When I start an initial assessment with a new therapy client, I focus on getting a good idea of what symptoms they’re experiencing. People are generally pretty good at describing their mood and general anxiety-level. Then, when I ask about how well they’re able to concentrate, they often say something like, “Oh, I definitely have ADHD.”
Hm.
It’s certainly possible this person has ADHD. About four percent of American adults have been diagnosed with this neurodivergent condition. However, there’s a lot of evidence that ADHD has been overdiagnosed. This disorder is not the only explanation for poor concentration. System tendencies to slap the ADHD label on and prescribe Adderall prevent us from acknowledging and treating the actual problems.
Concentration is a must. No matter if we’re working on a big project or trying to clean the dishes, we need to be able to focus to pull ourselves through. Continue reading…