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The Path to Understanding: A Guide on Getting Tested for ADHD

By Emma Miles, LCSW

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that can significantly impact various aspects of daily life. If you suspect you may have ADHD or have been advised to get tested, taking that first step can be crucial. In this blog, we'll walk you through the process of getting tested for ADHD, from recognizing symptoms to seeking professional help and undergoing assessments.

  1. Recognizing the Signs: ADHD symptoms can manifest differently in individuals, but common indicators include difficulty focusing, impulsivity, hyperactivity, forgetfulness, and organizational challenges. If you find these traits affecting your academic, work, or personal life, it may be time to consider ADHD testing.

  2. Consulting with Professionals: The first step towards ADHD testing is to consult with healthcare professionals. Schedule an appointment with your primary care physician, a psychiatrist, or a psychologist. They will gather information about your medical and mental health history, as well as assess your current symptoms.

3. Specialized ADHD Evaluation: If your healthcare provider suspects ADHD, they may refer you to a specialist for a comprehensive evaluation. Specialists often include psychologists, psychiatrists, or neurologists with expertise in ADHD. This evaluation may involve interviews, self-report questionnaires, and observations to gather a complete picture of your symptoms.

4. Collaboration with Educational Institutions: For students, collaboration with educational institutions is crucial. If you suspect ADHD is affecting your academic performance, contact your college's disability services office. They can guide you through the process of obtaining accommodations and connect you with resources for testing.

5. ADHD Rating Scales and Tests: During the assessment, professionals may use ADHD-specific rating scales and tests to gather more objective data. These assessments may include the Conners Comprehensive Behavior Rating Scale (Conners CBRS) or the ADHD Rating Scale-IV. These tools help in diagnosing ADHD and determining its severity.

6. The Importance of Comprehensive Assessment: ADHD testing is not a one-size-fits-all process. A comprehensive assessment considers various factors, such as medical history, family history, and the presence of co-occurring conditions like anxiety or depression. This holistic approach ensures an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan.

7. Understanding the Results: Once the assessment is complete, your healthcare provider will discuss the results with you. If ADHD is diagnosed, they will work with you to develop a tailored treatment plan, which may include medication, therapy, lifestyle changes, and accommodations.

8. Seeking Support: Receiving an ADHD diagnosis can be both relieving and overwhelming. Seek support from friends, family, and mental health professionals. Support groups and online communities can also provide valuable insights and guidance from individuals who have gone through similar experiences.

Getting tested for ADHD is a proactive step toward understanding yourself better and accessing the support you need. Remember that seeking help is a sign of strength, and a diagnosis can be a crucial first step toward managing ADHD effectively. If you suspect you may have ADHD, don't hesitate—reach out to healthcare professionals who can guide you through the process of testing and provide the support necessary for your well-being.

OTHER COUNSELING SERVICES OFFERED AT WELLMINDED COUNSELING

Therapy for depression isn’t the only service we offer. WellMinded Counseling offers the following counseling services:

Contact our Tampa, Florida office today!

Balancing Work and Home Life

Technology has brought many benefits to our workplaces, but along with these benefits, there are often blurred lines between work and home.

Smartphones have made it so we can be easily accessible at all times, which can sometimes feel helpful but can also lead to feeling like you are always working. Often these blurred lines between work and home can lead to dissatisfaction with work and even burnout. It can also prevent our leisure activities and time at home from being restorative in the ways that we need. Here are some methods that we can find balance, and maintain it using both boundaries, rituals, and meaningful time off. Boundaries create clear barriers between work and home. Rituals remind your body and mind of this switch from work to home. Meaningful time offsets aside time to provide for other needs such as rest, social connection, or recreation. 

Boundaries:

  • Having a specific end time at work, and sticking to it. If you end the workday at 5 pm, leave at 5 pm. 

  • Delete work-related applications from your devices or put them on Do Not Disturb when you are away from work.

  • Do not check work-related emails outside of work hours.

  • It’s okay to say No! If someone asks you to perform work during your off hours you can decline.

  • If you take break breaks during the workday, use this time for non-work-related activities. 

Rituals:

  • Change out of your work clothes upon returning home. 

  • If the day has been stressful, set aside a specific amount of time to discuss work-related topics with someone close to you (10-15 minutes) and end work-related talk after this time.

  • Listen to a specific song on the way home from work that helps decompress. 

  • Place work materials in a specific spot out of sight. 

Time off: 

Ways to Practice Kindness to Self and Others

By: Katie Veraldi

When thinking about this blog post on self-kindness, I reflected on the many different things I have heard about this subject from clients, my friends, and even my own views of it.

