Attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has a history of being portrayed as the undisciplined troublemaking boy at school who is constantly distracting the class and disobeying authority. Fortunately, the narrative is changing.
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects 6.1 million children, according to a 2016 study. Although we typically think of children when we hear about ADHD, it also affects 4.4 percent of adults in the United States.
Any child or adult can have difficulty sitting still, staying focused, or behaving appropriately from time to time. However, for people struggling with ADHD, these kinds of challenges are so frequent and problematic that they interfere with their development or ability to function in everyday life.
If you or someone you care about lives with ADHD, you understand the challenges, and a skilled therapist can help you tremendously.
ADHD Symptoms
ADHD symptoms can be incredibly frustrating. Without treatment, they negatively impact a child or adult’s quality of life and inhibit them from reaching their full potential. Parents may get calls from their child’s teacher about their behavior problems at school, and adults may have difficulty keeping a job. ADHD symptoms affect social and interpersonal relationships of children and adults alike.
ADHD symptoms include (but are not limited to) the following:
Inattention
Getting distracted easily, having trouble sustaining focus, and lack of organization are ways inattention can manifest in ADHD. These symptoms can appear as laziness or defiance, but they are not.
Hyperactivity
Restlessness, talking and fidgeting excessively, and trouble staying on task can all be signs of hyperactivity.
Impulsivity
This refers to people who exhibit impulsivity interrupt others frequently, take risky action without weighing the consequences, and cannot delay gratification.
A therapist will assess your symptoms and design a treatment plan unique to your needs.
Therapy for ADHD
ADHD impacts entire families, not just individuals; therapy is a critical component to helping families manage living with ADHD.
Behavior Therapy
Behavioral therapy teaches a person how to change their behavior. It can include reward systems for appropriate behavior and social skills training.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy can help someone practice mindfulness techniques, modify their environment and lifestyle to lessen their symptoms, and increase their motivation and time management skills.
Additionally, a therapist can help a person work through the self-esteem, anxiety, and depression that may accompany a life lived with ADHD. It’s common to internalize negative messages about one’s value when they’ve been attached to their behavior and performance. A therapist can help people identify those damaging messages they may have heard replace them with an accurate assessment of themselves.
Family and Marital Therapy
Behaviors that are associated with ADHD impact interpersonal relationships. Family and marital therapy educate the entire family about ADHD and develop skills to cope with symptoms.
Parenting Skills Training
Raising a child with ADHD is challenging but also incredibly rewarding. Typical parenting styles don’t work the same way with a child who has ADHD. Parenting skills training teaches parents practical skills to encourage their child’s strengths and reward positive behaviors.
Naperville ADHD Therapist
If you live in the Naperville area and you or your child suffer from ADHD symptoms, Eunoia Counseling can help. We are skilled at assisting families to overcome the difficulties associated with ADHD.
Contact us today to talk with one of our therapists and get started on your successful path to managing ADHD.
