Dr Pawan Rajpal (Consultant Psychiatrist)   

Do you THINK YOU struggle WITH ANY OF these?

  • Struggle to maintain attention to details and make careless mistakes?

  • Have difficulty sustaining attention to mundane tasks?

  • Are easily distracted by external stimuli?

  • Other people complain that you seem to listen only when spoken to directly?

  • Struggle to follow instruction or rarely complete tasks?

  • Have difficulty organising tasks and activities?

  • Find administrative tasks like paying bills boring?

  • Are unable to sit through boring meetings?

  • End up speaking before it's your turn? 

  • Worry about getting addicted to alcohol, drugs, sex, gambling, shopping?

  • Have difficulties in managing emotions?

  • Suffer from uncontrollable mood swings?

  • Can get irritable quickly?

  • Struggle to sit still or fidget with your hands and feet?

  • Do you have excessive energy?

  • Does strenuous physical activity like going to the gym and playing sports make you feel calmer?

You may also have any of the following issues:

  • Anxiety

  • Depression

  • Low self-esteem

  • You might be suffering from ADHD

What is ADHD?

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is a disorder that can present with the above symptoms, causing havoc in one's life at home, at work and in managing day to day issues.

In the majority of cases, it's diagnosed in childhood, however the symptoms can still persist or present as new in adults. It is presented as a reduced ability to concentrate and form attention with added impulsivity and executive function deficits.  

Recent research shows that more than half of children with this diagnosis continue to fulfil the diagnostic criteria in adulthood. In some cases, it can present in adults as a new diagnosis. These symptoms, of inattention and reduced ability to concentrate, are responsible for the majority of problems in adulthood. 

If these symptoms are left untreated, they can cause difficulties in educational achievements, poor job prospects, low salary, higher risk of addictions, depression and anxiety. 

ADHD is associated with Executive Function Deficits (EFD) which cause a reduced ability to organise, prioritise, reduced behaviour flexibility and reduced ability to plan and analyse day-to-day issues. Failure leads to low self-esteem, low educational achievements, anxiety, depression and an inability to grow in a work environment. 

Dr Rajpal is a specialist in diagnosing and managing ADHD and EFD in adults, and has achieved good results, including supporting young people to stay in university to finish their education, and to maintain and achieve more in their jobs and life. 

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. In adults, they are more subtle and require specialist assessments. 

 

What causes ADHD?

The exact cause of ADHD is unknown, but the condition has been shown to run in families. So if other family members have had a diagnosis, it's worthwhile researching into it and contacting Dr Rajpal to see what can be done to help you. 

 

How ADHD is treated

Treatment for ADHD has excellent outcomes with significant positive effects at work, home and on achievements. Educational results improve, home life becomes more stable, work is more rewarding and engaging and the overall quality of life improves significantly. 

Medication is often the first treatment offered to adults with ADHD, although psychological therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), may also help.

 

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Living with a PARTNER WITH ADHD

Being a partner, in life or at work, to people who have ADHD, especially who have not been diagnosed, can be very challenging and frustrating.

Mood swings, irritability, being unable to predict their behaviour, jumping from one project to another, their thoughts being shared with you at a million miles an hour, their starting projects but not finishing them, and poor organisation with all administrative tasks being avoided becomes very stressful. This can have a very negative effect on the relationship.   

It's important to remember that they can be helped greatly and their family member's quality of life can be significantly improved.

 “For me, reading a book can feel like a carousel ride with the book held by someone in the crowd. Tasks can feel like a car journey where my impatient self is in control of the pedals, but my curious self is holding the wheel.” - A person with ADHD