How to Cope When ADHD Continues Through Adulthood

Back when you were diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as a child or teen, you and your parents may have been told that you’d eventually outgrow your condition. With maturity, you’d develop self-control, heighten your ability to focus, and become better organized as well as less impulsive.

While treatment and therapy allow many children and teens to grow into adults who don’t experience ADHD symptoms, that’s a rarer state than previously thought. In fact, if you feel like you still struggle with ADHD symptoms as an adult, you’re not imagining things.

Researchers estimate that anywhere from 29% to 80% of adults who were diagnosed with ADHD still struggle with symptoms in adulthood. In fact, some research suggests that even adults who’ve “conquered” their symptoms still have the brain differences that are typical of ADHD, which may affect their lives in profound ways.

For instance, although you may have outgrown symptoms such as fidgetiness, you may have trouble focusing at work or achieving goals. Adult ADHD could lead you to:

• Change relationships frequently
• Change jobs frequently
• Act impulsively or rudely
• Procrastinate
• Have trouble staying organized
• Be inattentive
• Feel restless or revved up inside

Adults with ADHD are also more likely to have another mental health condition. In fact, 81% of adults with ADHD have problems such as substance use, anxiety, or depression. 

A Precise Research Centers, Joseph Kwentus, MD, and Karen Richardson, PhD, diagnose and treat ADHD in all ages. At our offices in Flowood, Mississippi, we offer a variety of solutions to help you recognize and control adult ADHD symptoms so you can live your life fully.

Behavior therapy 

Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and other types of therapies help you view your mental processes and your behaviors more objectively so that you can make active choices that benefit you more than your current, unconscious coping techniques. Through CBT, you learn to identify and change negative thought patterns into positive ones. CBT and other behavior therapies can help you:

• Improve your organizational skills
• Be less impulsive in decision-making and action
• Improve your self-esteem
• Improve your problem-solving skills
• Reframe past failures
• Improve and stabilize relationships with friends, family, and coworkers
• Control your temper
• Be more tactful

Through CBT and other types of therapies, you can also address other issues you may be grappling with, including substance abuse, depression, or anxiety. You may also benefit from family or couples therapy that helps you strengthen primary relationships.

Medications

If you still have symptoms associated with hyperactivity, it may seem counterintuitive to take stimulants. However, stimulants such as methylphenidate and amphetamine help balance the neurotransmitters in your brain. They specifically boost the neurotransmitter dopamine, which is associated with pleasure, motivation, and attention.

A non-stimulant called atomoxetine and certain antidepressants, including bupropion, can also help your brain relax and focus. They work more slowly than stimulants but have fewer side effects.

There’s no one-fits-all dose of stimulants or nonstimulants to treat ADHD. We customize and tweak the treatment plan until we find the best balance for you.

Clinical trials

One of the exciting things about Precise Research Centers is that we’re involved in and run many ongoing clinical trials with new medications for a variety of conditions, including ADHD. If you’re a candidate for a clinical trial, you may be able to try medications before they’re available to the general public. The cost of the medications is covered by the trial.

If you suspect your ADHD hasn’t “gone away,” and you’re still struggling with symptoms, get the help you need by contacting our office today. Call us at 601-685-3457 or book an appointment online.