Behavior
Therapy for ADD/ADHD in Adults
ADHD
begins as a biological condition. Throughout childhood, however,
the problems of ADHD may evolve into emotional troubles like
low self-esteem and negativity. It is often these emotional
troubles that cause the most damage as the ADHD child grows
into the ADHD adult.
For adults
with ADHD, treating the emotional aspects of ADHD is just
as important as medications, if not more important. Cognitive
and behavioral therapy is a treatment that helps ADHD adults
understand how their thoughts and attitudes may negatively
affect their behavior and emotions. The principle behind cognitive
and behavioral therapy is that, by changing pessimistic beliefs
about oneself into more positive thoughts, the adult can improve
the ability to function.
Cognitive
and behavioral therapy aims to alleviate the mental issues
associated with adult ADHD such as anxiety, depression, and
procrastination. The therapy helps ADHD adults to examine
the low self-esteem and fear that could be holding them back
in life. Cognitive and behavioral therapy also helps the ADHD
adult to learn constructive behaviors like organization, prioritizing,
focus, memory, problem-solving and following through with
goals. These skills are indispensable for those with ADHD
in the workplace.
An example
of cognitive and behavioral therapy would be asking the ADHD
adult to keep track of time. For example, if the ADHD adult
is chronically late for work, the therapist would ask him
to write down what time he left every day. This visual record
of time helps the ADHD adult focus on being prompt. Here are
some other cognitive and behavioral therapies for the ADHD
adult:
- Relaxation techniques
and stress management to reduce anxiety
- Coaching to assist
the ADHD adult in home organization and relationships
- Assessing and treating
other conditions associated with ADHD such as learning
disabilities, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and chemical
dependency
- Training the ADHD adult
to control impulsive behavior like interrupting or getting
angry at others
While ADHD
adults may not outgrow attention difficulties, they have age
and maturity on their side. As the ADHD adult learns to succeed
at home and work, it builds the self-esteem and self-reliance
that may have been hindered during childhood. |