At Foundations Counseling in Fort Collins, Loveland, and Windsor, we offer ADD / ADHD therapy that will give you real solutions for real problems. Attention deficit disorder (ADD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are often characterized by developmentally inappropriate degrees of inattention, overactivity, and impulsivity.
Symptoms of attention deficit disorders such as ADD and ADHD, which are neurologically based, often arise in early childhood and tend to be chronic in nature. It is important to note that symptoms are not due to neurological impairment, sensory impairment, language or motor impairment, mental retardation, or emotional disturbance.
ADD and ADHD are characterized by three main traits:
- Poorly sustained attention or vigilance
- Impulsivity or difficulty delaying gratification
- Hyperactivity or poorly regulated activity
ADD and ADHD affect approximately 3–5 percent of the childhood population. It has been estimated that 50–80 percent of these people exhibit some degree of symptoms into adulthood.
Children with ADD or ADHD
ADD and ADHD are separate and unique childhood disorders. It has been noted that children with ADD are more frequently described as “depressed, learning disabled, or lazy,” while children with ADHD are more frequently labeled as “conduct or behavior disordered.”
The average age of children referred for evaluations for attention deficit disorders is between 7 and 12. Children are usually referred because they are having behavior problems at home or at school or are underachieving academically. The primary area of difficulty – inconsistent control over attention and impulses –often results in experiences of failure academically, socially, and within the family. As a result, children with ADD or ADHD often begin to feel demoralized, and problems with self-esteem frequently emerge. Education and counseling to rebuild self-esteem should be an essential component of treatment for children with ADD or ADHD.
Adults with ADD or ADHD
Symptoms of ADD and ADHD typically get worse as children grow into adulthood and face life’s increasing pressures and demands. If you’re an adult with ADD or ADHD, your symptoms may be holding you back at work, impacting your relationships, and keeping you from accomplishing your goals. Fortunately, once you recognize the signs and symptoms of adult ADD/ADHD, you can begin to address your areas of weakness and make your strengths work for you.
Adults with ADD or ADHD struggle daily with self-regulation: regulating their attention, regulating their impulses in talking and action, and regulating their emotions. If you have trouble staying focused, getting organized, starting and completing your work, managing your time and money, and remembering all the little things in your daily life, you may very well be one of these people.
The good news: life doesn’t have to be this way. ADD/ADHD therapy can go a long way toward getting these disorders in check. Contact Foundations Counseling in Fort Collins, Loveland, and Windsor to learn how you can overpower your ADD/ADHD and regain control of your life.
What You Can Expect with ADD/ADHD Counseling
At Foundations Counseling in Fort Collins, Loveland, and Windsor, ADD/ADHD therapy will help you develop the skills and behaviors that are needed for a happy, stable life. We utilize cognitive behavioral therapy to help people make concrete, observable changes in their lives. We focus on the ways an individual’s thoughts and attitudes affect his or her feelings and behavior. The premise is that some people develop negative and distorted beliefs about themselves, which interfere with their functioning. This can lead to depression and anxiety, as well as the procrastination that affects so many people with attention deficit disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Cognitive behavioral therapy helps people examine the beliefs and behaviors that are holding them back and learn strategies to counteract those beliefs and behaviors. This method of treatment helps individuals with ADD or ADHD learn to accept themselves as they are rather than berate themselves for their shortcomings. At the same time, it helps them become more successful and content.
Set up a Free Consultation
If you or someone you know would benefit from ADD or ADHD therapy, please contact Foundations Counseling in Fort Collins, Loveland, and Windsor to arrange a free consultation.