Adult ADHD

Have you been diagnosed with adult ADHD or wondering if you have the symptoms and looking for natural support? A naturopath can help!

What does ADHD stand for?

ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

It is defined as “a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development”. Previously the terms ADD and ADHD were used however now only ADHD is the correct term.

There are 3 types:

Common symptoms of adult ADHD

• Carelessness and lack of attention to detail.
• Continually starting new tasks before finishing old ones.
• Poor organisational skills.
• Inability to focus or prioritise.
• Continually losing or misplacing things.
• Forgetfulness.
• Restlessness and edginess.
• Difficulty keeping quiet, and speaking out of turn.
• Blurting out responses and often interrupting others.
• Mood swings, irritability and a quick temper.
• Inability to deal with stress.
• Extreme impatience.
• Taking risks in activities, often with little or no regard for safety.
• Emotional dysregulation
• Problems with the executive function area of the brain. This affects:
  • * Attention * Focus * Concentration * Memory * Impulsivity * Hyperactivity * Organisation * Social skills * Decision-making * Planning * Motivation * Task-switching * Learning from past mistakes

Note adults do not have to be hyperactive to have ADHD and therefore diagnosis is often overlooked.

Adults can present very differently to children

Adults can be less hyperactive as they get older. However, you may see traits like excessive talking or fidgeting. Inattention can remain or even worsen as stress and pressures of life increase. There can also be time blindness, forgetfulness and losing/misplacing objects.

Issues with impulse control (e.g., drugs, alcohol, shopping/spending, gambling) and regulating emotions can be common.

There can however be hyperfocus (completely fixated / focused on), especially when engaged in a special interest.

Presentation of adult ADHD may be less obvious as adults have learned how to ”mask” their symptoms as opposed to children. An example is being told to stop interrupting so often as a child that as an adult they do not say anything in a group environment as they cannot trust themselves to not interrupt.

Females and ADHD

Women and girls are often late diagnosed. They tend to be more internalising in their presentation than blatantly hyperactive and are often people pleasers, making sure they are not being a bother to others. As the medical model usually works on “treating someone who is a bother to others” then this type of ADHD presentation is less likely to be picked up i.e. girl in class who is a “pleasure to teach” but then breaks down with overwhelm when finally home from school. Whereas the externalised presentation of ADHD ie. naughty boy in class disrupting everyone type is more likely to be seen as a “bother to others” and diagnosed and treated medically. The internalised type presentation of ADHD is more likely just to be a “bother” to themselves.

Anxiety can mask symptoms too in women such as never being late as they their anxiety has them clock watching all the time. Anxiety and perfectionism can also mask symptoms.

As females are more internalisers, there can be life stages that can trigger them to seek help or diagnosis when external demands and pressures are increasing and internal capacity to mask and cope decreases. This can commonly be for females Year 11 at school, after pregnancy, and menopause and peri-menopause. Also situations where once there was a great support network around a teenager living at home with their parents but when they move out of home to work or go to university then this support framework is gone and then they cannot cope and ADHD traits become more evident.

Hormonal changes can also affect ADHD in women. You may be more likely to see evidence of ADHD in puberty, PMS, pregnancy and breast feeding, peri-menopause and menopause.

During peri-menopause and menopause, the decline in oestrogen can affect neuroinflammation (brain inflammation) and the neurotransmitter dopamine which is involved with ADHD. It can affect cognitive function, memory and mood.

How can a naturopath support ADHD?

• Manage ADHD symptoms.
• Manage comorbidities (other conditions also commonly present e.g. depression, anxiety, OCD, autism, insomnia, PMDD etc).
• Reduce side effects of medications.
• Heal the gut, restore bacterial balance, modulate the gut-brain axis.
• Reduce neuroinflammation (brain inflammation).
• Balance hormones (oestrogen levels in women can strongly affect ADHD symptoms from during your cycle when you PMS to perimenopause & menopause).
• Balance blood sugar. Fluctuations in blood sugar can affect your ADHD symptoms.
• Diet and lifestyle support.
• Look for various underlying drivers.

Book An Appointment

Not diagnosed?

• Book a 30 minute telehealth appointment. Be screened and discuss your likely symptoms with Naturopath Lisa. She will help you decide whether you should seek a formal diagnosis from a psychologist or psychiatrist.
• NOTE only a psychologist or psychiatrist can officially diagnose you with ADHD.

Already diagnosed?

• Book an Initial appointment with Lisa, either telehealth or in-person if you are new to the clinic or Lisa has not seen you for a consultation for many years. If you have seen Lisa in the last year, please book a one hour follow up appointment either telehealth or in-person.
• A comprehensive health history, family history, diet and lifestyle evaluation will be taken. A treatment plan will then be put together specific to your unique situation and presentation. This will be presented at your second report of findings appointment.