What is Adult ADHD and How Can It Be Treated with Counseling?

When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all. He keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken. – Psalm 34:17 -20

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is generally thought of as a problem affecting children. We think of hyperactive or impulsive children struggling to pay attention as the hallmark of the disorder. However, at least 4 to 5% of adults have ADHD in the U.S. alone. Many adults who have ADHD never get diagnosed with it and continue to experience frustration in their personal and work lives. Without treatment, their existence can seem like a relentless uphill battle with no end in sight.

The American Psychiatric Association states that ADHD affects about 5% of children, with half the number growing out of it by adulthood. The other 50% will carry the symptoms of the disorder into adulthood affecting both men and women equally. Since some people weren’t diagnosed properly when they experienced ADHD as a child and are living with debilitating mental and physical problems associated with the disorder, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that the percentage of ADHA sufferers, both in children and adults is actually higher in reality.

Understanding the Symptoms of Adult ADHD

Symptoms generally present early in childhood but by the time they reach adulthood some of them might decrease with others becoming more acute. In adulthood the symptoms of ADHD are harder to diagnose than in children and the adult’s mental health problems are often never managed properly.

There is a wide range of symptoms to look out for that denote an adult with ADHD. They include emotional outbursts, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. These adults may have extreme difficulty with:

• Following directions
• Concentrating
• Any tasks requiring organization
• Remembering key information
• Finishing work on time

In adulthood, these individuals could be experiencing anxiety, chronic boredom, depression, trouble controlling anger, forgetfulness, problems at work, low self-esteem, mood swings, procrastination, relationship problems, substance abuse, addiction, and low motivation.

Sometimes an adult with ADHD might have all of these symptoms affecting them at the same time and others might only experience them occasionally based on the particular situation they are confronting.

Patterns Formed in Childhood

Many of the adults with ADHD would have had a hard time at school. They might have been labeled as underachievers or had to repeat a grade. Perhaps they even dropped out of school or got into constant trouble for their tardiness, mood swings, impulsivity or substance abuse. As adults, this same pattern would manifest itself as an inability to hold down a job for long coupled with poor performance evaluation. Their inability to focus might lead to an increase in car crashes and speeding tickets. There could be a reliance on nicotine, alcohol, and drugs. They may also struggle with relationships, possibly demonstrating an increased propensity for divorce and multiple marriages.

“The human spirit is never finished when it is defeated… it is finished when it surrenders.” – Ben Stein

Why ADHD Adults Need to Work With A Therapist

If these symptoms are left untreated it can cause dire consequences for the adult. While medication can be helpful it is important for it to be used in conjunction with therapy. ADHD is a mental health disorder and requires the intervention of a skilled therapist to help the individual understand their situation and to introduce them to the many coping mechanisms available to get their lives back on track.

A therapist for adults with ADHD is able to assist them to get their lives organized. If the individual is able to stick to plans and finish tasks that they have started, they will feel like they have gained a measure of control over their disorder. Getting the client to a self-nurturing place where they have adequate sleep and follow a healthy diet allows them to handle the pressures of their day with more ease.

Our society prizes order, structure, and routine which for people with impulse control issues can be an almost impossible task. They will gravitate toward activities that they feel are stimulating and allow their attention free reign so they can avoid the “boring” tasks at hand. For many adults with ADHD, the expectations in the workplace can seem draconian and they may rebel by doing as they please and failing to get their workload done.

Ensuring Correct Diagnosis

ADHD is partially genetic and a few members of a family could display the same symptoms. This means it can seem like normal behavior to a person who is surrounded by adults who operate in similar hyperactive ways. There are theorists who posit that ADHD has manifested due to increasing stress levels and demands of society on children that persist into adulthood.

One of the first steps when treating clients with adult ADHD is to first ascertain if their behavioral issues occur in every area of life or only in isolated situations. If the client is unable to concentrate enough to get through their work tasks but can easily engage in lengthy intelligent conversations outside of work or can focus on playing a game of chess, the fault may lie with a deep dissatisfaction and not necessarily ADHD. Properly diagnosing whether the adult has got ADHD is a vital part of the therapy session.

“Stand up to your obstacles and do something about them. You will find that they haven’t half the strength you think they have.” – Norman Vincent Peale

Learning to Cope in A Safe Environment

Therapy for adults with ADHD looks at behavior modification as these individuals struggle with regulating their emotional responses to situations, especially if they are stressful. In the session, the therapist finds coping strategies to make the client’s life easier and more manageable. Learning how to set goals and prioritizing actions is a key part of the therapy along with techniques for emotional regulation. The goal is to discover which aids will work for the individual to help improve their attention levels.

