Around the world, people are slowly becoming more conscious of ADHD, especially in Ireland, where there are good reasons to be. Around 5% of the country live with ADHD. However, it’s not all bad news. Life can be just as full and happy as anyone else living with the condition if you can access ADHD treatment and support. So, what do you need to know about the lay of the ADHD land and how do you manage it?
Identifying the Signs of ADHD
Identifying that you or your child are struggling with ADHD would be the first step in coping with it. ADHD is a disability. It may result in having trouble paying attention and concentrating. It can also be trouble controlling impulsive behaviours or being hyperactive, with symptoms that can be mild, moderate or severe. If it impacts how you do things, it could be immense, and you need a diagnosis in such instances!
Getting Diagnosed in Ireland
Getting an ADHD diagnosis in Ireland may mean making an appointment with your General Practitioner (GP) in the first instance, then being referred, if appropriate, to a specialist such as a child psychiatrist, psychologist, or neurodevelopmental paediatrician. Adults seeking an ADHD diagnosis will likely need to be referred to an ADHD-specialised practitioner or alternatively try a trustworthy telehealth provider such as HealthHero.
The process involves many pieces, including interviews, observation of behaviour, and sometimes rating scales filled out by teachers, parents or partners. These are important to help rule out other things that can look like ADHD — medical illnesses, anxiety, or learning disabilities.
Bear in mind that in Ireland, there are long waiting lists to see the type of healthcare professionals mentioned above. The HSE is doing its best to decrease these wait times, but mental health services are overstretched as the number of people looking for help is much greater than the resources the HSE has. Sometimes, a family may opt to get a private assessment done rather than wait, but be warned that this is very expensive.
Managing ADHD
ADHD, once diagnosed, is treatable, but management is a combined approach, including medical, educational, and lifestyle strategies. Good management is essential to improve the quality of life for individuals with ADHD, and you can trust HealthHero. i.e., formerly MyClinic.ie with that.
Medication
Medication is often given to people with ADHD. The most commonly prescribed are stimulants, like methylphenidate (e.g., Ritalin) or amphetamines. These can help improve attention, daily function, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. There are also non-stimulant drugs, like atomoxetine. Medication must be carefully monitored by a professional to get the dose right, and check there are no side effects.Â
Therapy and Counseling
You should never forget about treatment with behavioural therapy, cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), and counselling which are aimed at learning how to better cope with the disorder, how to be more organised and improve impulse control. In Ireland, you may find such therapy in the public health system or private professionals. It all depends on your situation.
In the case of a child, behaviour therapy mainly consists of working with parents and teachers to get routines and advice for positive behaviour. If it is an adult, then therapy provides time management, goal setting, and social and organisational skill training.
There are other ways of managing ADHD, too like educational support and adapting to your environment. Coping with and controlling stress can be helpful, too.
