ADHD Therapy Services
What is ADHD?
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a disorder that gets talked about quite often, but is still somewhat misunderstood. Often discovered in childhood, ADHD is a developmental disorder that includes symptoms that make it difficult to focus or stay on task, regardless of the situation. When these symptoms weave their way through someone’s life - home, school, careers, relationships - it can cause problems that impact both their day to day and their long term happiness and success.
What are the Different Types of ADHD - And What Do They Look Like?
When many people think of ADHD, they might picture a hyperactive child, fidgeting and hard to keep on task. And while that image could in fact be ADHD, the truth is there are many more ways that it can present itself. Like with many neurodevelopmental disorders, the reality is more complex than what meets the eye, with more than one type of ADHD all showing up with their own set of unique symptoms. Let’s look at the main types of ADHD – and signs someone may have it.
Inattentive ADHD
When someone has Inattentive ADHD, they struggle with focus and organization. For them, it’s difficult to stay on task. This may look like:
- Making careless mistakes due to lack of attention to details.
- Trouble staying focused on tasks, activities, conversations, etc.
- Appears distracted during conversation.
- Struggling with follow-through when it comes to necessary tasks for school, chores or their job.
- Poor time management
- Unorganized
- Forgetting daily tasks such as running errands, doing chores, paying bills, going to an appointment.
- A tendency to lose items like their keys, school work, phone, wallet, etc.
- Avoiding tasks that require focused, sustained mental effort.
Hyperactive/Impulsive ADHD
An individual with Hyperactive/Impulsive ADHD tends to have different symptoms than those with Inattentive ADHD. They appear full of energy, prone to fidgeting and excessive talking. Impulsivity shows up through decisions made without fully thinking through what it might lead to. Signs of Hyperactive/Impulsive ADHD include:
- Fidgeting (squirming, tapping hands or feet, shaking their leg)
- Difficulty staying seated in one place
- Climbing, running or other physical movements where it’s not appropriate
- Always “on the go,” in a way that seems as if they are being driven by a motor
- Excessive talking
- Interrupting, answering before a question is finished, finishing sentences for someone else
- Difficulty waiting their turn
Combination ADHD
The third major type of ADHD is combination ADHD, which as the name suggests is a version of it that features aspects of both Inattentive and Hyperactive/Impulsive ADHD.
Source: American Psychiatric Association
How Is ADHD Diagnosed?
The symptoms of ADHD are not exclusive to ADHD, so it’s important to receive a proper diagnosis to ensure the correct things are being treated. A primary healthcare provider or a licensed psychiatrist can diagnose ADHD, using a set of guidelines for each type. The symptoms above are considered, with children under age 16 needing to show at least six symptoms, and those 16 or older showing at least five. In addition, the criteria includes:
- Symptoms began before age 12 and continue
- Symptoms must occur for at least six months
- Symptoms must show up in at least two or more places, such as school, work, home, social situations
- Symptoms must interfere with life, such as school, work, or home
Once ADHD is on the roster as a possibility, medical and mental health history will be reviewed. Your doctor may ask for permission to discuss your situation with family members, teachers or other important people in your life who can give their perspective on experiences they’ve witnessed within different settings. A questionnaire will be given to you, parents and teachers to provide objective information that will paint a more clear picture of what symptoms are being exhibited and how they are affecting different areas of life.
The Prevalence of ADHD
ADHD affects an estimated 7 million children in the United States, with that number seeming to rise yearly. Among these children, boys are significantly more likely to be diagnosed than girls. Past misconceptions about how ADHD presents led for many years of professional belief that it was a mainly male disorder, but continued research and the reporting of personal experience has changed that understanding. Because symptoms show up differently – with girls more likely to have the inattentive variety that can be easier to miss – many girls simply weren’t being evaluated, or were being evaluated for the wrong things. The advancement in understanding of ADHD has led to an increase in the number of adults being diagnosed with ADHD as they look back on their experiences and start to understand where their struggles may stem from.
Source: CDC / American Psychiatric Association
How Therapy Can Help ADHD
Treatment for ADHD can often be a multi-step approach, including education, skill enhancing, therapy and sometimes medication. At Peak Psychological Services, our goal is always to help you navigate life in a way that works best for you. When it comes to therapy for ADHD, we work with patients to improve time management, reduce impulsive behavior, improve problem-solving skills, cope with adversity, improve self-esteem and more. Through evidence-backed therapy techniques, we’ll work with you to develop strategies that make living with ADHD work for you instead of against you.
A go-to therapy for ADHD is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT focuses on helping you learn to manage behavior by recognizing negative thinking, challenging it, and turning it into a more realistic thought pattern. Along with that, CBT helps build helpful skills such as task breakdown, pattern insight, trigger recognition and emotional regulation. Through mindfulness techniques, we will work on how to recognize and work through emotions and thought processes, in time improving focus and reducing impulsive behaviors.
If medication is deemed necessary, our team can help navigate medication management in conjunction with therapy, working together to set you on a focused path forward.
Source: Mayo Clinic
ADHD Treatment in Colorado
ADHD is a common disorder, creating a unique set of struggles that spans demographics. While it begins in childhood, the ramifications often extend into adulthood, especially when left untreated. With treatments available to make symptoms easier to cope with, there’s no reason to suffer in silence any longer. Taking control of ADHD can help you recognize problem areas, create new habits, and learn the ways you thrive in the world on your own terms. If you’re to take the reins of your life in your own hands, please reach out to Peak Psychological Services today. We’re happy to provide a free 15-minute consultation to help you decide if we’re the right fit for you.
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