As you might have already noticed we have experience supporting Adults with ADHD. But what does it mean specifically?
It might be very overwhelming when you finally get your diagnosis as an adult. For some people it’s a relief and for some people it brings a mix of emotions including some grief and regret: “if only I had known earlier, maybe I could have…. (finish Uni, have different career, be in relationship, etc?)”. It’s important to stay with whatever is showing up for you and gently move to “acceptance” phase whenever you are ready.
And once you know what is happening, it’s important to set your treatment goals. What would you like to achieve? What are the areas of your life that you would like to improve? Frequently I hear from my Adult ADHD clients that they would like to work on improving their focus or having better organisational skills ( better executive functioning in general). These goals are very important and they can be overwhelming or they might seem unachievable. This is why it is recommended to break your goals into smaller ones in accordance with SMART model.
Although, you might have clear goals initially, sometimes, other, more important topics arise during treatment. Adults with ADHD frequently struggle with high anxiety levels, they also might have an undiagnosed Eating Disorder, Binge Eating Disorder being one of the most frequent one. If that’s the case then it will be recommended to address the Eating Disorder first.
To summerise:
- set your treatment goals
- work on small SMART goals ( be specific)
- Address other issues that might coexist with your ADHD
And of course don’t forget to be kind to yourself in this whole process! You have come a long way!
Ps. We have moved to a new location, come see us in Sydney!