Could I have ADHD and could this be the reason why I struggle in life?
Asked by Pegasus
Answered
08/20/2022
Hi Pegasus!
Thank you so much for reaching out for support on the Better Help platform. I can certainly tell that you have been contemplating the reasons as to why you may have been struggling lately. Asking these important questions about yourself demonstrates your resiliency, bravery and ability to reach out for support. I hope that you are able to recognize these amazing qualities that you harbor, as well.
Based on the information that you provided in your question, I agree with you that you may be struggling with the some symptoms consist with clinical depression and ADHD. It is possible that you could have untreated or misdiagnosed ADHD? What thoughts and feelings come to mind when you consider this as a possibility? How long have you been feeling this way?
A diagnosis for ADHD (Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) comes from a myriad of symptoms, some of which you may be currently experiencing. Three major categories that define a diagnosis of ADHD include hyperactive and impulsivity, inattention and combined type. Some of the symptoms of ADHD may overlap to create a combined presentation of ADHD.
The following two links are resources that I would like to share with you. These resources will provide significant clinical information about ADHD. I encourage you to take some time to review these scientifically validated and reliable resources instead of seeking information through online search engines and social media. Both of these links are resources available to the public by Pearson, a trusted psychology resource and educational/ publishing company.
Here is the link to the BASC3 ADHD information tip sheet (two pages):
Here is the link to the PowerPoint presentation that provides ample information about ADHD (47 pages):
I encourage you to reach out to a clinical psychologist outside of the BetterHelp platform who can provide psychological testing if you are looking to receive a formal diagnosis. The therapists on BetterHelp are able to support you in managing symptoms consistent with a diagnosis but are not able to provide concrete and formalized diagnosis for subscribers on the BetterHelp platform. Not all psychologists specialize in ADHD testing so it may take some time for you to connect with a psychologist who is locally practicing in your area.
In regards to symptoms of depression, when did those symptoms start? You mentioned that you believe that you have low self esteem and lack self confidence. This may be a warning sign for depresssion. I encourage you to continue the practice of assessing your own mental health status as you begin the process of building up your overall self worth. Practicing hobbies, engaging in tasks and activities that interest you, as well as utilizing self care skills are all ways in which you can gain more confidence.
In addition to building on the skills and talents that you already have, I highly recommend utilizing self affirming statements. Practicing positive affirmations can make a world of difference in many people's lives. An example of a positive self talk statement could be: "I am worthy of self love. I have so many talents and strengths. I choose to regain my confidence in small ways every day."
It would be great if you were able to come up with a more personalized affirmation that you can utilize as a mantra on a daily basis. It is true that building confidence may take some time but you can absolutely improve your sense of self concept with the resources that work best for you. If you are interested in reading, you may want to check out a book by Louise Hay titled "You Can Heal Your Life." This book provides more information and insight into the power of practicing personalized positive affirmations. There are also videos and audio clips available online based on this resource.
I am definitely interested in hearing more about your personal experience with ADHD. It sounds like you were given a concrete diagnosis in the past. What was it like for you to grow up with a diagnosis of dysgraphia and dyspraxia? It sounds like you were able to accept this diagnosis when you were a child. I wonder if having this diagnosis caused you to have a low sense of self concept and self esteem. Perhaps you can create a video journal documenting aspects of your journey managing the symptoms of dysgraphia and dyspraxia.
It sounds like you have a lot of self awareness about the areas in your life in which you are lacking self confidence. What are some things that you can do to improve the quality of your relationships? Take a moment to create a pros and cons list about the relationships that you have. It may be helpful to visualize your relationships in a positive way. I really appreciate that you want to improve on your social skills. I highly recommend attending a therapy group in order to work on building self esteem and socialization skills.
In addition, I recommend individual counseling sessions at this time. It may be a great outlet for you to talk with a licensed therapist on a weekly or bi weekly basis. It can be truly healing to participate in narrative therapy and have that opportunity to re tell your life story to someone new!
Lastly, but certainly not in the least, I want to encourage you to take some time to make art. This is an open ended suggestion but I do hope you feel inspired to pick up some art supplies and make something out of raw materials. Perhaps creating a mural, collage or your own alphabet would be a way in which you can participate in the therapeutic art making process. It is completely up to you how you want to engage in the art making process. As a provisionally licensed art therapist, I am a strong believer that art making is fuel for healing. I uphold this value both on a personal and professional level. Creating art is also a wonderful way to boost self confidence!
Thank you again, Pegasus, for sending over your question to the "Ask a Licensed Therapist" forum! I want to take a moment to wish you all the best in your therapeutic journey. Have a fantastic day!
(LMHC, ATR-P, MS, NCC)