Often, we view this as an ultimate goal to achieve and that we must do things to get to feel this way. By doing that though, sometimes it can make us unkind to ourselves. Sometimes self-kindness can be more simple than our minds may make it seem, it may be something that we can accept as not always occurring every day and maybe it is something that we can aspire to while also not judging ourselves if sometimes it feels like we have missed the mark. When we are truly practicing self-kindness we see that just being present can be a form of radical self-kindness. 

Many people have studied self-kindness, self-compassion, and self-esteem.

There is a workbook called Mindful Self Compassion by Kristin Neff, PhD, and Christoper Germer, PhD and it states in the book, “Learning to embrace yourself and your imperfections gives you the resilience needed to thrive.” This can be seen as going ahead in some senses to practice kindness and compassion even in times when it feels like you shouldn’t or that lack of kindness would be a fitting punishment. If we can learn to keep holding space for kindness to ourselves and push back against that harsh self-talk we see how we can open up more kindness not just for ourselves but others too. 

Actually doing acts of kindness can be so unique to who you are.

For example, an act of kindness towards myself is going on a mindful walk with my dog out in nature and just being present where I am. An act of kindness towards others I show is by being of service such as helping a friend out with a move or a ride to the airport. A key to practicing kindness for yourself and others is that it is not done out of guilt or feeling like you need to prove your kindness but it is done because you have the space to be able to help someone or yourself out. As you explore kindness for yourself and others I hope that you are able to remain open and creative to seeing all the ways you can practice kindness shows up in your life and accept it without judgment.  

OTHER COUNSELING SERVICES OFFERED AT WELLMINDED COUNSELING

Therapy for depression isn’t the only service we offer. WellMinded Counseling offers the following counseling services:

Contact our Denver, Colorado office today!

How do People Cope with Changes of Daylight and Shorter Days?

By: Jamie Thornley

It’s that time of year, again, in Colorado when the warm summer days are behind us and winter starts making its entrance.

Image of the sun setting behind the mountains in Colorado. Representing that a depression therapist can help you during the winter. Whether you are in Denver or Broomfield, CO you can get treatment through depression therapy.

While wintertime in Colorado can come with many joyous and entertaining activities such as warm fires and fun days enjoying the slopes, it also comes with shorter days and a much earlier sunset. While many people look forward to Day Light Saving Time and getting an extra hour of sleep, many others dread that by the time they get off work it is dark outside and our days of really getting to enjoy time outside and the sunshine is behind us for the next few months. 

Not only is this a difficult transition for many people to get used to, but it also does affect many people’s mental health.

People who really struggle with this change are often diagnosed with Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD for short. For these individuals, the decrease in sunlight that is experienced in wintertime disrupts their circadian rhythms and causes their serotonin to drop and melatonin to spike. This leads to an increase in feelings of both depression and fatigue or drowsiness. Living in Colorado oftentimes makes people prime candidates for developing SAD. Along with these symptoms, clients often also report trouble focusing, weight gain, sleeping too much, increased irritability, increases in appetite, and overall feeling sadder. This makes for the perfect recipe to create strong feelings of depression, unfortunately. 

Orange leaves surrounding an alarm clock. Representing the 4 tips about surviving daylight savings from a depression therapist in Broomfield, CO. You can start treatment for SAD with depression therapy in Denver or Broomfield, CO.

4 Ways to Fight Depression Symptoms in the Winter

All hope though is not lost if you are one of the estimated 10 million Americans who are affected by these changes. There are some small lifestyle changes that our therapy practice suggests. These can be used to help cope with these symptoms and support you through the winter.

The first of these is to exercise. How many of you saw that one coming?

I know every doctor and therapist always pushes everyone to exercise and most people despise us for it. Exercise though is proven to help with serotonin production and can pick up some of the slack from the sunlight your body and brain are greatly missing. Not only that, but it also helps with reducing weight gain, which let’s be honest, most of us need throughout the holidays. 

Secondly, it can really help to make sure you are eating a healthy diet.

On top of not only exercising, you can also ensure that you are eating a healthy diet. I know another one that clients really hate hearing about, especially with all the delicious pies in the stores. Eating healthy is going to make sure that you are fueling your body to its maximum potential and providing all the vitamins and supplements that it needs to thrive. 

A family walking into an orange sunset. Showing that community can help with depression treatment in Broomfield, CO. With support of a depression therapist you can overcome the change in daylight with therapy in Broomfield or Denver, Colorado.

The third tip is to try and enjoy as much sunlight as you possibly can.

Go and take walks as often as you can while the sun is out and soak up as much vitamin D as you can. On top of this, open your blinds at home or at the office to get as much sunlight as you can while you are busy with other activities. Alternatively, if you aren’t able to get sunlight look into a light therapy lamp to help fill in some of the gaps in time where you can’t get any sunlight. 

Lastly, enjoy time doing the things that you love and spend time with people you care about.

