ADHD / Executive Functioning

Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, is often caricatured as a young male child with so much energy that they are bouncing off the walls. But people of any age or gender can have ADHD. It also may be the case that energy level is "normal" but maintaining attention is difficult (especially with undesirable tasks). It can make us forgetful, disorganized, or chronically late. If untreated, can make things much harder than they need to be. 

One thing that many people with ADHD benefit from, is improving their  Executive Functioning skills. Executive functioning refers to the way our brains organize and process information to help us complete tasks. Sometimes we start out with deficits in these areas, but the good news is we can develop strategies and systems for ourselves to improve productivity and efficiency. 

We can all feel "wound up" or become distracted or unfocused at times, but if your impulsivity and/or lack of focus is impacting your ability to complete tasks on time or straining your relationships, you may benefit from mental health treatment (i.e. talk therapy, medication, or a combination of both). 

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can help you to identify your problem areas, build skills to adapt, and "rewire" your brain to become more effective and slow down enough to make choices necessary to set yourself up for a successful and structured life.

Some signs of attention or hyperactivity issues that could warrant seeking support may include:

• procrastination or difficulty completing tasks

• habitually waiting until the last minute to do things

• low self esteem as a result of negative feedback or past performance

• difficulty making progress or achievements 

These are just a few examples and ADHD can show up differently for each of us. If you'd like to discuss whether working together to improve attention or reduce impulsivity could help, reach out today to request a free 15-minute phone consultation!