ADHD stands for ‘attention deficit hyperactivity disorder’.
Neurodevelopmental conditions like ADHD affect the way your brain develops and works. This can impact your behaviour and the way you experience the world around you.
Around one in 20 young people have ADHD. It is not a mental health condition or a learning disability. But some people with ADHD might experience mental health conditions as well, such as an anxiety disorder.
If you have ADHD, your brain might work differently to other people’s. You may struggle with ‘executive functioning’ – these are the tasks we do that help us to manage everyday situations, such as getting organised or setting priorities. If you have ADHD, the way your brain controls your concentration, activity levels and impulses is a bit different, so you may find these types of tasks more challenging. This is a form of neurodiversity (a term used to describe the fact that everyone’s brain works differently).
If you’re a young adult living with ADHD, you may find the following advice useful:
- if you find it hard to stay organised, then make lists, keep diaries, stick up reminders and set aside some time to plan what you need to do
- let off steam by exercising regularly
- find ways to help you relax, such as listening to music or learning breathing exercises for stress
- if you have a job, speak to your employer about your condition, and discuss anything they can do to help you work better
- if you’re at college or university, ask about what adjustments can be made to support you, such as extra time to complete exams and coursework
- talk to a doctor about your suitability to drive, as you’ll need to tell the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) if your ADHD affects your driving
- contact or join a local or national support group – these organisations can put you in touch with other people in a similar situation, and can be a good source of support, information and advice
NICE Guidelines https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng87/informationforpublic
If you want to explore getting a diagnosis:
Cornwall Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Service– For adults with possible ADHD, your GP will assess your symptoms and may refer you for an assessment to the adult ADHD service if:
- you have not been diagnosed with ADHD but have had persistent ADHD symptoms since childhood
- your symptoms cannot be explained by another mental health condition
- your symptoms significantly affect your day-to-day life, such as ;if you’re underachieving at work or in education, and find maintaining relationships difficult
You may also be referred to a specialist if you had ADHD as a child or young person and your symptoms are still causing moderate or severe functional impairment.
Prior to your assessment, the specialist will ask you and a family or friend to complete pre-assessment questionnaires about your past and present symptoms. The subsequent adult ADHD assessment will cover all aspects of your life and relate to the DSM V diagnostic criteria. The diagnosis of ADHD in adults cannot be confirmed unless your symptoms have been present from childhood.
What happens once I’ve been referred to the service?
Once you are referred to the service by your GP, you will be added to our waiting list. Prior to an assessment clinic appointment being arranged, we will ask you to complete some baseline questionnaires. The patient pre-assessment information needs to be returned to the service before an appointment can be provided.
https://www.cornwallft.nhs.uk/adhd-service/
Medication
Treatment for ADHD usually helps to relieve the symptoms which then reduce the impact of the condition on day-to-day life. In adults, ADHD treatment primarily involves medication.
Medication is not a permanent cure for ADHD but may help someone with the condition concentrate better, be less impulsive, feel calmer, and learn and practise new skills. Some medicines need to be taken every day, but some can be taken just on school days. Treatment breaks are occasionally recommended to assess whether the medicine is still needed.
If you were not diagnosed with ADHD until adulthood, a GP and specialist can discuss which medicines and therapies are suitable for you.
Psychological therapies particularly for associated mental health conditions can be of significant benefit.
https://www.choiceandmedication.org/cornwall/condition/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd/treatment/
Methylphenidate for adults https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/methylphenidate-adults/
ADHD and mental health
Although ADHD is not a mental health condition, evidence suggests that you might be more likely to develop a mental health condition if you have ADHD. For example, you might struggle with anxiety or depression.
https://www.youngminds.org.uk/young-person/mental-health-conditions/adhd-and-mental-health/
Useful Links
