Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that affects people's behaviour. People with ADHD can seem restless, may have trouble concentrating and may act on impulse.
Symptoms of ADHD tend to be noticed at an early age and may become more noticeable when a child's circumstances change, such as when they start school.
Most cases are diagnosed when children are under 12 years old, but sometimes it's diagnosed later in childhood.
Sometimes ADHD was not recognised when someone was a child, and they are diagnosed later as an adult.
The symptoms of ADHD may improve with age, but many adults who were diagnosed with the condition at a young age continue to experience problems.
People with ADHD may also have additional problems, such as sleep and anxiety and mood disorders.
ADHD Treatment
Before starting medication, the person treating you should check your mental and physical health. They should inform you about the risks associated with taking stimulant medications if you have any other health conditions, and should support you to monitor yourself for any side-effects. Once you are taking a medication that is working for you, it should be reviewed at least once a year.
There are several different medications available for treating ADHD. These fall into two groups:
Stimulant medications:
- methylphenidate
- dexamfetamine
Stimulant medications increase the availability of the neurotransmitters Dopamine and Noradrenaline in areas of the brain that help to control attention and behaviour. There is good evidence for using stimulants to treat ADHD, and in most people they are effective, safe, and well tolerated. You will usually be able to tell quickly if they are helpful or not.
The medication needs to be built up gradually to minimise any side-effects and to find the right dose for you. Most people get noticeable benefits from the first medication they try. Other people might need to try a different medication to get the best results.
Many people wonder why stimulant medications are used to treat a condition that causes hyperactivity. These medications strengthen a part of the brain that can help to control the areas of the brain that drive hyperactivity.
Non-stimulant medications:
- atomoxetine
- guanfacine
- guanfacine (Intuniv)
Non-stimulant medications increase the availability of Noradrenaline or mimic its effects. They tend to take longer to start having an effect than stimulant medications. They are generally used if stimulant medications haven't worked for you or if you find them difficult to take.
Many people with ADHD who use medication find it very helpful, but there are also people who choose not to take medication or are unable to. All medications have side effects, and some people find these more noticeable than others.
Guanfacine (Intuniv) - NPS MedicineWise
Non-prescribed medication
Some people will buy ADHD medications without a prescription. This might be because they suspect they have ADHD but don't want to or can't get an assessment. Other reasons for taking non-prescribed ADHD medications include:
- improving academic or occupational performance
- partying and socialising
- weight loss.
Buying ADHD medication online or getting it without a prescription can be dangerous, because you:
- won't necessarily get the medication you asked for
- won't have the support of a doctor to find out if the medication is working for you or how to use it correctly
- won't be able to receive necessary monitoring.
There is no conclusive evidence that taking ADHD medication improves performance in people who don't have ADHD.
"There are black market websites out there that sell things, but they're not regulated and you don't necessarily know what you're getting, and it's very risky." - James
After diagnosis
If you have received a diagnosis of ADHD, the person who assessed you should talk with you about:
- how ADHD affects you
- your goals
- things that have been helpful to you in the past
- any other conditions you have and whether they could affect your ADHD.
They should also refer you to any services or information that might be helpful.
There are a number of things that people with ADHD can do to support their overall health and wellbeing.
1. Tell the people around you how they can help
As with any health condition, people often want to help but don't know how, and end up giving unhelpful advice. Tell the people in your life about the things you do and don't find helpful.
2. Try to get some regular exercise
Regular exercise is good for everyone. In people with ADHD, it has been shown to significantly reduce symptoms related to anxiety and depression, which can make ADHD symptoms worse. Exercise has not been shown to have a positive impact on hyperactive, impulsive, or inattentive symptoms.
3. Get enough good-quality sleep
Not sleeping well can make ADHD symptoms worse. Developing good sleeping habits can be challenging, but there are some things you can try:
- Develop and maintain a comforting bedtime routine, e.g. having a bath, listening to music.
- Go to bed and get up at the same time each day, including at weekends.
- Avoid screen time for at least an hour before bedtime.
- Do not consume sugar, caffeine or alcohol within a couple of hours of bedtime.
- Get enough exercise during the day.
- Keep the bedroom dark and quiet. If you can, leave a window open for fresh air.
