5 Tips for Improving ADHD Treatment

If you or someone you love has attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), treatment can help manage symptoms and improve well-being. Typically, ADHD treatment involves a combination of psychotherapy and prescription medication. There are ways to make this treatment more effective, such as through routine-building skills and community support. Check out these five tips for how to improve ADHD treatment.

Find a routine that works for you

Most people with ADHD find it difficult to follow a routine. Common ADHD symptoms include forgetfulness, difficulty finishing tasks, and poor planning and organization skills. Routine-building skills can help clients with these symptoms improve their quality of life. This may involve decorating one’s home strategically. For example, if a client often loses their keys or wallet, it can help to have a bowl or tray to deposit those items into right when they walk in the front door.

Another effective routine-building skill is to have a day for chores or split up chores across several days. The latter may look like cleaning the bedroom on Friday, doing laundry on Saturday, and going grocery shopping on Sunday. Breaking up these tasks makes them easier to conquer, and the routine helps ensure these essential chores are not forgotten.

There are other helpful routines, such as ones to help manage one’s workload, keep up social relationships, and stay on task. They may involve using noise-canceling headphones or body doubling (setting aside a specific time for a specific task and having someone there to keep them accountable). A psychiatrist can recommend ways for clients to find routines that fit into their lives.

Set achievable goals

Lofty goals can derail any mental health treatment by setting a client up for failure. It is important for clients to set realistic, achievable treatment goals. A good way to do this is with the assistance of a psychiatrist. They can help the client manage their expectations, laying out the steps to help them reach their goals.

Give yourself some grace

Unfortunately, ADHD treatment is not a steady path. As with any mental disorder, there will be days when symptoms flare up; these backslides can discourage clients. However, do not be discouraged and give up on treatment because of a bad day, week, or month. Talk to a psychiatrist or other mental health professional if these difficulties arise. They can make adjustments to one’s treatment to help them get back on track.

Reach out to others

People going through ADHD treatment may benefit from community support, whether that means relying on their friends, family, or members of a support group. A psychiatrist may recommend a support group consisting of other people with ADHD. Attending such groups can help clients learn valuable skills and give them a community with whom to celebrate their successes.

Try a different medication

Finding the right medication can make ADHD treatment more effective, as it may level out one’s symptoms and make psychotherapy easier to navigate. However, there are many different medications out there. It can often take time to find the right one.

Stimulants are the most common medication for adult ADHD. Non-stimulants or antidepressants may also be prescribed. It depends on the client. If the first medication a psychiatrist prescribes does not bring relief, the client has the option to try another medication.