Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Summary

ADHD can make life hard.
A diagnosis of ADHD doesn’t tell you which treatments will help you.
To me it makes sense to start with medications via your GP or psychiatrist because for most people they are well tolerated and relatively quick, straight-forward and cheap.
Only get an expensive formal assessment for ADHD if you need it.
If you think there might be any psychological or environmental factors contributing to the ADHD symptoms you have, then seeing a psychologist like me can be a good idea because we might be able to resolve some of the symptoms you are experiencing.
There are some resources listed in the second half of this page that might be worth checking out.
If you would like to see me for help with ADHD please click below.

Recently, and I think that this is a good thing, there seems to be a lot more awareness of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). If you do have ADHD you might be experiencing constant restlessness, find it hard to focus, or have trouble with organization and follow-through on tasks. Living with ADHD can make everyday responsibilities challenging and can affect relationships, work, and self-esteem.

One thing I have noticed in talking with people is that there is frequently an important misunderstanding about ADHD and this misunderstanding means that people are not getting the right types of help.

What is this misunderstanding?

Well, it is important to know what ‘having ADHD’ means. If you have ADHD it means that you experience things like difficulty with attention, difficulties with focus, restlessness, difficulty staying organised and so on. ‘Having ADHD’ does not tell you why you have these symptoms. The diagnosis of ADHD just means that you have a set of symptoms (it is just a description), it is not an explanation for why you have the symptoms.

Having a diagnosis of ADHD does not tell us if the symptoms represent a are a permanent (biologically based neuro-developmental) condition that has to be managed or if, with the right treatment, the symptoms might resolve. For example, fairly frequently I see people who have experienced an invalidating emotional environment growing up and who have the symptoms of ADHD. By working through their emotions the symptoms of the ADHD resolve. However, I also see other people for whom psychological therapies don’t do anything, and in this situation we work on managing the symptoms of ADHD.

I am not saying that ADHD can be cured or cannot be cured, rather that it is still not well understood. Or to put it another way, that the diagnosis of ADHD might actually cover multiple conditions, some quite neurological and some quite psychological in nature. In addition, it is not unusual for people to have been misdiagnosed. Misdiagnosis can go both ways, often ADHD is missed until late in life and often people are told that they have ADHD when it was something else.

Given the difficulties diagnosing ADHD many people understandably consider getting a formal assessment. Unfortunately, I think there are two issues going down the path of formal assessments. First, they can be quite expensive. Second, having the formal assessment often does not add much to treatment planning over a less formal (and less expensive) assessment. At the end of the day all you can do is try different treatments and see what works for you.

Don’t get me wrong, having a formal assessment can be incredibly validating, it can also help you get the right support from family, friends, school or work (sadly a lot of people have been told that they’re just “lazy” or “not smart enough”, which could not be further from the truth) and it can also be crucial for applying for certain types of support.

However, if your main interest is trying to best manage or resolve the symptoms of ADHD that you are experiencing, an expensive assessment might not be needed. And because having a formal diagnosis does not explain why you have the symptoms of ADHD it can lead to people going down the wrong track with treatment.

So what do I think is the right course of action with treatment?

I think start with the medical route (in my experience some GPs are happy to prescribe while others will ask you to go and get an assessment done with a psychiatrist or psychologist). For some people medication helps a lot. For other people medication does nothing or has negative side effects. To me (as long as you monitoring and support with a medical practitioner and there are no issues taking the medication) medication is a relatively quick, straight-forward and cheap treatment to try, and a good place to start.

If you think there could be any sort of psychological factor contributing to the symptoms you are experiencing I would recommend seeing a psychologist and working on these factors. Working through any psychological factors might do a lot or very little, you won’t know until you try unfortunately.

If you don’t think there are any psychological factors contributing to your ADHD symptoms it can still be helpful to see a psychologist if you need help developing management strategies. Some people call this ADHD coaching.

ADHD is one of the conditions I help people with, so if you think you might have ADHD or are struggling with symptoms, please feel free to book a session with me to explore options that may work for you.

ADHD Symptoms

With all of the above out of the way, let’s get back into what ADHD is and how you can get help.

ADHD is more than occasional restlessness or forgetfulness. It’s a condition that can cause a variety of challenges that may interfere with day-to-day life.

ADHD symptoms can include:

Difficulty maintaining attention or focus
Impulsiveness or acting without thinking
Challenges with organization and completing tasks
Frequent forgetfulness in daily activities
Restlessness or feeling constantly “on the go”
Talking excessively or interrupting others

Symptoms of ADHD can vary greatly from person to person, with some experiencing primarily inattentive symptoms, while others may struggle with hyperactivity, impulsivity or hyperfocus. Many adults may have grown up with undiagnosed ADHD, finding coping mechanisms but still facing difficulties.

Getting Help with ADHD

As per everything I have written in the first section, deciding how to approach ADHD treatment depends on the specific challenges you’re experiencing and what you hope to achieve. For some, medication may be beneficial, while others may benefit from behavioral strategies, lifestyle changes, or therapy to improve organization, attention, and emotional regulation.

If it’s helpful, talk with someone (like a friend, your GP, or a psychologist) to help clarify your goals for treatment.

I’ve listed resources below, these are not recommendations nor endorsements but rather some ideas for things to check out to help you figure out what might help you.

Self-Help and Community-Based Treatments for ADHD

There are two main websites for support/services in Melbourne if you are wanting to get started on your own. These are the ADHD Foundation and ADHD Australia. Both have a bunch of resources and I think are worth checking out
ADHD Foundation
ADHD Australia

Books

There are a lot of self-help books out there for ADHD. Unfortunately, I don’t have recommendations other than to start with ones written by experts. Some of them may also be available at your local library.
Another angle to consider if you are up for a bit of reading (and if you have made it this far down the page you are doing well) is to read books written for clinicians. If this does interest you then head into your local university library and they should have a collection.

Professional Treatments for ADHD

Seeing a General Practitioner (GP)

A GP is often the first step in exploring professional treatment options for ADHD. They can assess your symptoms, provide referrals to psychologists or psychiatrists, and discuss potential treatment plans, which may include medication or therapy.

Seeing a Psychologist

Psychologists specializing in ADHD can offer strategies and behavioral interventions tailored to managing ADHD symptoms. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness techniques, and organizational skills training can be beneficial in building coping strategies. I’m a psychologist so by all means click my booking button set a time for us to chat.

Seeing a Psychiatrist

Psychiatrists can prescribe medications commonly used to manage ADHD, such as stimulants, and offer ongoing management and monitoring.

Programs at Private Clinics

ADHD Day Program at The Melbourne Clinic: A structured program focusing on attention, memory, executive functioning, coping strategies, and interpersonal relationships for adults with ADHD.

ADHD Group Therapy Program by VCPS: A 10-week program offering evidence-based solutions on topics like time management, procrastination, prioritization, and sleep, facilitated by experienced psychologists

Public Mental Health Services

In my experience public mental health services will not take you on if your primary difficulty is ADHD. If you have other difficulties and also have ADHD then they may offer you support.

Community Health Services

Some local councils and community health centres in Melbourne may offer low-cost support programs and resources for ADHD. Checking with your council’s health services can be a helpful starting point.

I hope this information provides you with insights into the support available for managing ADHD. If you’re looking for more personalized help, I’m here to support you through your journey.