ADHD 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 September 12, 2021 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 Steven Gans, MD Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. 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 Feeling Your Best Next in ADHD Guide ADHD in Children: Symptoms and Treatment Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is marked by difficulty concentrating, hyperactivity/impulsiveness, disorganization, low frustration tolerance, and other symptoms that impair everyday functioning. While living with ADHD can be challenging, treatment and lifestyle changes can help manage difficult symptoms for overall well-being. 2:33 Watch Now: Strategies for Living With ADHD How Body Doubling Helps When You Have ADHD How People With ADHD May Be Perceived People 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. The disorder is often misunderstood by others. People who don't understand the symptoms of ADHD may label children with ADHD as unmotivated, lazy, or problem children. Adults with ADHD may be seen as irresponsible or flighty because they struggle to remember important details or obligations and they have a hard time 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 symptoms stem from a diagnosed condition and 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 symptoms. Sadness: 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. 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. The Best Online Therapy Programs We've tried, tested and written unbiased reviews of the best online therapy programs including Talkspace, Betterhelp, and Regain. Deciding Who to Tell You don't need to tell everyone in your life that you've been diagnosed with ADHD, but sharing your diagnosis with some people could be helpful in moving forward. It's not always easy to explain ADHD to friends and family members. In fact, those who don't understand the condition 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 condition, 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 of 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 Symptoms Work closely with medical professionals to find the best treatment options for you. 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 symptoms even when you feel as though treatment is working well. Your symptoms 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's 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 symptoms 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 symptoms best. Choosing ADHD Medication for Your Child Feel and Function Your Best In addition to adding more structure to your life and getting organized, there are other lifestyle changes that may help you feel and function optimally, including: Eating nutritious food Getting adequate sleep Exercising regularly Practicing mindfulness Learning time-management skills Coping With Mood Swings in ADHD A Word From Verywell Living with ADHD is about monitoring your symptoms 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. How Embracing the Chaos Helps My ADHD 5 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. 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 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 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Treatment of ADHD. Reviewed September 21, 2020. Mitchell JT, Zylowska L, Kollins SH. Mindfulness meditation training for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in adulthood: Current empirical support, treatment overview, and future directions. Cogn Behav Pract. 2015;22(2):172-191. doi:10.1016/j.cbpra.2014.10.002 Cleveland Clinic. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults. Reviewed March 4, 2019. 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? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit Speak to a Therapist for ADHD Advertiser Disclosure × The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Verywell Mind receives compensation.