October is ADHD Awareness Month and I’d like to bring awareness to the fact that many children who had ADHD continue to have ADHD as adults. It used to be believed that kids outgrew ADHD. If you were diagnosed with ADHD as a child and assumed that you outgrew it as you matured, you may want to examine your situation. If you lose things, forget appointments, make impulsive decisions or act impulsively, are often running late or have other frequent issues, it’s possible that you still have ADHD. If you are a woman who has wondered if you have ADHD but thought you couldn’t have it because you were never diagnosed as a child, I urge you to get evaluated. ADHD presents differently in girls and women. In school, many girls are not diagnosed with ADHD because they do not exhibit noticeable behavior issues that boys often do. For instance, girls may be able to sit quietly in their seats instead of popping out of them frequently without permission. ADHD is frequently overlooked in females.
If you are an adult and you suspect you have ADHD, I encourage you to get it evaluated. If it turns out you do have ADHD, it is possible that you would benefit significantly from one of the many ADHD medications. Not all ADHD medications are stimulants, if that is something that you are concerned about taking. Additionally, there is a short (about 10 week) CBT (cognitive-behavioral therapy) treatment specifically for ADHD which may be of help to you whether or not you take medication.
These articles address symptoms of ADHD in adults and discuss how those can show up in your life:
https://www.additudemag.com/adhd-in-adults/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/adult-adhd/symptoms-causes/syc-20350878
Use this brief screening tool to see if it is likely you have ADHD. This screening tool is not diagnostic by itself, but it is something you can show your doctor to support your case that you may have ADHD:
https://add.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/adhd-questionnaire-ASRS111.pdf
If you or someone you know is dealing with PTSD, I invite you to set up a free 15-minute consultation with me to learn how I can help you resolve the PTSD in about 12 sessions without having to talk about the traumatic details. Sound too good to be true? Let me explain how this therapy works. Call or text Alicia at 816-226-4678.
