Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

ADHD is a widely misunderstood neurodevelopmental condition that affects millions of people worldwide. While many people believe ADHD is simply about difficulty focusing, it is far more complex and nuanced than that.
Common symptoms include hyperactivity, difficulty concentrating, impulsive behaviour, and challenges with emotional regulation. These symptoms can impact daily life in meaningful ways, affecting performance and wellbeing at school, work and home.

ADHD involves patterns of behaviour related to inattention, hyperactivity, and/or impulsivity. Although it is often associated with children and adolescents, ADHD is also very common among adults and continues to affect many throughout their lives.

In the UK, it is estimated that around 2.6 million people have ADHD. As a neurological condition that influences how the brain functions, ADHD shapes how individuals think, behave, and interact with the world around them.

Common Signs and Symptoms of ADHD

ADHD can show up differently for each person, but some of the most common signs and symptoms include:

  • Difficulty concentrating or staying focused
  • Short attention span
  • Getting distracted easily
  • Feeling fidgety or unable to sit still
  • Excessive talking or physical movement
  • Acting or speaking without thinking
  • Impulsiveness
  • Irritability or emotional sensitivity
  • Impatience and difficulty waiting your turn
  • Struggling to organise tasks or remember important dates
  • Carelessness or making mistakes due to inattention
  • Irregular sleep patterns

In everyday life, these traits might look like losing track of what you were doing, missing appointments, or finding it hard to stay organised at home, school, or work. These behaviours can vary widely depending on the person and their environment.

ADHD and Mental Health

People with ADHD are at an increased risk of developing additional mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, conduct disorders, and sleep difficulties. These co-occurring conditions can worsen emotional regulation and may lead to feelings of low self-esteem, self-doubt, and hopelessness. In some cases, individuals may turn to substances as a way to cope with overwhelming emotions or overstimulation. Substance use is more common among people with ADHD and can further strain personal and professional relationships.

Emotional dysregulation and impulsivity are also common features of ADHD. Their impact varies depending on an individual’s personality, life experiences, and upbringing. These challenges can make it difficult to maintain healthy relationships, as intense emotional reactions, mood swings, and impulsive behaviours may create misunderstandings or conflict.

Another aspect of emotional dysregulation is difficulty recognising and responding to the emotions of others. A person with ADHD may not always notice when someone is upset or in need of support, which can make relationships feel unbalanced over time. Difficulties with emotional awareness, trust, and intimacy can also affect the ability to form and sustain close or romantic relationships.

The fast-paced nature of the ADHD mind can lead to a disconnect from the body’s natural signals for rest, nourishment, and self-care. This disconnect may increase the risk of anxiety, low mood, and challenges with emotional regulation. High levels of stress which is common among individuals with ADHD can further heighten symptoms by affecting the same areas of the brain already impacted by ADHD. When stress and ADHD interact, emotional responses can become more intense and harder to manage.

ADHD can also impact mental health when everyday challenges lead to repeated experiences of frustration, confusion, or feeling misunderstood. Some individuals cope by "masking" and hiding their difficulties to fit neurotypical expectations. While masking may help in the short term, it often leads to exhaustion, burnout, and a sense of disconnection from one’s identity.

Comorbid conditions such as anxiety and depression frequently occur alongside ADHD and can contribute to difficulties with emotional regulation. It is common for these conditions to be treated in isolation while underlying ADHD remains undiagnosed.

How I might be able to help

You may be seeking help because you feel disorganised, struggle with deadlines, experience relationship difficulties, feel overwhelmed or burnt out, or find yourself dealing with perfectionism, procrastination, or low self-trust. These challenges can affect confidence, daily functioning, and overall wellbeing.

While there is no cure for ADHD, meaningful progress and improved emotional regulation are absolutely possible. Therapy can support you in understanding how ADHD shows up in your life, identifying your triggers, and developing strategies that make everyday situations easier to manage. Many people with ADHD find that intense emotions, impulsive reactions, or feeling several emotions at once can become overwhelming. Together, we can work on recognising these feelings as they arise, understanding what’s driving them, and finding practical ways to respond rather than react.

Through ADHD-informed therapy, we focus on essential areas such as communication, focus, emotional regulation, and time management. This may involve building sustainable routines, developing structure without leading to burnout, learning coping strategies for overwhelm, strengthening self-compassion, and understanding your natural energy and attention patterns.

We may also explore how ADHD impacts your relationships including at home, work, or in education and create systems that genuinely work for your brain.
Therapy also offers a supportive space to explore your diagnosis (formal or self-identified) and understand how ADHD influences your daily experiences. Together, we can develop practical tools such as visual reminders, planning strategies and communication techniques. By breaking down emotional barriers and working collaboratively, therapy can help improve wellbeing and foster greater self-understanding.

Therapeutic approaches that can support ADHD include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT). Many people find that using a combination of these approaches helps them manage their symptoms more effectively and create a personalised plan suited to their needs and goals.