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ADHD
Everyone has days when concentration is hard to find and you’re distracted by the slightest thing. Or days when you feel especially energetic and make impulsive choices. You’re human, after all—and these extremes are part of life. Periods in which your focus falls short or you have a lot of energy can be quite challenging. If you struggle with this often, it could be a sign of ADHD—though that’s certainly more often not the case. Below, we explain the difference between occasional “ups and downs” and ADHD.
What is ADHD?
ADHD stands for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and falls under the category of neurobiological developmental disorders. Quite a mouthful. In short, it means that someone with ADHD has persistent difficulty maintaining attention (attention problems) and/or is often hyperactive and impulsive. Some people mainly experience one of these symptoms, while others experience a combination. These difficulties most often already appear in childhood.
Please note: we do not provide ADHD diagnoses at iPractice.
ADHD diagnosis: yes or no?
ADHD is diagnosed through an extensive diagnostic assessment that looks at various characteristics and how they affect daily functioning. In many cases, ADHD is diagnosed at a young age because symptoms already interfere with daily life in childhood. Sometimes, however, it is not diagnosed until adulthood.
It’s important to know that not everyone who experiences concentration problems or a busy mind has ADHD. Concentration problems can also be caused by stress, a demanding period in life, or impactful events you have experienced in the past. Symptoms that resemble ADHD are also common in other conditions, such as an anxiety disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder.
Lifestyle also plays an important role in experiencing symptoms such as concentration problems, restlessness, or impulsivity. When discussing your symptoms and formulating your request for help, psychologists will always ask about your lifestyle to explore how it may influence your emotions.
If you seek help, other factors that could explain your symptoms are always considered first. Only when those other causes are ruled out is ADHD assessed in depth. We also emphasize that “having a diagnosis” in itself is not a solution for reducing your symptoms.
How to recognize ADHD?
ADHD can present in different ways. The symptoms are divided into three categories: hyperactivity, impulsivity, and attention problems.
Examples of attention problems:
- Difficulty listening or maintaining focus
- Finding it hard to follow instructions
- Being easily distracted, procrastinating, or not finishing tasks
- Difficulty planning and organizing
- Being chaotic and having little or no overview
- Frequently losing things
Examples of hyperactivity:
- Difficulty relaxing
- A restless feeling in your body
- Feeling the need to be constantly active
- Not liking to sit still
Examples of impulsivity:
- Often doing things without thinking first
- Finding it hard to wait (your turn)
- Interrupting others during conversations
- Frequently regretting impulsive decisions
Often imposing yourself on others
Causes of ADHD
There is no single identifiable cause of ADHD. However, heredity plays a role. If one of your parents has ADHD, the likelihood that you have it as well is higher. Environmental factors can influence behavior and the extent to which ADHD characteristics are experienced. For example, a lack of structure at home can intensify behavior, or ADHD may become more noticeable when the structure of school or studies temporarily disappears.
Individual vulnerability also plays a role. Premature birth or low birth weight may have an influence. Lifestyle factors can affect the severity of symptoms, but they are not, in themselves, the cause of ADHD.
ADHD or ADD
In ADHD, three different types are distinguished:
ADHD – predominantly inattentive type: mainly attention problems, without hyperactivity or impulsivity. This was previously referred to as ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder). This term is no longer used in the DSM-5.
ADHD – predominantly hyperactive/impulsive type: mainly hyperactivity or impulsivity, without attention problems.
ADHD – combined type: both attention problems and hyperactivity and/or impulsivity are present.
A diagnosis of ADHD is made when these symptoms have been continuously present for a long time (with onset before the age of 12) and significantly impair functioning. In addition, other factors or psychological diagnoses must be ruled out.
What can you do yourself about ADHD?
Once you know which symptoms are most prominent for you, you can try to work on them yourself. There are many exercises and tools you can use independently—and that can already be a relief. These tips can help you create more structure, clarity, and calm in your day:
1. Focus on your qualities
Focus on what you’re good at, rather than on your weaker points. People with ADHD have many wonderful strengths and qualities. You might be good at coming up with original solutions or quickly making connections. People with ADHD are often honest and can bring a lot of enthusiasm and energy.
