Treatment for Adults with ADD

If you think Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) only affects children, you are gravely mistaken. There are numerous cases of ADD in adults, diagnosis of which has been overlooked during childhood. Because parents and teachers have the common notion that children have a low attention span and are generally hyperactive, they fail to recognize that these children may be suffering from ADD. As such, these symptoms continue into adulthood when they start interfering with their daily lives. However, there is no reason for worry because there are some treatment methods that help overcome the symptoms and tackle all the responsibilities one has to deal with. However, before looking into these, we will understand what ADD is by looking into its symptoms.

Symptoms

ADD interferes in the lives of adults because it prevents them from easily achieving what their peers may be achieving. For example, pursuing a career requires a strong threshold for stress, and impeccable focus and organization. For adults who have ADD, doing so may not be easily possible. When ADD has hyperactivity as a symptom, it is termed as ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Different individuals exhibit different symptoms, and these have been discussed here.

• One of the biggest symptoms of ADD is a short attention span or difficulty paying attention to anything for a long time period.
• Such individuals are easily distracted by several other things in their environment.
• They face a lot of difficulty completing tasks on time and without errors because they have trouble paying attention to detail.
• Those affected are likely to phase out where they go blank for short periods and are unable to pay attention to anyone or anything. Alternately, in some cases, they may also get deeply absorbed in different activities that they find very pleasing. This is known as hyperfocus.
• Forgetfulness is another common symptom. Individuals affected fail to remember conversations, and even little things like where they left their keys. On a larger scale, they also tend to forget their appointments.
• Because they are so overwhelmed by the multiple activities they are required to focus on, they are likely to be highly disorganized. This may show in the way they work and even the way they keep their desks.
• Another common sign is the tendency to assume that there is enough time to complete tasks and therefore constantly put off important tasks or delay them. They are also likely to be late most of the time.
• One of the symptoms of ADHD in adults is hyperactivity, a trait characterized by constant fidgeting when asked to sit in a place for long hours. This hyperactivity is also shown where they tend to speak without thinking and may appear as rude or insensitive.
• Because such individuals may be distracted, they may interrupt conversations without regard for the person speaking. It is a symptom and may not be a part of the individual's nature.
• Though they may be overwhelmed by the numerous activities they are required to perform, individuals with ADD may want to do everything at once because they seek excitement. This is one of the common symptoms where they tend to get bored very easily because of the short attention span.
• Such individuals may have low self-esteem because of the inability to complete the responsibilities assigned to them. They perceive themselves as underachievers.
• Adults with ADD are constantly agitated, have a short temper, and are prone to intense mood swings.
• They are prone to high levels of stress due to the multitude of situations they are unable to handle. This may also lead to depression and anxiety.

If ADD goes undiagnosed it can lead to several relationship problems, health problems, and trouble handling finances and leading a comfortable life.

Treatment

The first step towards treating ADD is getting the correct diagnosis from a professional. Also, while doing so, it is important that the affected individual be given immense love and support so as to bolster her/his confidence and self-esteem, and not feel lonely in this 'battle' she/he is fighting with her/himself. The following treatment options may be used.

• Medication: Psychiatrists may prescribe some medication to treat the aforementioned symptoms. The best medication includes antidepressants and medicines that calm the hyperactive part of ADD so that some clarity of thought may be attained. The type of medication administered may differ greatly based on the symptoms that an individual is exhibiting.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: This is a form of therapy that intervenes with the set pattern an individual may have developed due to ADD, and attempts to change these patterns for the better. This includes changing the thought process from negative to positive, and then dealing with individual symptoms to improve them. This process may take several sessions but is known to be extremely effective for ADD.
• Group Therapy: Adults may also be required to undergo group therapy where several individuals affected with the same condition are asked to sit together, talk out their problems, and be given solutions to their problems. Group support always helps and doesn't make the individuals affected feel like they are the only ones suffering from a problem.
• Lifestyle Changes: Affected individuals are asked to make changes in their lifestyle to aid their treatment. This includes changes in the diet, which help them feel calm, healthy, and positive. Further, they are also asked to exercise to expend the excess energy. Exercise also releases hormones that are known to help them feel good thereby tackling the anxiety and depression that is known to accompany ADD.
• Personal Changes: Those with ADD are asked to make changes in the way they deal with their lives by starting off on a small scale. For instance, they may be asked to keep a diary to be able to list the tasks they are required to perform in a day and perform them one by one in order to be able to complete them.

Apart from treating the affected individual, therapy is also provided to the family to teach them how to deal with the individual, and what they can do to improve the effectiveness of the treatment.

All is not lost for individuals affected with ADD. As you can see, there are several methods of treatment. All it requires is faith and enough time to take effect. Things will definitely change thereon, and for the better.

Disclaimer: This Buzzle article is for informative purposes only and does not, in any way, intend to replace the advice of an expert.