Private adult adhd clinic in London, same-day mental health.

How it looks in adults

The hyperactivity of childhood often becomes internal restlessness rather than visible fidgeting. What tends to persist is the inattention, the difficulty regulating attention rather than a lack of it, and the impulsivity.

• Difficulty starting tasks, particularly ones that are dull but important; chronic procrastination followed by last-minute crisis working
• Losing focus mid-task, or hyperfocusing for hours on something engaging and losing all sense of time
• Disorganisation — deadlines, admin, appointments, keys, paperwork, finances
• Restlessness, difficulty relaxing, talking over people, impatience in queues and traffic
• Emotional dysregulation — intense reactions, rejection sensitivity, quick frustration
• A history of underachievement relative to ability, frequent job changes, or a persistent sense of running on adrenaline

What a proper assessment involves

• A detailed clinical interview with a specialist, covering current symptoms and function across settings
• Evidence of symptoms in childhood — school reports, or an account from a parent or someone who knew you then, where available
• Standardised rating scales, used to inform the assessment rather than to make the diagnosis
• Careful consideration of alternative and coexisting explanations — anxiety, depression, autism, sleep disorders, thyroid disease, trauma, substance use
• Assessment of impairment, which is required for a diagnosis: symptoms must be causing real difficulty in more than one area of life

Treatment

• Medication — stimulants are first line and are effective for a large majority. Non-stimulant options exist. Titration takes several appointments, with pulse, blood pressure, weight and effect monitored.
• Psychoeducation — understanding the condition changes how people interpret decades of their own history, and is often described as the most valuable part.
• ADHD coaching and CBT for organisation, time management and emotional regulation.
• Environmental change — externalising memory, breaking tasks down, workplace adjustments. Under the Equality Act 2010 ADHD may count as a disability, and reasonable adjustments can be requested.
• Sleep, exercise and structure, all of which measurably affect symptoms.

Driving

You must tell the DVLA if ADHD affects your ability to drive safely, and if you start certain medications. Untreated ADHD is associated with a higher accident rate; treatment reduces it. We can advise on your particular situation.