| We often hear about over-active kids who seem to | | | | become addicted is one important issue. |
| have boundless energy and who sometimes find it | | | | But doctors can explain so much to an adult with |
| hard to concentrate. In some cases, these children will | | | | ADHD. For instance, with medication, there are short |
| be diagnosed with ADHD and there are a number of | | | | term drugs which may only be effective for say four |
| ways their behavior can be controlled. But we don’t | | | | hours. Another type of medication could have an |
| hear all that much about adults who have a problem | | | | effect for up to twelve hours. Adults can also |
| with messages not passing successfully within their | | | | understand the impact of their condition and |
| brain. Adults with ADHD don’t always get the | | | | understand it may affect them at any time, day or |
| same type of media coverage as with children. | | | | night, at work, at home or out socially. Having an |
| But there are many adults with ADHD. And there are | | | | understanding of the condition, of how it impacts on |
| various ways in which adults can be helped. Of course | | | | their behavior and how medication works, all helps in |
| there are major differences between a child and adult | | | | the treatment of the adult and his or her condition. |
| both of whom suffer from ADHD and the major | | | | There may not be a cure as such for ADHD but there |
| difference probably is that you can freely discuss the | | | | are ways of greatly improving the quality of life of |
| condition with an adult. They can have their situation | | | | those who are diagnosed with ADHD. |
| explained to them giving them the opportunity to | | | | But medication is not the only form of treatment and |
| understand and get help in the treatment of their | | | | there are some who advocate alternatives to drugs. |
| condition. | | | | Therapy is one such method. Patients are given every |
| There are three main ways we can help an adult with | | | | encouragement and helped with simple strategies to |
| ADHD – drugs, therapy and good old-fashioned | | | | get them through each day. It may be as basic as |
| support. Drugs make for an interesting debate. There | | | | making lists. The adult writes down what they plan to |
| are some who advocate that drugs are not the best | | | | do the next day and places times against each |
| option and many who believe otherwise. | | | | activity. By following the plan they avoid losing track of |
| Adults taking medication for their ADHD are usually in | | | | time and spending ages on a simple task. |
| charge of their own medication. A child of course | | | | A positive and helpful attitude to anyone with ADHD is |
| depends on their parents. Self-medication with a | | | | one of the recommended treatments. Blame and |
| sensible adult ADHD patient should not be a problem. If | | | | criticism is the wrong method. People with ADHD |
| at any time the patient is concerned they should | | | | mean to succeed, they want to get their tasks |
| always consult their doctor. Obviously not allowing the | | | | completed and on time and every bit of |
| medication to take over and thus cause the patient to | | | | encouragement helps. |