A therapist who specializes in adult ADHD has extraordinary resources at their disposal to help modify the client’s behavior to help them stay more focused in life, love, and work. In therapy, the client finds a safe environment where the roots of their concentration issues can be examined. These might include anxiety or anger stemming from unaddressed problems in their childhood which resulted in learning disabilities, emotional issues, and behavioral problems.

“It is not what happens to you that determines how far you go in life; it is what you do with what happens to you.” – Zig Ziglar

Retraining the Brain

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) transforms unhealthy thinking patterns that are plaguing the client into healthy habits that allow them to function in society. The process involves retraining their thought processes and many clients see results early in the process. This motivates the client to keep going with the sessions as the rewards for their successes are immediate.

CBT rewires the thinking so the client no longer displays all or nothing thought forms where only perfection is valid and everything else is “evidence” of their failure. They can learn to stop overgeneralizing, convinced that everything is going to turn out badly. Therapy can help the client not to magnify minor problems and only see the negative in everything. Comparative thinking where the client measures themselves against others and feels inferior is eradicated.

The Power of Talk Therapy

Traditional therapy is also employed to help the client uncover the causes of the depression or anxiety they may experience as part of this disorder. Discussions about their family relationships are essential to the analysis of the client’s current problems. Talk therapy is highly effective in alleviating some of the emotional and spiritual unease that the client carries.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 4:6-7

Part of the therapy process for an adult with ADHD might include family therapy, as the illness can have devastating effects on spouses and children. The family sessions include establishing coping skills to minimize power struggles and techniques to support each other. About half of the adults with ADHD also suffer from anxiety and the combination can result in many difficulties in their lives. With a strong support structure, these symptoms can lessen with time. Short tempers and mood swings can be difficult to deal with for both the sufferer and family members who might be the recipients of any outbursts.

Clients who have been prescribed medication for their ADHD often seek the help of a therapist as well, to see if they can find a way to increase their attention span and facilitate further progress through behavior modification. Medication targets the impulsivity and inability to focus while therapy steps in with the skills to maintain relationships at home and work. An Adult ADHD therapist will assist the client with their daily planning routines and help them find ways to keep motivated while performing tasks that are relatively boring. Working out how long a job should take you helps the client to hone their time management skills, ensuring they can complete the job in the allotted time.

Tackling Low Self Esteem

If you are an adult with ADHD, you have already had a lifetime of emotional issues that have resulted from an undiagnosed and untreated mental health condition. Tackling the issues of low self-esteem and the accompanying depression is part of your therapy. The shame of being called “stupid” or “lazy” your entire life has eroded many people’s sense of self-worth and much work will be needed to heal this emotional, mental, and spiritual pain.

There can also be a lot of grief attached to a lifetime of living with the constant negative thoughts about yourself. Part of therapy involves understanding that the condition is for life. It is not going to go away but will need constant management and support in order to live a fulfilling life.

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. – 2 Timothy 1:7

Adults with ADHD have endured many frustrating setbacks in their lives. Their inability to find success in relationships and in their careers can lead to feelings of helplessness and pessimism. They carry a distorted self-image and always think that everything is their fault when situations don’t go as planned. They might not be able to imagine a brighter future because their lives have been so stressful up to this point.

The relief they experience when they find out that they have been living with a distortion and that there is help available can result in psychic relief. It is important to get the help that will set a new course for the adult afflicted with ADHD so they can live their best possible lives.

Christian ADHD Therapy

For adults with ADHD that are looking to strengthen their inner resolve and find spiritual support for what they are going through they often turn to a Christian therapist who blends the benefits of traditional psychology with the disciplines of faith as laid out in the Bible. The teachings of the Scriptures can guide those ADHD sufferers towards successfully navigating through the turbulent times they are encountering to find inner strength and peace.

The therapist helps the client to incorporate fundamental values and beliefs of their religion into their overall coping strategy. When you visit with a Christian therapist you could also uncover how a disconnect with your relationship to God could be aggravating your condition. Building a sense of spiritual fulfillment is key in this therapeutic approach.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. – 2 Corinthians 12:9

If you are an adult who has been diagnosed with ADHD in the Seattle area and you are looking for a Christian therapist that can support you and help you to find spiritual, emotional, and behavioral techniques please give me a call. I would like to work with you to find coping mechanisms to ease the difficulties you have experienced in your life due to this debilitating disorder.

For nothing will be impossible with God. – Luke 1:37