If you've been diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, then you might feel relieved initially. If you've struggled to cope with life and everyday tasks for years, then it is good to know that your condition might be the cause of your problems.
However, knowing that you have ADHD doesn't immediately make your life better. To do this, you have to understand how your condition affects you and how to make appropriate changes. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help you do this. How?
1. CBT Gives You Immediate Help
Some problems are best managed with talk therapy. For example, if a person has had childhood trauma, then talk therapy often helps them identify their problems and understand the effects they have had on their life. However, this process can take a long time.
If you have ADHD, then you already know that your condition is the root cause of your problems. You don't necessarily need to talk this through with a therapist and wait a long time to feel better.
CBT doesn't work the same way as talk therapy. It doesn't work on the symptoms of your ADHD but focuses on the problems they give you. While you will talk about your life with your therapist, you will spend most of your time working on achievable task-based cognitive changes that make your life run more smoothly. You can make faster changes to improve your life.
2. CBT Makes You Feel Better About Yourself
Adults with ADHD often don't feel good about themselves. They might have spent much of their lives trying and failing to modify their behavior. They may have low self-worth and lack confidence because their condition has caused so many problems.
CBT sessions help you feel better about yourself. You learn how to change the way you manage everyday tasks and problems. You learn how to achieve rather than fail. This boosts your confidence. Your therapist will also work on your negative perception of yourself and teach you how to be more positive.
3. CBT Helps You Achieve Your Potential
Before your ADHD diagnosis, you might have struggled to make your way in life. You might not have managed jobs or relationships well. For example, you might have missed out on promotions because you struggled to meet deadlines.
A CBT therapist can help you learn how to achieve your potential. The two of you will identify problem areas and look at ways to improve them. For example, you can learn how to break tasks down into manageable parts and how to set schedules to improve your deadline management.
To learn more, contact a clinic that provides adult ADHD counseling.
