(AscendHealthy.com) – Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD is a neurobehavioral disorder. It affects around 2.8% of adults globally. Because of busy lifestyles and the stigma of ADHD, many adults go undiagnosed. You might have ADHD if you are struggling with symptoms that are making daily tasks difficult. Here’s how to find out if you could have it.
Get Tested and Diagnosed
There are many medical and behavioral conditions similar to ADHD, so getting a precise diagnosis from a doctor is recommended.
Testing for ADHD is a multifaceted process. Doctors often do a medical exam that includes labs and sometimes scans to help rule out other potential causes of certain behaviors.
ADHD tests, including symptom checklists and attention-span tests, can help provide a proper diagnosis. The length and severity of symptoms might also be discussed during the initial consultation to help determine proper treatment options.
Common Symptoms of ADHD
Feeling lost and uncertain about what your behavior means can be discouraging and scary. Symptoms are broad for ADHD, but often include:
- Trouble multitasking
- Impulsiveness
- Disorganization and lack of prioritizing
- Not comprehending information
- Interruption of others
- Inability to be quiet, such as excessive talking
- Extreme restlessness
- Poor planning skills
- Low frustration tolerance
These are just a few signs of ADHD. When these symptoms lead to feelings of frustration and failure, it’s time to seek help.
Treatment Options
The goal is to create a stress-free, productive lifestyle for patients suffering from ADHD. Your doctor will come up with the best course of action for you. There is a broad range of treatment options for ADHD. The two most common are:
- Medications
- Behavioral therapy
Medications often vary between stimulants and non-stimulants. It depends on how your body reacts to them based on how your symptoms originally presented. In addition, an antidepressant may be recommended, too. Finding the right combination may take time and different combinations of medicines.
Targeted behavioral therapy can also help by providing patients with the right tools to recognize their behavioral patterns. Combined with the right medication, it may substantially improve their lifestyle overall.
Reasons to Seek Help
Adults have many reasons to get help. But most are prompted by changes making their daily lives more difficult. These might include:
- Not performing as expected at work or school
- Losing jobs frequently
- Experiencing gaps in self-care, like the inability to organize or pay bills on time or perform household chores
- Experiencing irritability or becoming upset over minor things
- Experiencing ongoing stress
If these changes are interfering with your ability to lead a successful life or you’re experiencing major changes in behavior, it’s time to seek assistance.
Not being able to be your best version of yourself may be frustrating and potentially depressing. Daily life doesn’t have to be a hard, uphill climb. The good news is, ADHD is treatable. Once a diagnosis is made, it’s easy to find the best way to deal with and treat the underlying issue. Live your best life — you deserve it!
~Here’s to Your Healthy Ascension
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