As a mother with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), it can be challenging managing your condition while putting the needs of your children first. There are plenty of mothers with ADHD who have found ways to overcome these challenges while healthily maintaining their day-to-day responsibilities.
We know you have enough on your plate, so we’ve made things a little easier for you by compiling a variety of tips to help you thrive as a mother with ADHD.
What does ADHD look like in a mother?
There isn’t a standard list of signs or symptoms particular to mothers who have ADHD, as there’s great diversity among them.
However, there are common characteristics of ADHD in adults, which include:
- Problems completing tasks
- Talking excessively
- Agitation
- Forgetfulness
- Time management concerns
- Difficulty focusing
- Interrupting others
- Disorganization
- Trouble multitasking
- Challenging social interactions
- Easily distracted
- Emotional difficulties
- Fidgeting
- Having trouble waiting their turn
- Inability to prioritize
- Inattention
- Making careless mistakes
- Poor planning
- Relationship concerns
- All tasks feel equally important
- Appearing not to listen
- Being disorganized
- Challenges in maintaining friendships
- Daydreaming
It is essential to consult your trusted medical and health professionals about diagnoses of your condition, as you may exhibit some of these symptoms yet not have ADHD. Either way, some of these tips may help you whether or not you are officially diagnosed.
How can a mother cope with ADHD?
Here are a few tips to consider when managing your ADHD. Remember to refrain from self-diagnosis and consult your trusted health professional for effective treatments for mental health conditions.
Have a Support Network
Having the support of your friends and family can go a long way in helping you manage your ADHD while maintaining your responsibilities. Integrating your daily schedule with other mothers, playdates, phone calls, carpooling, etc., makes it so you’re not alone.
Educate Yourself
It’ll be challenging to manage a condition you don’t understand, and if you are diagnosed with ADHD, learning about which of your behaviors is related to it and appropriate coping techniques will set you up for success, especially since it affects everyone differently. There isn’t a single tool that works for everyone. This is why professional help is important, giving you a treatment plan custom-designed for your particular needs.
Establish Habits and Routines
Organizing your daily tasks, such as household chores or regular errands, can give your mind space to concentrate on the task at hand without worrying about whether or not you’ll have time to finish everything you need to get done. This also helps avoid the chaos of thinking about your entire to-do list at once and valuing them all equally in the same moment, which can make it difficult to complete a single task and then any task at all.
Some organizational habits you can implement include:
- Setting alarms or reminders throughout the day
- Using checklists for daily tasks
- Establishing a daily schedule
- Automating your bill pay
- Creating a calendar for important events and due dates
Be Patient With Yourself
Remember to be patient with yourself when implementing new habits and routines. Having a condition such as ADHD can make things like organization more difficult for you than others you may know. But taking it one step at a time and making incremental changes and improvements are victories in themselves and will bring about greater success the more and more you take baby steps forward.
On the other hand, you have to ensure you’re accommodating for due dates, deadlines, and professional expectations, such as showing up to work on time. If you know things will take longer for you, given your condition, you need to plan by waking up earlier to make it to your appointment on time, for instance.
Give Attention to Yourself
If your necessities aren’t met, you will exacerbate the problems and challenges you face daily.
Consider the following ways to promote self-care:
- Healthy sleep patterns
- Physical movement and exercise
- A nutritional diet
- Hydration
- Limiting alcohol use
Can you develop ADHD later in life?
It is possible that some don’t present ADHD symptoms until later in life, even in adulthood.
Why are so many women being diagnosed with ADHD?
A major reason why more women in adulthood are being diagnosed with ADHD is that girls are often overlooked for ADHD diagnosis during childhood since they typically present differently than boys.
What is high-functioning ADHD?
Although not an official diagnosis, ‘high-functioning’ ADHD refers to those whose symptoms are minimal enough to where they don’t significantly impact their daily lives, though they are subtly present.
Some of these include:
- Lack of punctuality
- Disorganization
- Procrastination
- Difficulty focusing
- Frequently distracted
- Impulsive
- Low self-esteem
- Not fulfilling tasks or duties
Can ADHD get worse if untreated?
Untreated ADHD can bring about further mental health complications, such as persistent frustration, low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression. As a result, this may affect a person’s quality and management of life, making relationships and careers more difficult.
To cope with ADHD, some may turn to drugs or alcohol and, therefore, acquire a substance use disorder, making treating ADHD all the more difficult.
Is there a way to treat ADHD without medication?
Treatment for ADHD may include:
- Medication
- Psychotherapy
- A combination of the two
Medications, such as antidepressants, are sometimes used in treatment, even though they are not FDA-approved for ADHD treatment.
Does substance use run in families with ADHD?
Researchers have found that individuals with ADHD may act impulsively and struggle with behavioral problems. These issues can increase the risk of developing substance abuse problems, such as drug and alcohol addiction. A child with both ADHD as well as a parent who drinks a lot may also start abusing alcohol.
How we support mothers with ADHD at Fifth Avenue Psychiatry
We’re a team of highly trained Psychologists and Psychiatrists who use the most progressive therapeutic treatment approaches for all sorts of addiction and mental health conditions.
We offer professional Diagnostic Evaluation for ADD and ADHD, which is a prerequisite, along with neuropsychological testing, for treating such conditions.
Our methods of treatment for ADD and ADHD include:
- Psychotherapy
- Behavior Modification & Coaching
- Medication (if necessary)
Call us, and we’ll design a personalized program just for you.