It can help to remind yourself of your strengths every morning. Write them on a post-it and put it on your mirror so you see it every day. Ask yourself each morning how you can use your strengths that day.
2. Work with an calender
If planning and organizing are obstacles for you, keeping a planner can help—on your phone or on paper, whatever works best for you. Start your morning by checking your planner, and add appointments immediately when you make them. If you use a digital planner, reminders for important tasks and appointments can be very helpful.
3. Take good care of yourself
Eating healthy and getting enough sleep can make a big difference. After a short night’s sleep, it’s easier to lose focus and you are more likely to act impulsively. Taking good care of yourself also means consciously building in periods of rest—for example, by taking a walk in nature or reading a book. Yoga and mindfulness can help you intentionally pause in a busy schedule.
4. Apply structure
A fixed structure and routine help calm the chaos in your mind. For example, get up at the same time every day and establish pleasant morning and evening routines.
5. Find out what works for you
Remember: what works for you may not work for someone else, and vice versa. Try different approaches to discover what benefits you most. One person needs a solid morning routine and a clear planner; another benefits most from good, regular sleep.
Treatment options for ADHD
Are your symptoms so limiting that you can no longer function normally? Then talking to a psychologist may help. A psychologist can provide tools you can use yourself and help you learn to cope with the limitations you experience. This can help you regain control over the challenges and symptoms associated with ADHD and improve your quality of life.
At iPractice, we can support you with this. We map out your symptoms and work together to find ways to reduce them. If psychological treatment turns out to be necessary, we can continue with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) focused on attention and concentration problems. It may also be that other factors underlie your concentration and attention difficulties, such as anxiety or depressive symptoms. At iPractice, we also offer treatments for these conditions.
If more than CBT is needed, we will explore together which other treatments may help (for example, medication). iPractice does not provide medication-based treatment.
Help with ADHD
Are you seeking treatment for ADHD? First, contact your general practitioner (GP) and ask for a referral. If you would like to register with iPractice, we will contact you after we have received your referral or pre-filled application form.
At iPractice, we work with Blended Care, meaning you receive guidance both online (via video sessions) and offline (at one of our locations). The online psychologist is available to you between sessions. Read more about intake and treatment at iPractice.
Treatment is reimbursed by health insurers only if there are symptoms that meet a diagnosis according to the DSM classification. Read more about reimbursement and costs.
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At iPractice, you will work with 2 psychologists. Treatment consists of both online contact and regular consultation room sessions at one of iPractice’s locations. Or find out more information about the intake and treatment process at iPractice.
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CBT is the most common therapy for ADHD. On average, treatment with us lasts 3 to 6 months, during which you will have 8 sessions with a psychologist and online counseling in between.
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Only if there are symptoms that fit a diagnosis according to the DSM classification is treatment reimbursed by health insurance companies. See which health insurance companies reimburse our care.
FAQ
ADHD is characterized by (a combination of) attention problems, impulsivity, and often restlessness, and this pattern is usually present from childhood. During treatment, we examine whether your symptoms match this profile. An ADHD diagnosis can only be made after diagnostic assessment by a professional. It’s important to know that a diagnosis is not always necessary in order to work on your symptoms with support.
If you want your treatment to be reimbursed by your health insurer, a DSM-5 diagnosis is required. If there is no diagnosis, we can still help you, but the costs may be at your own expense.
Many people with ADHD traits feel “too busy,” “lazy,” or “disorganized.” In therapy, you learn to view yourself differently and build practical skills to gain more control.
Related symptoms
ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder): Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment
ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) is often recognised late because the symptoms are less visible than in ADHD. Yet ADD can have a major impact on your daily life: difficulty focusing, constant internal restlessness, and the feeling of falling behind expectations. At iPractice, we look beyond behaviour alone. We provide professional support to establish the right diagnosis and create a tailored treatment plan together, so you regain structure, calm, and self-confidence.