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. |