Sometimes receiving an ADHD diagnosis can bring a sigh of relief. You might gain a deeper understanding or level of acceptance around why you are the way you are. Sometimes a diagnosis can also feel isolating or even overwhelming. It is important to look at what is under the ADHD diagnosis. How do we benefit from having this diagnosis? How do we not? Are there ways we can accept these parts of ourselves even if society may deem these as suboptimal? Together, we can take a look at how you see the world and learn how to better navigate it. Interested in learning more or working together? Here are some common symptoms of ADHD that our clinician, Kathleen Wonacott, LCSW, can help you with:
- Difficulty staying organized and on top of tasks
- Forgetfulness
- Emotional outbursts
- Becoming bored easily
- Problems with focusing and attention span
- Trouble listening
- Coping with side effects from medication
Kathleen Wonacott, LCSW takes a multi-faceted approach to treating and understanding ADHD and recognizes that, above all, you’re human. You are more than a diagnosis and a cluster of symptoms. If you’d like support managing ADHD symptoms, get in touch! We are here to help.
How can contemporary psychoanalytic theory help us understand and treat ADHD?
Object relations and contemporary psychoanalytic theory can help us understand Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) by exploring the role of early childhood experiences, relationships, and attachment patterns in shaping an individual’s psychological development.
From this perspective, ADHD can be understood as a result of disruptions or difficulties in the formation of secure attachment relationships with primary caretakers during early childhood. This can lead to the development of insecure attachment patterns and difficulties in regulating emotions, leading to the symptoms of impulsivity, inattention, and hyperactivity associated with ADHD.
Additionally, object relations theory also highlights the role of internal representations of self and others, and how they may be influenced by early childhood experiences and relationships. Individuals with ADHD may have internal representations of themselves and others that are prone to distortion and instability, leading to difficulties in regulating their emotions and behaviors, and in maintaining stable relationships with others.
Through the process of contemporary psychoanalytic therapy, individuals with ADHD can gain insight into the underlying emotional conflicts and unconscious patterns that may be contributing to their symptoms. The therapist can work with the patient to help them understand the impact of early childhood experiences and relationships on their psychological development and current functioning. This can help the patient develop more adaptive and effective coping strategies, improve their self-awareness, and regulate their emotions and behaviors, leading to an improvement in their symptoms of ADHD.