
For some people, the idea of a captive audience (the therapist) to the never-ending flow of words you have to say is exciting. Others may find the idea of sitting on a couch talking about their thoughts and feelings unpleasant. Therapy for adults does not have to be just sitting and talking. A therapist may be able to provide something to help with the fidgety nature of adults with ADHD. Coloring, walking, fidget toys, etc.; therapists have tools to help you feel comfortable.
Adults with ADHD go to therapy to find strategies to navigate their struggles and build resilience by leaning into their strengths. If you have ADHD and would like to learn more about how therapy could benefit you, call our offices today to set up an appointment.
“White Flowers”, Courtesy of Irina Iriser, Unsplash.com, CC0 License
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Caitlin Mallery: AuthorCaitlin Mallery is a freelance writer, mother of four, avid reader, and amateur gardener from the Pacific Northwest. When she is not writing or chauffeuring children hither, thither, and yon, she works as a hospital chaplain.
“Working in spiritual...
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