4. Aim for a regular and balanced diet
A large study has shown that there is a relationship between inattentive symptoms and unhealthy eating habits, including eating foods high in added sugar. An unhealthy diet negatively impacts physical health and possibly mood, which could make it more difficult to manage ADHD symptoms.
5. Driving
By law you must tell the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) about any condition that may affect your ability to drive safely.
If you're not sure if your ADHD, or your ADHD medication affects your ability to drive safely, speak to your doctor. If ADHD does affect your driving and you do not tell the DVLA, you can be fined up to £1,000. If you're involved in an accident you may be prosecuted.
You can find out more about this on the DVLA website.
Employment and education
Reasonable adjustments
Under the Equality Act 2010, employers, colleges and universities must make 'reasonable adjustments' so that people with protected characteristics are not put at a substantial disadvantage. These protected characteristics include disability, which covers ADHD. You can find out more about disability and the law on the government website.
The kind of reasonable adjustments someone with ADHD will get depends upon:
- how their condition affects them
- practicality
- the size of the organisation
- availability of money and resources
- whether the adjustment would overcome the disadvantage you experience.
Some examples of reasonable adjustments include:
- providing a desk in a quiet area of the office
- giving written instructions as well as verbal
- delegating work when appropriate
- helping with structuring tasks.
The Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Service offers more examples (PDF).
Access to Work
Access to Work is a service provided by the Department for Work and Pensions. It can offer practical and financial support to people with disabilities. It is available to people who are employed, self-employed, or looking for employment.
It is only available to people who need support or adaptations beyond the 'reasonable adjustments' which employers are legally required to provide. For example, Access to Work may help pay for a job coach or providing additional training.
More information about eligibility and the application process is available on the UK Government's website.
Psychological therapies
Some psychological therapies can help you to manage the symptoms of ADHD. These include:
- Psychoeducation courses
- Mindfulness
- Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
You can find out more about therapies that can be helpful in ADHD on the NHS website.
When you are looking for a therapist, find out if they are knowledgeable about ADHD, or are willing to learn. This will help you to get supportive, positive care. It is also important because some of the challenges that come with ADHD could impact your therapy. For example, forgetfulness could mean that you miss or are late to an appointment, or you might struggle to work on set tasks outside of appointments.
Find a talking therapy service near you on the NHS website.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
CBT is a structured programme of therapy that helps people identify unhelpful thought patterns and develop techniques for overcoming them.
If you have ADHD, CBT can help you with:
- organisational and time management skills
- emotional regulation and control
- developing empathy and understanding perspectives of others
- strategies for improving attention and impulsivity management.
In ADHD, CBT tends to be most effective when it is combined with medication.
Coaching and mentoring
Coaches or mentors can help with building daily life skills such as time management, and making environmental modifications. There are coaches who specialise in helping people with ADHD.
It is important to remember, however, that coaching and mentoring are self-regulated professions without regulatory legal standards. Coaching and mentoring services vary in quality and expertise.
Understanding your ADHD
Peer support groups
Peer support groups provide free or low-cost services where people with ADHD can listen and share experiences, advice, strategies and tips. They are also an opportunity to socialise. Group meetings may be online or face-to-face. The availability and quality of peer support groups will vary, depending on where you live.
Online information
Learning more about a health condition can be useful, and a lot of information about ADHD can be found online. It is important to remember that the quality of online information varies. Unfortunately, online information can be inaccurate, misleading or even false. We have included some helpful websites at the end of this resource.
Occupational Therapy (OT)
Occupational Therapists can work with people with ADHD to help them to:
- organise their physical and social environment
- develop effective time management skills
- develop effective planning schedules to help meet job requirements
- develop the discipline to stick to planned activities despite distractions while also remaining flexible to changes.
The aim of occupational therapy is to help people to live as independently as possible and to participate in meaningful activities.
You might be able to get a referral for free occupational therapy from the NHS or social services. This will depend on your circumstances. You might also choose to pay for an independent occupational therapist. The Royal College of Occupational Therapists has a list of qualified and registered occupational therapists.
"If I had known that people with ADHD start a lot of things and don't finish them… that was definitely me. And if I had known it was because of ADHD I would have been more cautious about doing things on impulse without thinking." - Hameed