One hallmark of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is impulsivity. Another one is having a difficult time paying attention. Over the years, you may have asked yourself, “Do I have ADHD, or am I just lazy?” If you have not gotten a proper diagnosis from a mental health dual diagnosis treatment center, you are most likely still struggling with this question. Santé Center for Healing is here to help you learn more about the warning signs and symptoms of ADHD and can help provide a treatment center in Argyle, TX.
What Is ADHD?
ADHD is a neurological disorder that can affect people of any age, gender, and background. It can cause difficulties with concentration, impulsivity, hyperactivity, organization skills, and more. Some common signs of ADHD are:
- Difficulty focusing or paying attention for long periods
- Problems controlling impulses or making impulsive decisions
- Interrupting conversations or talking over other people
- Showing little interest in activities that require focus and concentration
- Difficulty organizing tasks, completing tasks on time, and following instructions
- Frequently losing items or forgetting important tasks
- Easily becoming distracted by external stimuli
It’s important to note that while externally, a person with ADHD could appear “lazy” or thoughtless, they often overthink and are not intending to be careless or unproductive. ADHD does not necessarily mean you are lazy. It could be a sign of an underlying condition that needs to be addressed. If you think you might have ADHD, speaking with a mental health professional is crucial.
How Is It Different From Laziness?
On the contrary, laziness is a behavior rather than a disorder. It’s a habit of not exerting yourself on specific tasks, usually accompanied by a lack of motivation. People who are “lazy” may seem uninterested in activities that require attention or effort and prefer to spend their time on leisurely activities that require little energy or focus. Many people now believe that there is no such thing as laziness. There are just blocks that harm our ability to be productive such as depression, mental health issues, and societal oppression.
Do I Have ADHD, or Am I Just Lazy?
Parents and teachers might have told you to work harder. Maybe they said that you could do so much more if you applied yourself. Throughout your years in school, you got in trouble for impulsive acts. Because you never received help, the condition continued to permeate all aspects of your life. Over time, your self-esteem suffered. Coaches and guidance counselors joined the chorus of those who warned you to work harder. Many accused you of laziness. As you continued to age without a proper diagnosis, you discovered that ADHD affected personal relationships. Maintaining a romantic relationship can be difficult. There were complaints that you weren’t as committed to the relationship as the other party. No matter what you put your hand to, things didn’t work out right. If you have experienced any of these hardships, you may have ADHD and need an ADHD Treatment Program.
Understanding ADHD
ADHD responds well to medication, usually stimulants such as Adderall, and individual therapy treatment. When people with the condition receive a diagnosis in childhood, it opens the door to effective interventions. Most importantly, children with ADHD become adults with the condition. There is no cure for this mental health or neurological condition. However, having a diagnosis can help soothe you to understand what’s happening in your life and brain. Similarly, you will not fall victim to the pitfalls people encounter when they do not know about the condition. Examples of these pitfalls include using substance abuse to self-medicate or boost poor self-esteem.
Getting Treatment for ADHD
Did you know it’s never too late to start an ADHD treatment program? Even adults benefit from entering into treatment at a residential treatment program. When you work with experts in the field, you receive help for the condition and any side effects. Possible modalities include:
- Substance abuse treatment that helps you quit using if you started to self-medicate
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy, which encourages you to switch out dysfunctional patterns with healthy coping skills
- Trauma treatment is a way to overcome adverse events of your childhood that still affect you
- Mindfulness and meditation training as a way to no longer feel lost and unable to belong
It is time to reach out for help if you need ADHD treatment, addiction treatment, or dual diagnosis treatment for addiction and a mental health disorder. You may not have gotten the care you needed as a child. Now is a great time to make up for that missed opportunity.
Contact Santé Center For Healing
If you want to learn more about the signs and symptoms of ADHD so you can stop wondering if you have ADHD, reach out for help from a treatment program. You will feel better once you have a diagnosis. At Santé Center for Healing, our therapists treat addictions and mental health disorders through dual diagnosis treatment. Find out how working with these experts could radically change your life. Call 866.238.3154 now.
