Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD for short, has long since outgrown its infancy. But regardless of whether you grew up with it or only received the diagnosis as an adult: the therapy is always based on several pillars.
 
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD for short, has long since outgrown its infancy. But regardless of whether you grew up with it or only received the diagnosis as an adult: the therapy is always based on several pillars.

What exactly is behind the symptoms of ADHD has not yet been clarified down to the last detail. However, it is known that the imbalance of the messenger substances plays an important role. First, it is dopamine, which is either under-supplied or broken down too quickly in ADHD. This is where drugs come in. They increase the availability of this messenger. Serotonin and norepinephrine also play a role. A hereditary predisposition is recognized: ADHD in one or both parents increases the likelihood that their children will also develop it. In addition, experts discuss the impact of environmental factors. It's also possible for adults to become aware of their ADHD when a child is diagnosed.
 
It is therefore important to investigate the suspicion: undiagnosed and untreated ADHD in adulthood can increase the risk of developing new diseases. These include anxiety and depression, as well as addictions. This includes not only so-called substances, but also non-substances, such as addiction to shopping or gambling. The difficulty of impulse control and the search for “success” play an important role. A fondness for risky sports is more common in people with ADHD. It is also important to exclude other diseases as the cause of the symptoms.

Exceptionally individual
  
ADHD encompasses a variety of characteristics. This is also reflected in the therapy options and their decisions on use. Some adults with mild to moderate disabilities have already found strategies in everyday life to deal with the peculiarities of ADHD. Such structures are structures that simplify the processes of daily life and make them clearer so that less is lost or forgotten, such as to-do lists or daily planning. Some have found a job or field that is particularly taxing on their physical and mental need to be active. When the illness is severe or spiraling out of control, the support of a behavioral therapist helps to better understand the problems, find solutions and manage the sometimes chaotic life. This is usually done as part of an outpatient treatment with regular appointments. You define individual goals and small steps to achieve them.
 
The second pillar of ADHD treatment is medication. Unlike a decade ago, medications are now approved to treat ADHD in adults. Depending on the severity of the disease, possible concomitant diseases – such as an existing addiction – and previous illnesses, different active ingredients are now available. Some of these fall under the Narcotics Act. This and the fact that they relieve hyperactivity and anxiety sometimes lead to the misconception that they are sedatives. It's the other way around. Methylphenidate, the most commonly used drug, belongs to the group of stimulants. In people without ADHD it has a stimulating effect, in patients with ADHD it regulates the imbalance in the neurotransmitters in the brain, increases vitality and has a calming effect at the same time. Doctors determine the right dose and the ideal time to take it individually for each patient. Some active ingredients are available in both immediate-release forms, which act quickly, and slow-release forms, which act more slowly and last longer. In this way, the treatment can be further adjusted.

Symptoms of ADHD
 
Even if the diagnosis is not made until adulthood, ADHD begins in childhood. There are three main symptoms: inattention, impulsiveness and/or motor restlessness (hyperactivity). The symptoms of the diagnosis must last at least six months, appear in different areas of life and interfere with social life and activity. This is the recommended definition of ADHD for children, adolescents and adults. The guide summarizes the state of medical knowledge and provides recommendations for diagnosis and treatment based on current medical research.