Whilst it is often considered to be a mental-health condition that affects children, ADHD can also be suffered by adults – sometimes in ways that are different to childhood experiences.
As with all ADHD sufferers, adults are likely to have problems with organisation, an impaired and selective memory, concentration and the inability to make decisions. In addition to this, recent studies have revealed that ADHD affected adults are likely to exhibit one or more ADHD related behavioural patterns. These patterns include: a propensity to impulsive behaviour which forces sufferers to take radical actions within important aspects of their lives, without fully considering the consequences. This can involve making ill-informed decisions about finances, work and relationships. Many adults who suffer from ADHD experience drug-addiction, as a means of self-medicating and coping with distressing symptoms such as hyperactivity and impulsiveness – which can also lead to a serious smoking-habit.
Perhaps most surprisingly, adults with ADHD, also participate in dangerous activities in order to satisfy impulsiveness – such as deliberately orchestrating traffic-accidents, as a means of extreme, “thrill-seeking”. This tendency can also manifest itself in road rage – in which impulsivity stops sufferers from being able to control their anger.
Whilst these behavioural patterns are very serious and potentially harmful, they can be addressed with counselling which seeks to lessen the impact of events and whenever possible, stop them from happening in the first place. Regular counselling can help sufferers to manage symptoms with techniques that seek to boost self-esteem, self-awareness, and mindfulness. This is often achieved within a support-group setting in which people who suffer from ADHD can exchange experiences and empathise with one another.
Medication can also help to reduce the symptoms of ADHD – but must be undertaken regularly for its effects to be truly effective, and works best when combined with other therapeutic-approaches.
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