The ability to maintain focus, manage priorities, work efficiently, and follow through with important tasks may be standard expectations of adulthood, but for adults who struggle with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), daily life is often sidelined by:
If living with ADHD makes you feel like you’re trapped in a continuous cycle of inadequacy, procrastination, frustration, and disappointment, you’re not alone — and there’s a lot you can do to gain the upper hand over your symptoms and regain control of your life.
Read on as our seasoned team of mental health experts at EXIS Recovery Inc. explores the foundational elements of a comprehensive, multimodal ADHD treatment plan for adults — and explains how these elements come together to support a healthier life for you.
When it comes to consistent daily ADHD management, the right medication can be integral to your success. While it’s true that pills are no substitute for skills, medication offers an effective way to recalibrate the neuroatypical brain activity patterns that give rise to ADHD symptoms in the first place.
By minimizing ADHD symptoms like inattention, distractibility, impulsivity, and restlessness, medication can give you the space to make gains and progress in other important treatment areas, including therapy and personal skills development. Even better, you’ll feel more focused, mindful, and balanced — and less scattered — in your everyday life.
A large part of developing positive ADHD coping strategies involves learning how to implement effective behavioral and cognitive skills. When you’re stressed, life is busier than usual, or work/family/personal expectations are high, these simple, practical skills can help you stay focused and mindful:
Establishing a reserve of useful behavioral and cognitive skills helps you to manage your ADHD symptoms in the moment — and empowers you to recognize your potential as you work to sustain a positive approach to change.
At EXIS Recovery Inc., evidence-based practices are an essential component of care for all our patients, including adults with ADHD. We understand that learning and adapting new behavioral and cognitive skills isn’t always easy, so we strive to fortify the process with the added support of mindfulness practices and brain-retraining techniques like:
Neurofeedback is a simple, noninvasive “brain training” therapy that teaches your brain how to re-establish healthier brainwave patterns and self-regulate more effectively.
CBT is a goal-oriented form of talk therapy that helps you name the ADHD symptoms that impede your life, so you can identify the unhelpful thought patterns behind them and actively work to change or replace them with positive, productive thoughts.
Trauma-informed therapeutic modalities like EMDR and TF-CBT recognize that there’s often a close association between ADHD and trauma — childhood trauma and adversity are linked to ADHD development, and adults with ADHD are more likely to experience trauma.
When adult ADHD goes unmanaged for too long, it can leave you feeling as though you’re stuck in a perpetually “off” day that’s defined by delay tactics, stress, failure, and regret. As a result, many adults with untreated ADHD deal with a co-occurring mental health concern like anxiety, depression, or a substance use disorder (SUD).
By formally diagnosing co-occurring mental health conditions, our team can ensure you receive the balanced, comprehensive care you need to cope more successfully on every level. Whether your treatment plan incorporates individual psychotherapy, small group counseling, or another form of mental health care, this much-needed support provides a broader path toward healing, stability, and personal empowerment.
The far-reaching impacts of adult ADHD don’t just affect you — they affect those you live with, too. Through regular family therapy sessions, your partner and other close loved ones can gain better insight into what it’s like to live with ADHD and learn ways to support you as you grow and improve.
To learn more about the adult ADHD management approach at EXIS Recovery in West Los Angeles, call 424-832-0848 today, or click online to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced mental health experts any time.
