Is ADHD Creating Problems In Your Day-To-Day Life?

Do you suspect that you or your teenage child have Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)? Is it difficult for you to demonstrate the same cognitive function and focus as your peers? Have you grown frustrated with the way your brain works and processes information, causing issues at home, work, or school? 

You or your teenager may have received a diagnosis of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Maybe you become easily distracted, often lose track of time, or frequently fall behind at school or work, making it difficult to manage your time or prioritize tasks. 

Perhaps there are emotional symptoms associated with your ADHD. You or your teenager may find it hard to understand and regulate strong emotions, which can lead to interpersonal conflict and co-occurring symptoms of anxiety and depression. Or it may be that an inability to focus has made it difficult to foster strong connections and friendships with others. As a result, you may often feel lonely and misunderstood. 

If you’re the parent of a teen who is struggling with ADHD, it can often feel like you aren’t being listened to or taken seriously by your child. All you want is for your teen to flourish and lead a normal life, but that can feel out of reach if frequent conflicts are taking place or if their academic performance is below your expectations. 

And if you’re a teenager or young adult who struggles with ADHD yourself, it can often seem as though this society and way of life does not align with how your brain works. You may feel isolated by your diagnosis and as if you don’t fit in with the world around you. 

With therapeutic treatment, however, you or your teen can learn to not only manage symptoms of ADHD but also see the beauty of having a brain that works a little differently. At Serenity Experiential Family Therapy Center, we specialize in ADHD treatment for teenage and adult clients.

ADHD Is A Common Disorder With Evolutionary Benefits

According to the National Institute for Mental Health, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is one of the most commonly diagnosed disorders in American children, often carrying over into adolescence and adulthood. 

Unfortunately, there are many misconceptions when it comes to ADHD. The name of the disorder itself is a misnomer, in that those who struggle with it do not have a deficit in attention as much as they have a deficit in dopamine, which is an essential neurotransmitter that plays a role in our emotional regulation and ability to feel pleasure. As a result, teens and adults with ADHD tend to focus intently on what interests them, which is helpful for gaining creative development and expertise but not so helpful when it creates setbacks and challenges in daily life. 

Our fast-paced, multitasking society is not equipped to meet the needs of those struggling with ADHD. Many middle and high schools don’t have the resources to accommodate students with this disorder, often causing teens to feel ashamed of being different or inadequate in their abilities. Moreover, research indicates that excessive screen time—especially when imbalanced with time spent outside—exacerbates symptoms of ADHD. Of course, in our tech-obsessed world, this ends up creating negative patterns or behavioral cycles that give ADHD a bad rap. 

The truth is that ADHD would not be a pressing mental health issue if our society was set up differently. In a world that values productivity over passion, teens and adults with ADHD are left to carry the burden of striving to function in a culture that is simply inept to tend to their needs. And because ADHD is a matter of the brain, it can be very difficult to understand and manage without the help of a clinician. 

The therapists at Serenity Experiential Family Therapy Center maintain extensive experience in working with teens and adults alike, specializing in treatments for individuals who struggle with ADHD and helping them find peace and relief from their symptoms. 

ADHD Treatment Can Help You Accept Your Disorder And Find Peace Of Mind

Although you may have felt the need to change yourself or fit a mold created by someone else, when you work with our therapists, all you have to do is show up exactly as you are. From there, we will work toward getting you to a place where you can find acceptance of and peace with your disorder, allowing you to live the most authentic life possible. 

Because ADHD affects each individual differently, we tailor counseling sessions to meet your or your teen’s unique needs. Your clinician will spend initial sessions getting a sense of your symptoms, as well as cultivating a therapeutic atmosphere where you can feel comfortable to explore your emotions and experiences. 

Over time, we will have enough information to customize emotional regulation strategies to you so that you can self-soothe when things become tense or overwhelming. And by providing psychoeducation about ADHD’s relationship with the brain, you will not only have a better grasp on your symptoms but also be given an opportunity to see just how common this disorder is. 

At Serenity Experiential Family Therapy Center, we approach counseling through an attachment lens, which means we will strive to understand your or your child’s early connections to better grasp how you have developed certain thinking and behavioral patterns. 

In addition, we will use creative and nonverbal tactics to help you process emotions, as well as elements of behavioral therapies and mindfulness techniques that will empower you with a sense of control over your thoughts, feelings, and actions. If you’re the parent of a teen with ADHD, it will be essential for you to indirectly participate in the counseling process so that you can get a sense of our approach and be armed with strategies to help your child find relief from adverse symptoms of ADHD outside of sessions. 

It is possible to re-establish a sense of control over your emotions and cognitive functions. You do have a place in the world and can be successful at home, work, and school, even if ADHD has created challenges in the past. And with the right treatment, you can begin to view ADHD as a gift rather than an obstacle. 

Maybe you’re ready to enlist the help of a therapist for your or your teen’s ADHD, but you have some questions… 

 

I’ve tried therapy for my or my child’s ADHD in the past, but it wasn’t helpful. What makes your approach different?

Despite having relative knowledge about a wide range of mental health issues, the majority of mental health clinicians don’t have specific training in Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. In addition, many therapists often use a blanket treatment instead of an individually tailored approach to treat symptoms of ADHD. 

At Serenity EFTC, however, our clinicians maintain extensive training in treating clients with ADHD. We take a collaborative approach to counseling, checking in often to make sure that the strategies and treatment methods are actually effective in relieving adverse symptoms of ADHD. If a treatment method isn’t working effectively for you, our therapists will adjust our approach in order to help you achieve self-acceptance and authenticity. 

My teenage child struggles with ADHD. Can I come to counseling sessions with them?

As mentioned, every individual treatment for ADHD is different and will require varying degrees of parental involvement. That being said, it’s really important for your teenager to have their own space in therapy. We will, of course, alert you to any issues of safety that we become aware of, and we’ll work on improving communication between you and your teen if that is what’s needed. However, that will not be until later in the process after a trusted counseling relationship between your child and their therapist has been established.

Do you prescribe medication for ADHD?

As therapists, we are not licensed to prescribe medication. Instead, we provide non-medical strategies, treatments, and interventions. And while we are familiar with ADHD medications and can answer questions, any medications will have to be prescribed by a physician/psychiatrist. We are happy to refer you to such a clinician and provide them with a coordination of care based on your symptoms and needs. 

You Can Learn To Embrace Life With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder 

If you or your teen struggle with ADHD, therapeutic treatment at Serenity EFTC can help you understand and manage your symptoms. If you are in the Broomfield, CO or the surrounding area and are looking for a compassionate, understanding, skilled and highly trained counselor specializing in ADHD treatment, we invite you to contact us at (303) 606-6818 to schedule an initial call. We’re happy to talk about your situation, needs and goals and discuss how we can best support you.