Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Older Adults (con't)

Life situations for adults with ADHD are further compounded by the overwhelming complexity of adult life and deep emotional wounds (trauma) experienced from years of stress and limited coping. Identification, acceptance and timely intervention can support concrete changes toward improvement in well-being Adults with ADHD who received a diagnosis earlier in life may find previous strategies are now ineffective and require updating to meet the multi-faceted demands of older adulthood.

Adults without a formal diagnosis, but reporting high symptoms, will benefit from consideration in reaching out to their physician to discuss their symptom impact and request assessment for possible adult ADHD diagnosis Some physicians may want to refer to a specialist for diagnosis, and OHIP-funded psychologists can be many months wait times If you have extended health benefits, many providers may be able to offer private pay options for psychological assessment withreducedwaittimes.

Learning how to tolerate emotional distress can help adults with ADHD to communicate and can support enhancing important relationships more effectively. Healthcare professionals experienced with ADHD are primed to support through these challenges with a wide variety of person-centered resources. In my experience, personally and professionally, intentionality and values-driven approaches appear to support ADHD-adult toward their goals of enhanced well-being, reduced stress and better coping strategies. While cognitive therapeutic approaches like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) are tried and true, they are one tool in an ADHD-adult toolbelt. Analyzing your thought processes and identifying unhelpful patterns is a great start to recognizing possible alternatives and flexibilitytowardreducingstress.

Mindfulness and attentiveness to self-care — S L O W I N G down — are key elements in unpacking emotional strain and retraining brain patterns after decades of rollercoaster-like emotions. These strategies are often counter-intuitive and challenging for the ADHD race-car brains that love impulsivity, quick action and complexity. My personal journey with this transition involved some significant grief and loss during transformation, given that my quick processing and movements were a pivotal influence in so many of my successes and efficiencies. The reassuring part? I haven’t lost anything about myself. I’ve increased self-compassion and reduced my suffering by enhancing my coping skills and resilience through conscientious efforts to incorporate supportandself-care.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Older Adults (con't)

Often, adults with ADHD have grown up in households that had caregivers who were ineffective communicators and often left ADHD children with unheard needs. Was there often yelling or periods of silence and stress in your household growing up? If you didn’t grow up with adults who expressed their feelings in a healthy manner or who knew how to problem-solve effectively, you likely weren’t given the necessary tools to manage in today’s dynamic interpersonal environment. Do you find yourself quick to irritability or dread interpersonal conversations?

Understanding and assessing your current communication habits can provide insight into areas of need and strength and offer additional strategies in areas of impairment The great news? With time, therapeutic guidance and small bits of concerted effort (perhaps a new hyper-focus on self-care?), you can make the necessary changes to reduce your stress and feel more day-today balanceandconnectionwithothers.

If you already have a diagnosis of adult ADHD, your healthcare professional team can support you to re-evaluate acute stress and offer alternative treatment options to suit your current maturing needs Some individuals find pharmaceutical intervention appropriate, and regardless if this is, or has not been, an option for you, counselling with an ADHD-educated/licensed social worker, psychotherapist, or psychologist can help with a thorough bio-psycho-social assessment to inform and guide a variety of therapeutic methods and recommendations to supportstressreductionandpersonalizedADHD-specificcoping strategies

ADHD and adulthood are a journey and an adventure. On the good days, ADHD is lively and dynamic and daily life doesn’t have to be overwhelming as we age. Thankfully, due to invested professionals in the field like Dr. Russell Barkley, a clinical neuropsychologist with family ADHD ties, the availability of valid information and resources for ADHD continues to evolve and be more accessible My appreciation goes out to the healthcare professionals who take ADHD seriously foradultsandattendtowomen’sspecificneedsrelating toADHD andwellness

April Colquhoun,(she, her, hers) BA, MSW, RSW, is a Registered Social Worker in good standing with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW). April possesses a wide variety of experience supporting Neurodiverse (ND)/ADHD individuals, couples and groups. April has supported provincial programming for parents/caregivers of children on the Autism spectrum, four provincial acute care hospitals supporting a population that includes vulnerable adults, seniors and their families; as well as a therapeutic counselling practice through Balance Counselling Guelph with a focus on supporting the ND community toward enhanced wellness. Personally diagnosed in mid-life with ADHD and a parent of children with ND brains, April possesses first-hand experience regarding the nuances of ND and uses her wealth of experience, caring and creativity to provide effective and practical therapy to support your goals toward morejoyandlifebalance.

IfyouarearesidentofOntarioandneedtherapeuticcounsellingsupport: Phone: 226.806.1699 email: counsellingbalance@outlook.com Website: https://www.balancecounsellingguelph.com/ Instagram: wellnessandskatingbalancecounsellingguelph