Science has shown us that purposely doing activities that you enjoy and being around people that you care for is proven to increase serotonin levels in the brain and increase overall happiness. So, use this time to connect with others and maybe try out an activity that you have always wanted to try but maybe never had the time to. 

And always know that you are not alone in these feelings. Winter and the holidays can be a difficult time for everybody, but you don’t have to go it alone. When in doubt, chat with a therapist and see what other ideas we have to best support you and your mental health through not only this time of year but also year-round.

Get Support for Seasonal Affective Disorder From Therapy in Broomfield & Denver, CO

If you find yourself grappling with the challenges of the winter season our Colorado-based therapy practice is here to provide support. Our experienced therapists specialize in addressing Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and other mental health concerns exacerbated during this time. With a compassionate approach, we tailor our services to meet your unique needs, helping you navigate the winter blues and cultivate a resilient mindset.

Take the first step toward a brighter season by:

  1. Fill out our form, call us at 720-380-3564 option 1, or email us directly at onboarding@wellmindedcounseling.com for a free consultation.

  2. Schedule your first therapist therapy appointment to receive personalized support and guidance3.

  3. Start feeling empowered and supported as you navigate the challenges of winter.

OTHER COUNSELING SERVICES OFFERED AT WELLMINDED COUNSELING in Colorado

Therapy for depression isn’t the only service we offer. WellMinded Counseling offers the following counseling services:

Contact our Denver or Broomfield, Colorado office today!

Extending ADHD Awareness Month: It's Never Too Late to Advocate!

By: Andorra Turner

Did you know that October is ADHD awareness month? In 2004, it began as a single day in October, and it has grown to be the whole month of October since then.

As 8.4% of children, and 2.5% of adults have ADHD, raising awareness is important. Many individuals receive ADHD diagnoses as adults, especially women, who tend to present with different symptoms than men. Many adults and children with ADHD can face discrimination or unfair treatment, at home, at school, and in the workplace, and awareness and education can destigmatize the symptoms and effects of ADHD. Awareness can also lead individuals with ADHD to seek support for their symptoms, such as by seeking out a therapist or medication.

Misconceptions About ADHD Symptoms

Most people are aware of the “typical” ADHD symptoms, such as hyperactivity and impulsivity. Children who present with these symptoms are more likely to get diagnoses at an early age. However, children and adults with more inattentive ADHD can often go unnoticed for years. ADHD can also cause issues with motivation, procrastination, emotion regulation, and rejection sensitivity. It’s also very common for ADHD to occur alongside depression and anxiety, which often make it more difficult to find the correct treatment and support. Consider the common misconceptions, such as that ADHD is “just laziness”, or that it goes away in adulthood. People with ADHD, children and adults, often require help and support.

How do you Support Someone With ADHD?

If you have a loved one with ADHD, there are things you can do to help. Often, one of the biggest struggles is procrastination, even for tasks that “should” be easy.

Shame, judgment, or anger rarely helps when someone with ADHD is struggling, but that’s often what people resort to out of frustration. It can lead to low self-confidence and negative self-talk. One thing that can help is what is called “body doubling”. Being productive next to this person, or even on video chat, can be helpful, even if you are not working on the same tasks. This can look like video chatting while doing chores, or sitting in a room while they work on the computer. It can even be utilized by watching a live stream of someone else working. Just be careful of distractions!

ADHD Counseling Can Help If You Are Struggling with Your ADHD

If you’re struggling with ADHD, or you think you might have undiagnosed ADHD, attending therapy can be helpful. Often, weekly or bi-weekly therapy sessions can give you a sense of routine. A therapist who specializes in ADHD can help you work through the depression and anxiety often associated with ADHD, and teach positive coping strategies. Finding a psychiatrist may also be useful if you want a formal diagnosis and medication, but if that is something you are uncomfortable with then a therapist is a good place to start.

What Else Can Help?

There are also many great ADHD content creators online. The YouTube channel “How To ADHD” is a great starting point if you wish to learn more about ADHD, whether it’s for yourself or someone you care about.

Maintaining awareness of ADHD and its effects throughout the year is so important. Educating yourself and raising awareness can destigmatize some of the symptoms. You are welcome to reach out to WellMinded Counseling to schedule an appointment or for more information.

Get Support and start ADHD Counseling in Boulder or Denver, CO Today!

Embark on your ADHD journey with WellMinded Counseling in Denver, CO. Break the stigma, seek support from a dedicated therapist, and discover effective coping strategies. In order to get started follow these steps:

  1. Contact us for a free consultation or to schedule your appointment today.

  2. Schedule your first appointment for ADHD Counseling

  3. Start your path to understanding and managing ADHD.

OTHER COUNSELING SERVICES OFFERED AT WELLMINDED COUNSELING

Therapy for depression isn’t the only service we offer. WellMinded Counseling offers the following counseling services:

Contact our Denver, Colorado office today!