‘I Was Diagnosed With ADHD, Now What?’: Learn More About Your Treatment Options
Luckily for those recently diagnosed with ADHD, a lot has changed in the last 20-30 years. ADHD is no longer just the explanation for the fidgety kid in sixth grade who had trouble staying in his seat.
There has been significant increases in diagnoses within the last 20 years as mental health becomes more of a priority for individuals and the health care system, as well as less stigmatized, as evidenced by the popularity of things like #ADHDTikTok.
But as we learn more, the highly individualized nuances of the disorder are also thrown into stark relief. The world of ADHD has a lot of resources, but it can be hard to sift through the noise — especially if you have ADHD and therefore have trouble sustaining attention to one task, are easily distracted, and/or have difficulty organizing your thoughts.
Don’t fret! Here is your starter pack to better navigating your ADHD diagnosis:
1. If you don’t already have a trusted therapist or psychiatrist, get one.
If you have recently received an ADHD diagnosis, it was likely administered by a therapist or psychiatrist. Oftentimes individuals begin therapy for ADHD-like symptoms — they have anxiety, difficulty managing stress, trouble with time management or organization. Therapists will work with clients on mind work, body work, and lifestyle changes to manage those symptoms until it becomes clear those aren’t enough to manage them. Meaning, individuals are doing the hard work at the front end to learn to live with their ADHD often before even knowing they have it.
Also, symptoms of ADHD can present similarly to symptoms of PTSD. Especially for children who express emotions through behavior, it can be hard to differentiate between the two, and an individual can have both. According to Amanda Baker, LCSW-C, of Firefly Counseling Collective, childhood trauma can impact the way the brain develops, including executive functioning, and could exacerbate a predisposition for ADHD. A therapist or psychiatrist will be able to help you unpack these nuances in your own past to get a better understanding of how to move forward.
2. Monitor your medication.
Because ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder in children and adults caused by chemical imbalance and central nervous system dysregulation, according to Baker, medication is commonly prescribed to regulate that chemical imbalance.
Medication should not be taken without consultation with a licensed clinician and those using medications should be mindful about monitoring how they feel in order to find the right treatment option.
In speaking to a few people who use medication to manage their ADHD symptoms, it was easy to see the variability in circumstances and how that impacted their treatment: For instance, Jayla takes anxiety medication, so her psychiatrist recommended a non-stimulant option for ADHD medication. Katie, meanwhile, takes ADHD medication in tandem with antidepressants during the week to keep on task with a demanding job but chooses not to take a stimulant on the weekends unless she needs to accomplish a task.
Use of medication is also dependent on what other health conditions you may be managing. Considering your other medications, testing out dosage levels, talking with your care team — whether a therapist, psychiatrist, or primary care physician — and journaling how you feel throughout the process are all helpful steps toward figuring out what the right fit is for you.
3. Don’t be afraid to talk about your diagnosis.
You would be surprised how many in your social circle are dealing with the same things. Maybe they are in a different stage but, regardless, finding a community you can connect with can help you feel less alone.
Those with ADHD, especially before a diagnosis, often wonder if they are the only ones who think like they do, and they can harbor feelings of guilt that they don’t function “normally.” Talking about ADHD and other mental health disorders normalizes it and gives others permission to do the same.
4. Take information on the Internet and social media lightly.
#ADHDTikTok can be a great place to feel less alone. But that content can be produced by anyone with a cell phone (so, literally, almost anyone). Take information you read on the Internet or hear on social media with a grain of salt. Seek your therapist’s counsel, those of reputable organizations, and a few trusted resources for your information, as well as your own gut.
Especially because each person’s diagnosis is so individualized, it can be like finding parenting advice online. Only so much will apply to you and your exact situation.
5. Talk to your partner and friends about it.
My partner has complex PTSD and ADHD. We have been together for nearly 20 years and when we started to learn about these diagnoses together, I finally felt able to truly empathize with him.
It is much easier now for me to understand his behavior within the context of these diagnoses — from how to delegate tasks to him to why the act of putting on shoes signals to his body he is ready to work to why he knows the ending to the story I am telling before I get there.
Having ADHD can be a gift; thinking differently is how we build stronger communication as a society, innovate and grow. During the rocky beginnings of the pandemic when life was thrown into turmoil and everything changed, my partner was calm. He thrives in chaos. It is where his mind does its best work. He was able to be the voice of reason, empathize and move us into a new way of doing things without a beat.
Understanding these and other behaviors helps us build a stronger relationship. Let your partner and close friends in on how your brain works. You might even be able to let that mask down a bit.