ADHD Awareness Month

When people think about ADHD they may picture someone with tons of hobbies struggling to sit still. But, ADHD can also look like getting stuck on the couch (as my 15 year old dog, Milli Vanilli is demonstrating here) and having loads of started projects… and not very many finished ones.

Undiagnosed adult ADHD is receiving more attention these days, and if you’re reading this you may have wondered if this could be you. ADHD can be easily missed in individuals who are skilled at masking and whose ADHD makes them an asset on teams. You may recognize these individuals as having creative solutions, being innovators, jumping in to start projects or lend a hand… so ADHD is not necessarily always a negative thing. After all, celebrities like Bill Gates, Will Smith, and Simone Biles have ADHD. So, you’re in very good company if this is you.

Where ADHD gets tricky (especially if you’re not diagnosed) is when the symptoms - and energy it’s taking you to mask those symptoms - are getting in the way of you enjoying your everyday life.

Symptoms may include:

• Irritability

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Low self-esteem

• Job instability

• Relationship difficulties

• Coping using caffeine or other substances

So what can you do? There are so many skills and techniques out there for managing ADHD including psychotherapy and medications such as stimulants. Experts in our area for childhood ADHD and family therapy include Better Together Family Therapy in Kensington, MD. We highly recommend checking out their blog to get started on your journey understanding the benefits and challenges that come along with having ADHD.