ADHD Treatment
What is ADHD?
ADHD stands for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, which in Danish can be translated to opmærksomheds- og aktivitetsforstyrrelse (attention and activity disorder).
Individuals with ADHD experience challenges with what we call “the brain’s cognitive functions.” Their ability to control focus and thoughts, as well as regulate emotions and actions, does not develop at the same pace or in the same way as in most people. The brain lacks certain substances necessary to ensure that different areas of the brain can work together, which affects attention, concentration, and memory.
Signs You Might Have ADHD
Although the core difficulties of ADHD are disturbances in attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, the expression of ADHD can vary from person to person. The impact on an individual’s life differs greatly, but a number of possible signs of ADHD may include having difficulty in several situations with:
Approximately 3/4 of those diagnosed with ADHD also struggle periodically with other mental health challenges. These can be secondary to ADHD, and it is often these challenges that lead individuals to seek help, as they are the most prominent.
For example, these may include: Depression, anxiety, eating disorders, low self-esteem, behavioral disorders, relationship challenges, learning difficulties, substance abuse, sleep disturbances, or stress-related reactions.
ADD – “The Quiet ADHD”
There is also a type of ADHD where hyperactivity is either absent or less visible, and the main problem lies in attention. This type is called ADHD with predominantly inattentive presentation, formerly known as attention deficit disorder (ADD). In individuals with this variant, hyperactivity may manifest as inner restlessness, such as racing thoughts or a constant feeling of mental stress, making it less visible to others. Therefore, it is often referred to as “the quiet ADHD” and is frequently diagnosed later in life, as family, teachers, and educators have more difficulty identifying the problems.
As with ADHD, ADD can vary from person to person and have different degrees of severity. Some possible signs of ADD include:
The Tired Brain
Individuals with ADD often report that their biggest challenges lie in maintaining attention and concentration, making it difficult to keep a suitable pace and energy level in daily life. They are often described as “hypoactive,” which is the opposite of hyperactive.
Many find that routine daily tasks require significant energy, and they have difficulties planning and completing activities. Often, they are told by others that they are lazy or indifferent; but for people with ADD, the fatigue is about something else, and many describe having “a tired brain.”
How Our Treatment for ADHD Works
As mentioned, ADHD can manifest in many different ways, and we believe there are as many variations of ADHD as there are individuals with the diagnosis. Therefore, our therapy sessions will focus on understanding your unique ADHD and how it affects you, your relationships, and your life goals. This understanding forms a crucial foundation for us to jointly develop effective strategies and tools that can help you manage the challenges associated with ADHD.
Here are some examples of areas where we can offer help and have experience working with when facing challenges related to ADHD:
Why Choose Us for an ADHD Program?
Whether it’s you or a loved one experiencing challenges with ADHD, you are welcome here. We have extensive experience and insight into how ADHD can affect daily life, relationships, and academic and professional life.
Receiving an ADHD diagnosis can bring many emotions, and we aim to create a safe space where we can explore your ADHD together and develop the strategies necessary for your life. We believe it is crucial to work collaboratively on this, as different strategies work differently for different people. Our goal is to find the methods that are specifically right for you.
We have insight into the unique cognitive profile of the ADHD brain, and we understand the challenges that can arise in a society adapted to the majority’s brains. Furthermore, we are aware of the ambivalence that often accompanies receiving a diagnosis – a mix of grief and relief.
We offer programs for those who…
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
More visible symptoms such as impulsivity and hyperactivity are seen more frequently in men than in women. Men with ADHD often appear more active, externalizing, and aggressive than women. These psychological differences may help explain why most hyperactive children with ADHD are boys, and why far more boys than girls are diagnosed during childhood.
While girls with ADHD often internalize their emotions and may develop depression and anxiety, men have a greater tendency to manage their difficult emotions through the use of substances such as alcohol and drugs, and are thus at a higher risk of developing an addiction.
There is no evidence to suggest that there is a fundamental difference between ADHD in men and women; however, there are certain biological and cultural differences between the two genders that can influence how ADHD manifests in men and women.
Women with ADHD experience internal chaos more often than men and may mask their symptoms. They may have a tendency to be more quiet and introverted with their attention disorder, resulting in their difficulties going unnoticed or their symptoms being misinterpreted. Consequently, many women are diagnosed later in life than men. Some women with ADHD also describe setting very high standards for themselves and experiencing a significant degree of self-criticism.
Adults are evaluated for ADHD by a psychiatrist or a psychologist specializing in testing and assessment. You can pay for this yourself at a private clinic, or you can obtain a referral from your primary care physician to a psychiatrist. The latter is free of charge; however, you should expect a very long waiting period.
The evaluation process usually consists of a thorough interview regarding your symptoms and difficulties throughout your life, potentially including statements or participation from close relatives. In addition, the psychiatrist will observe you during the interview (how you sit, speak, concentrate, etc.) and provide you with questionnaires to complete. Based on the interview, observation, and questionnaires, the psychiatrist or psychologist will determine whether a diagnosis should be made.
ADHD has a high degree of heritability. Twin studies attribute 80% of the causes of ADHD to genetic factors. This means that some parents or other family members of children and adolescents with ADHD themselves have ADHD or ADHD-like challenges.
Parents and caregivers often ask how ADHD can be identified in childhood. Some early signs may include challenges with attention and hyperactivity. This can manifest as significant motor restlessness that is difficult to control, and impulsive actions and decisions. It may also involve difficulties following instructions, listening attentively, and concentrating on schoolwork or play for extended periods. Some parents of children with ADHD also describe that, from a very early age, the child struggled to regulate themselves, meaning they cried a lot, had difficulty eating, struggled to settle down and sleep, and were particularly sensitive to stimuli from sight, hearing, and touch.
Children without ADHD can also experience the aforementioned challenges at various times in their lives, and these can be entirely normal for children. Therefore, during a diagnostic process, it is important to note that the difficulties must have been present for a long time, that they affect the child’s functional level, and that they occur in multiple areas of the child’s life, for example, both in a daycare or preschool setting and at home.
There is no specific test, scan, or examination that can determine whether or not you have ADHD. The diagnosis is made based on an assessment of the difficulties you experience, observations of you, and a series of questions where you indicate the extent to which you recognize the symptoms mentioned in the questionnaire. The diagnosis is made by a psychiatrist or a psychologist specializing in testing and assessment.
Research shows that the causes of ADHD are numerous and complex, involving an interaction between genetic and environmental factors. There is a strong hereditary component in the development of ADHD, but influences during pregnancy (smoking, alcohol, illness) as well as premature birth, birth complications, or head trauma are also believed to play a role in its development.
ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and is a neuropsychiatric disorder that presents children, adolescents, and adults with challenges regarding attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.
There is also a form of ADHD where hyperactivity is absent or invisible, and where attention is primarily what is challenged. This is often called “quiet ADHD” and is in many places referred to as ADD or ADHD with a predominant presentation of inattentiveness. In this case, the person has the same attention difficulties as with ADHD, but hyperactivity is absent or often occurs on a cognitive level in the form of mental stress and racing thoughts.
