<description>&lt;p class="p1"&gt;I’ve been giving a lot of thought to what is commonly believed to be the process we adults need to go through if we suspect ADHD.&lt;span class="Apple-converted-space"&gt; &lt;/span&gt; That process takes time and money.&lt;span class= "Apple-converted-space"&gt; &lt;/span&gt; And depending on what part of the world you live in, your access to a specialist may be limited.&lt;span class="Apple-converted-space"&gt; &lt;/span&gt; For that reason or others, many adults are self-diagnosing these days.&lt;span class="Apple-converted-space"&gt; &lt;/span&gt; Some are questioning what having an official diagnosis will give them that a self-diagnosis won’t. &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="p1"&gt;The answer to that question is simple – potentially a lot of valuable information beyond just ADHD since by the time you are an adult, ADHD typically doesn’t occur by itself.&lt;span class= "Apple-converted-space"&gt; &lt;/span&gt; There could be depression, anxiety, codependency, addictions, learning differences or challenges, Irlen syndrome, underdeveloped executive function skills, sensory challenges and more.&lt;span class= "Apple-converted-space"&gt; &lt;/span&gt; Medication may be appropriate for some of these additional conditions as well as for ADHD if the main ADHD challenges are inattention, hyperactivity and/or impulsivity.&lt;span class="Apple-converted-space"&gt; &lt;/span&gt; If the main challenges are executive function skill challenges due to underdevelopment, I haven’t seen medication alone be the answer without EF skill training.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="p1"&gt;I have worked with many adults over the years who haven’t sought an official diagnosis because they knew that their executive function skills were lacking development for various reasons, and they knew they could do something about that without waiting for a diagnosis... &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="p1"&gt; &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="p1"&gt;If you’re loving the podcast, you can get even more support by checking out the links in the show notes for free resources and transformative opportunities that are waiting for you.&lt;span class="s1"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;ul class="ul1"&gt; &lt;li class="li1"&gt;GSD or “Get Sh*t Done”, Because Your Life Won’t Wait Forever Executive Function Skills Training &amp; Coaching Program Information: &lt;a href= "https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/AIA"&gt;https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/AIA&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="li1"&gt;Free PDF - 13 Signs Weak Executive Functioning Is Holding You Back:&lt;span class="Apple-converted-space"&gt; &lt;/span&gt; &lt;a href= "https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/Executive-Function"&gt;https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/Executive-Function&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="li3"&gt;&lt;span class="s2"&gt;The Transformation Club – the affordable community for EF training:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class= "s3"&gt;&lt;a href= "https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/ttcprogram"&gt;https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/ttcprogram&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="li3"&gt;&lt;span class="s2"&gt;An assortment of Free Resources, depending on your needs:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href= "https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/free-resources"&gt;&lt;span class= "s3"&gt;https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/free-resources&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;li class="li1"&gt;Grant assistance page:&lt;br /&gt; &lt;a href= "https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/financial-assistance"&gt;https://www.drbarbaracohen.com/financial-assistance&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/li&gt; &lt;/ul&gt; &lt;p class="p5"&gt;Subscribe &amp; Review in Apple Podcasts&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="p1"&gt;If you found value in this episode, please &lt;span class="s4"&gt;leave me a review on Apple Podcasts&lt;/span&gt;&lt;strong&gt;!&lt;/strong&gt; Our mission is to help as many people as possible transform their lives, and when you leave a positive review, more people can find this podcast! Just &lt;span class="s4"&gt;click&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class= "s2"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class="s4"&gt;here&lt;/span&gt; to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and tell me what your favorite part of the podcast is.&lt;span class= "Apple-converted-space"&gt; &lt;/span&gt; Thank you!&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class="p1"&gt;Personal transformation is waiting for you, if it’s your time.&lt;span class="Apple-converted-space"&gt; &lt;/span&gt; There are real solutions to the challenges you are experiencing, and they are available now.&lt;span class="Apple-converted-space"&gt; &lt;/span&gt; Time is our most precious asset, and none of us have time to waste on solutions that don’t work.&lt;span class= "Apple-converted-space"&gt; &lt;/span&gt; I would love to help you realize a new freedom, that is…if that’s of interest to you.&lt;span class="Apple-converted-space"&gt; &lt;/span&gt; Thanks for listening…&lt;span class="Apple-converted-space"&gt; &lt;/span&gt; Until the next time…&lt;span class="Apple-converted-space"&gt; &lt;/span&gt; Bye for now…&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Living Beyond ADHD

Dr B - Barbara A. Cohen, Ph.D., MFT, innovative educator, coach and psychot

You Don’t Need a Diagnosis or Medication to Get Results - 116

MAR 14, 202325 MIN
Living Beyond ADHD

You Don’t Need a Diagnosis or Medication to Get Results - 116

MAR 14, 202325 MIN

Description

I’ve been giving a lot of thought to what is commonly believed to be the process we adults need to go through if we suspect ADHD.  That process takes time and money.  And depending on what part of the world you live in, your access to a specialist may be limited.  For that reason or others, many adults are self-diagnosing these days.  Some are questioning what having an official diagnosis will give them that a self-diagnosis won’t. 

The answer to that question is simple – potentially a lot of valuable information beyond just ADHD since by the time you are an adult, ADHD typically doesn’t occur by itself.  There could be depression, anxiety, codependency, addictions, learning differences or challenges, Irlen syndrome, underdeveloped executive function skills, sensory challenges and more.  Medication may be appropriate for some of these additional conditions as well as for ADHD if the main ADHD challenges are inattention, hyperactivity and/or impulsivity.  If the main challenges are executive function skill challenges due to underdevelopment, I haven’t seen medication alone be the answer without EF skill training.

I have worked with many adults over the years who haven’t sought an official diagnosis because they knew that their executive function skills were lacking development for various reasons, and they knew they could do something about that without waiting for a diagnosis... 

 

If you’re loving the podcast, you can get even more support by checking out the links in the show notes for free resources and transformative opportunities that are waiting for you.

Subscribe & Review in Apple Podcasts

If you found value in this episode, please leave me a review on Apple Podcasts! Our mission is to help as many people as possible transform their lives, and when you leave a positive review, more people can find this podcast! Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” and tell me what your favorite part of the podcast is.  Thank you!

Personal transformation is waiting for you, if it’s your time.  There are real solutions to the challenges you are experiencing, and they are available now.  Time is our most precious asset, and none of us have time to waste on solutions that don’t work.  I would love to help you realize a new freedom, that is…if that’s of interest to you.  Thanks for listening…  Until the next time…  Bye for now…