Managing my ADHD
At My Brain Map ™ we see Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as a chronic overwhelm condition that can lead to depression and anxiety if symptoms are not managed well. Our approach involves a thorough and comprehensive process to provide you with an individualised treatment plan to help you reach your potential and reduce the chronic overwhelm. Our assessment approach needs to be thorough so we can be sure if it is ADHD that is underlying the symptoms or whether the attention/concentration concerns are possibly due to a learning problem, or other emotional/psychological distress. Our assessment approach typically involves:
Step 1: A detailed developmental history to understand all the factors that may contribute to concerns of attention/focus problems
Step 2: Neuropsychological and clinical objective assessments to provide a clear picture of cognitive, behavioural and emotional strengths and developmental areas
Step 3: Neurophysiological testing. A QEEG brainwave scan can also be used to objectively measure brain functioning. This is helpful for neurofeedback training.
Step 4: We take all of your assessment results and put them in a detailed comprehensive report with strategies that you use to help improve your brain health and function. This is also the stage where we can confirm whether an ADHD diagnosis is appropriate
Step 5: We have many treatment approaches to managing ADHD that are determined by an individual’s treatment needs. These include neurofeedback training, cogmed working memory training, ADHD coaching strategies to help with planning, organisational skills, time management etc., traditional therapeutic strategies to manage overwhelm, and emotional distress.
Here are some of the common symptoms that we help our clients with:
- Making careless mistakes, being easily distracted
- Understanding or following through on instructions
- Difficulty with organizing tasks or activities
- Procrastination, often avoiding tasks that requiring sustained mental effort
- Often losing things necessary for tasks, becoming forgetful in daily activities
- Finding difficultly to keep focussed and sit through meetings
- Feeling like you’re “on the go” or “driven by a motor”, talking excessively
- Tendency to start new projects but finds difficulty to see through to completion
- change plans often or has new ideas
- Interrupts or intrudes on others, easily bored, difficulty waiting in lines
- Impulsive with money, difficulty with financial decisions
Click here to read more about our treatment approach and outcomes
For more information on what ADHD please see below.
What is ADHD?
ADHD is a chronic neurodevelopmental condition that affects children and most often persists into adulthood. It includes a combination of problems around attention and impulsivity that becomes disruptive to daily life activities. ADHD tends to be a stigmatized and misunderstood condition that seems to be defined by a “naughty” or difficult child with below to average intelligence. However, many individuals with ADHD tend to be highly intelligent who can create successful lives both on a professional and personal level. While the symptoms of ADHD are disruptive to daily functioning, individuals are able to overcome the challenges with the right targeted intervention strategies.
There are three presentations of ADHD:
There are three presentations of ADHD: predominantly inattentive, hyperactive/impulsive or a combined presentation (i.e. both symptoms). Some of the features below may impact both adolescents and adults on a cognitive/behavioural and emotional level. These criteria are not sufficient to provide diagnosis however if you relate to at least four criteria and feel concerned you may benefit from seeking professional advice to discuss your concerns further.
Cognitive Symptoms
includes learning about anxiety, relaxation techniques, correct breathing techniques, exercise, learning to be assertive, building self-esteem, cognitive therapy.
Inattention
- Fails to give close attention to details
- Difficulty sustaining attention
- Does not seem to listen
- Does not follow through on instructions
- Difficulty organizing tasks or activities
- Avoids tasks requiring sustained mental effort
- Loses things necessary for tasks
- Easily distracted
- Forgetful in daily activities
- Feelings of daily chronic overwhelm
- Sense of underachievement
Hyperactive/Impulsive Symptoms
- Fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat
- Leaves seat in classroom inappropriately
- Finds it difficulty to sit through meetings and keep focussed
- Runs about or climbs excessively
- Has difficulty playing quietly
- Is “on the go” or “driven by a motor”
- Talks excessively
- Blurts out answers before questions are completed
- Has difficulty awaiting turn
- Tendency to start new projects but finds difficulty to see through to completion
- change plans often or has new ideas
- Interrupts or intrudes on others
- Bored easily
- Impulsive with money, difficulty with financial decisions
Emotional Symptoms
- Worry
- Performance anxiety/error anxiety
- Depression including feelings of hopelessness
- Anxiety and agitation
- Irritability
- Highly sensitive/ feelings get hurt easily
- Perfectionistic traits
- May be easily embarrassed
- Feelings of Guilt
- Passive/shy may lead to being bullied
- Feelings of shame
- Aggressiveness
- Compulsive eating- over or under