ADHD Living With ADHD Guide ADHD Guide Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment Living With In Children Living With ADHD: Strategies for Well-Being By Keath Low Keath Low Keath Low, MA, is a therapist and clinical scientist with the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities at the University of North Carolina. She specializes in treatment of ADD/ADHD. Learn about our editorial process Updated on December 06, 2023 Learn more." tabindex="0" data-inline-tooltip="true"> Medically reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Claire Eggleston, LMFT-Associate Medically reviewed by Claire Eggleston, LMFT-Associate Claire Eggleston, LMFT-Associate is a neurodivergent therapist and specializes in and centers on the lived experiences of autistic and ADHD young adults, many of whom are also in the queer and disability communities. She prioritizes social justice and intertwines community care into her everyday work with clients. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Perceptions of ADHD Getting the Diagnosis Deciding Who to Tell Managing Symptoms Next in ADHD Guide ADHD in Children: Symptoms and Treatment Close Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurotype marked by difficulty concentrating, hyperactivity/impulsiveness, disorganization, low frustration tolerance, and other traits that can make everyday functioning a challenge in a neurotypical-centered world. While living with ADHD can be difficult at times, treatment and lifestyle changes can be monumental for overall well-being. At a Glance ADHD is a disability, but it is mainly a disability due to the neurotypical-centered society that we live in. Rather than encouraging people with ADHD to hide their traits, support looks like creating environments where their needs are met without having to hide or mask. Living with ADHD is about monitoring your traits and actively working toward finding what works best for you. With the right support and treatment, you can create a life that allows you to reach your greatest potential. 2:33 Watch Now: Strategies for Living With ADHD How The Body Doubling Technique Can Help When You Have ADHD How People With ADHD May Be Perceived People living with ADHD often lack focus, wander off task, talk excessively, fidget, and act impulsively. Children commonly present with hyperactivity, and as they age, they may struggle more with attention, leading to academic difficulties. Others often misunderstand this type of neurodivergence. People who don't understand the traits of ADHD may label children with ADHD as unmotivated, lazy, or problem children. Adults living with ADHD may be seen as irresponsible or flighty because they struggle to remember important details or obligations and have difficulty staying on task. Why ADHD is More Than "Poor Self Control" How It Feels to Be Newly Diagnosed Many people are surprised by the strong emotions they feel when they are diagnosed with ADHD. Common emotions include: Relief: When you first get an ADHD diagnosis, you may feel relieved to finally have a label that describes what you're experiencing. It may feel validating to know that your traits stem from a different neurotype and are not "bad" traits. Anger: After the relief has faded, you may feel angry. Perhaps you don't want ADHD or maybe you're feeling frustration toward parents or teachers who blamed you for your traits. Grief: You may feel sad that you didn't get diagnosed earlier or you may grieve for what your life might have been like if you didn't have ADHD. You may also feel sad for your younger self who struggled with school and life with undiagnosed ADHD. It's normal to experience a range of emotions after you are diagnosed. It's also normal to find that your feelings and experiences change as you learn more about living with ADHD. What You Can Do Reassure yourself that all these emotions are normal, even if they are painful at the time. Talk to other people about how you're feeling, and be willing to ask for help. Find an ADHD support group in your area. Meeting other people who have been through a similar experience is very helpful. Consider working with a therapist who is knowledgeable about ADHD. Seek out other folks with ADHD in real life and on social media who have known about their diagnosis longer to learn tips and ways to accommodate yourself. Lived experience is key in figuring out ways to accept and thrive with ADHD Look at online resources by people with ADHD. "How to ADHD" is a great example of a YouTube channel with many applicable, helpful tips from an ADHDer. The Best Online Resources for ADHD We Tried and Tested in 2024 Deciding Who to Tell Sharing your diagnosis with some people could help move forward and empower you to feel like your most authentic self when living with ADHD. It's not always easy to explain ADHD to friends and family members. Those who don't understand the neurotype may think you're using it as an excuse to get out of your day-to-day responsibilities. People who don't understand may offer unsolicited advice like, "Stop watching so much TV, and you'll feel better." Those things can be tough to hear. When people in your life want to support you and develop a better understanding of ADHD, provide them with information about the neurotype, and let them know how they can best support you. You may also want to consider telling your employer or professor. If your child is diagnosed with ADHD, you'll want to share that information with the school. Employers and school administration can assist with special accommodations. Placing your desk away from distractions or allowing you to wear noise-canceling headphones, for example, may greatly increase your productivity. It's also important to tell all your medical providers about your diagnosis. Don't depend on your medical records to speak for themselves. What to Do If Teachers Blame Your Child for ADHD Symptoms Managing Your Traits Work closely with medical professionals to find the best treatment options for you when you are living with ADHD. Don't hesitate to speak up when something isn't working, and be willing to ask questions about what you can expect to experience with treatment. It's important to continue managing and monitoring your traits even when you feel as though treatment is working well. Your traits may shift with changes in your environment or your ADHD may change as you grow older. Continue to communicate with your treatment providers about any changes you experience or any difficulties you notice. If you're taking medication, there may be times when you need to change your dose or change medications altogether. Or, you may find it helpful to start therapy when you undergo a change in employment. You may also experiment with a variety of lifestyle changes. For example, close monitoring of your traits might help you recognize that you need more structure in your life so you can spend less time searching for misplaced items. Adding more structure and getting organized might be key to helping you manage your traits best. Get Help Now We've tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of the best online therapy programs including Talkspace, BetterHelp, and ReGain. Find out which option is the best for you. How Embracing the Chaos Helps My ADHD 6 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Cabral MDI, Liu S, Soares N. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: diagnostic criteria, epidemiology, risk factors and evaluation in youth. Transl Pediatr. 2020;9(Suppl 1):S104-S113. doi:10.21037/tp.2019.09.08 Shah R, Grover S, Avasthi A. Clinical practice guidelines for the assessment and management of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Indian J Psychiatry. 2019;61(Suppl 2):176-193. doi:10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_543_18 Hansson Halleröd SL, Anckarsäter H, Råstam M, Hansson Scherman M. Experienced consequences of being diagnosed with ADHD as an adult - a qualitative study. BMC Psychiatry. 2015;15:31. doi:10.1186/s12888-015-0410-4 Bjerrum MB, Pedersen PU, Larsen P. Living with symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in adulthood: A systematic review of qualitative evidence. JBI Database System Rev Implement Rep. 2017;15(4):1080-1153. doi:10.11124/JBISRIR-2017-003357 Lovett BJ, Nelson JM. Systematic review: Educational accommodations for children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2021;60(4):448-457. doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2020.07.891 Huss M, Duhan P, Gandhi P, Chen CW, Spannhuth C, Kumar V. Methylphenidate dose optimization for ADHD treatment: Review of safety, efficacy, and clinical necessity. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2017;13:1741-1751. doi:10.2147/NDT.S130444 Additional Reading National Institute of Mental Health. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Revised September 2019. By Keath Low Keath Low, MA, is a therapist and clinical scientist with the Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities at the University of North Carolina. She specializes in treatment of ADD/ADHD. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Helpful Report an Error Other Submit