ADHD Symptoms & Diagnosis

Understand how ADHD shows up in adults and what to expect from the diagnostic process.

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    ADHD All Grown-Up — Answers to Your Questions

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Symptoms & Diagnosis, Podcast

    Description: In this inaugural episode I’ll clear up some of the misinformation you may have about adult ADHD, as I provide brief answers to a few of the most common questions. Key Takeaways: ADHD is a neurological condition, meaning you are wired differently. Symptoms are different among adults and throughout your life time. Getting an accurate diagnosis is important so you can get the right treatment. It’s not possible to first get ADHD as an adult. You can’t outgrow your ADHD. But you can learn how to manage the symptoms to minimize the level of impairment. As an adult you have agency to decide how to best treat your ADHD. Resources: What You Need to Know About the Causes, Symptoms & Diagnoses of ADHD Treatment…

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    Here Are the 4 Steps ADHD Adults Use to Deal with Boredom

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Symptoms & Diagnosis, Blog

      I’m sure as an adult with ADHD you’re all too familiar with the feeling of boredom. That restless feeling, sometimes intense, when you’re just not really engaged in something interesting. And, sure, everyone experiences boredom at times. But, as an adult with ADHD, your boredom can feel incredibly excruciating, maybe even intolerable. Of course, sometimes you feel bored because the activity is, well, boring. Make sense. But the feeling of boredom for adults with ADHD can be magnified. One of the reasons is the understimulation in the prefrontal cortex of your brain because of lack of sufficient neurotransmitters, particularly dopamine. It is common to think of lack of follow-through as a consequence of boredom. And, no doubt, the fallout from not closing the loop…

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    Do Adults with ADHD Really Not Care About Others?

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Symptoms & Diagnosis, Blog

    Are adults with ADHD really selfish? You and your colleagues decide how to divide up a project and agree on the deadlines. As the first deadline is fast approaching you’re feeling the pressure. Yet, you still haven’t started on it. At the meeting to discuss the project you tell them you’re not going to be able to deliver on time. They’re clearly frustrated. You make plans with your friend to meet up for lunch. And it’s on your calendar. But you get so involved in a project at work you don’t stop on time. And you’re late getting to the restaurant, again. Your significant other starts telling you about what happened at work that day. She seems clearly distressed. But you interrupt her with a…

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    What You Need to Know About Diagnosing ADHD in Women

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Symptoms & Diagnosis, Blog

    ADHD diagnosis in women is complicated… It’s not uncommon for both men and women I work with to first receive their ADHD diagnosis as an adult. Sometimes they call me after a very recent diagnosis. And, as we talk about this late diagnosis, the conversation often touches on their feelings about having ADHD and finding out so late in life. They may experience both sadness and relief when they first find out. They feel relief because they can put their past into context — they have a better understanding of their challenges. But they may also feel grief that it took so long to find out. However, women are often more surprised at their diagnosis than men. Which Type of ADHD Do Women Have? Like…

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    Answers to the Top 10 Questions About Adult ADHD

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Symptoms & Diagnosis, Blog

    It can be hard to separate the wheat from the chaff when seeking out facts about adult ADHD. Learn more below. So you can be sure you’re on the right path! #1 What is ADHD? I’ve heard the statements below and more in my conversations with ADHD adults. “My therapist says I’m too successful to have ADHD.” “I got by for a long time and then all of sudden I start struggling. I had no idea I had ADHD!” “I was never impulsive or hyperactive. So, it never occurred to me that I might have ADHD.” There is a lot of confusion and misinformation about ADHD… In simplest terms ADHD is a neurological condition that is usually genetically transmitted, characterized by distractibility, impulsivity and restlessness…

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    What You Need To Know About the Causes, Symptoms & Diagnoses of ADHD

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Symptoms & Diagnosis, Blog

      Trying to figure out more about ADHD causes, symptoms and diagnosis? Confused from all the information on the internet? It can be frustrating trying to find information you need and can trust. There is a lot of hype out there, making it almost impossible at times to separate the wheat from the chaff. I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. After endless amounts of time googling I bet you are often left confused, wondering: Arghhh… If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you know I’m not a fan of hype or hyperbole. And neither are you. You want the facts. Here they are. What is The Cause of ADHD? You may have heard in the media that poor diet, food dyes,…

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    When an ADHD Diagnosis is a Great Thing

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Symptoms & Diagnosis, Blog

      “After living with ADD for many years I started believing that I was lazy, stupid, and crazy.” Before being diagnosed with ADHD you may have believed, like my former client quoted above, that there was something wrong with you and maybe even that there was nothing you could do about it. While it will likely take you time to adjust to your ADHD diagnosis, as you go through the stages of coping , it can be the beginning of a journey that can turn your life around. And you can start to create a life you enjoy and where you are able to thrive. Oh, That’s Why! Many, if not most of the people I work with individually and in groups already have an…

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    ADHD Is Not A Real Diagnosis?

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Symptoms & Diagnosis, Blog

    My daughter had been through 6 hours of neurological testing over two days by a highly regarded neuropsychologist in the Boston area. When I read Lessons from Atticus: is “ADHD” a problem of not listening? written by a pediatrician, I was reminded of a remark my daughter’s former pediatrician made when I shared with him the report from the neuropsychologist indicating that she had ADHD. His response was, “She is too cute to have ADHD.” What I heard was, “ADHD is not real.” It has been almost 8 year since that appointment. Fast forward to recent years. As of late ADHD seems to have become a lightning rod for attacks from experts and non-experts alike. It is always distressing to me when I read opinions…

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    Is This Normal or Do I Have Undiagnosed ADHD?

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Symptoms & Diagnosis, Blog

      Below is an excerpt from a letter that I recently received (and was given permission to post) along with my response. I decided to include it here, as it is such a common question and might be of interest to you, too.   Hi Marla, I’ve really been identifying with everything you and your testimonials have been saying on your website, but I’ve never been diagnosed myself. For years as a university student I have constantly struggled with mastering my procrastination on assignments and study, and I’ve realised recently it seems to stem from this impulsivity, this tendency to immediately act on every thought I have. All the issues you are talking about that adults with ADHD have to deal with, I feel that…

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    Understanding Your ADHD Brain

    ByMarla Cummins ADHD Symptoms & Diagnosis, Blog

      Usually, I write about how ADHD symptoms are expressed and how to manage them. In fact, I bet most of the time this is the information you are looking for as you attempt to answer the question, “How do I deal with my ADHD?!” And I know from talking to a lot of people that having an understanding of the genetics and neurobiology of ADHD is probably not at the top of your list when looking for ways to address the challenges of your ADHD. But I think it should at least be on the list. I hope this brief intro whets your curiosity and prompts you to find out more about the relationship between the brain and ADHD. Causes of ADHD While we…