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.