Understanding ADHD: Your Brain and Therapy
By: JAMES SHULER, MRC, LPC, CRC
Have you ever wondered why it’s so hard to focus, stay organized, or follow through on things—even when you really want to? You’re not lazy or unmotivated.
You might be living with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD—a common brain-based condition that affects how people manage attention, energy, and emotions.
A Brief Look Back
ADHD isn’t new. In fact, doctors have been describing it for over 200 years. In the late 1700s, a Scottish physician named Alexander Crichton wrote about people who couldn’t stay focused for long. A century later, in 1902, Dr. George Still described children who struggled with self-control and focus even though they were just as intelligent as their classmates.
Over time, the name changed—from “minimal brain dysfunction” to “hyperkinetic disorder,” and eventually to ADHD in the 1980s (American Psychiatric Association, 1987). Today, science recognizes ADHD as a neurodevelopmental condition that lasts into adulthood and affects people in all walks of life.
How ADHD Affects the Brain
ADHD isn’t about being lazy or not caring—it’s about how the brain’s executive functions work.
Think of executive functions as your brain’s “management system.” They help you:
● Pay attention to what matters
● Plan and organize tasks
● Remember what you need to do
● Control impulses
● Manage time and emotions
When ADHD is part of the picture, these skills don’t always fire the way they should. Research shows that people with ADHD often have differences in how certain brain areas—especially the frontal lobe—communicate and regulate focus and self-control (Cortese et al., 2012; Barkley, 2012).
This can make everyday life feel like trying to juggle ten things at once: finishing homework, keeping up with work projects, remembering deadlines, or even managing friendships.
Common Signs of ADHD
Everyone has trouble focusing sometimes, but ADHD symptoms are stronger, happen often, and make daily life harder. They may include:
● Losing focus or daydreaming often
● Forgetting steps or instructions
● Feeling restless or needing to move constantly
● Acting without thinking
● Struggling to start or finish tasks
● Getting frustrated or emotional quickly
If you see yourself in several of these, you’re not alone. ADHD affects about 5–8% of children and continues into adulthood for many people (NIMH, 2023).
How Therapy Can Help
Medication can help manage symptoms, but therapy plays a major role in building the tools you need to succeed. Mental health counseling for ADHD focuses on:
1. Learning New Skills
Therapists teach practical strategies—like using planners, setting timers, or breaking big goals into smaller steps—to make daily life more manageable (Safren et al., 2017).
2. Managing Emotions
Living with ADHD can be frustrating. Therapy helps you handle stress, build patience, and feel more confident when things get tough (Ramsay & Rostain, 2015).
3. Understanding Yourself
Counseling helps you understand how your ADHD works and reminds you that it doesn’t define your worth. You’ll learn to use your strengths—like creativity, energy, and persistence—to your advantage.
4. Building Better Habits
By practicing structure and consistency, you can create systems that make life smoother and less overwhelming.
Try This Quick Self-Check
Ask yourself:
● Do I often lose track of time or forget things I meant to do?
● Do I struggle to finish projects, even ones I care about?
● Do I get bored easily, even when I’m “supposed” to be focused?
● Do I sometimes feel like my brain has a hundred tabs open?
If you said yes to several of these, talking with a therapist could help you better understand what’s going on and learn strategies that fit your brain—not fight against it.
Why Reach Out for Help?
Therapy can be a turning point. It’s not about “fixing” you—it’s about learning how your brain works best. With the right support, people with ADHD often discover they’re capable of much more than they thought. They build confidence, achieve goals, and feel more in control of their lives.
If you’ve been wondering whether ADHD might be part of your story, or if you’ve been diagnosed and want more support, reaching out to a licensed counselor or psychologist is a strong next step.
You deserve to feel focused, capable, and understood—and therapy can help you get there.
What Next Steps?
This will be a regular blog identifying aspects of ADHD, tools for helping with different difficulties you may live with, and helping you journey through life feeling like you are not alone (because you are not). James Shuler is a Nationally Certified Rehabilitation Counselor specializing in ADHD working with Pillars of Wellness. James is licensed in Illinois for therapeutic support but is able to support individuals nationally for non-therapeutic Executive Functioning support, vocational and higher education consultation, and Career Exploration and Planning. Call 219-323-3311 for a more in-depth individualized approach to living with ADHD.
** For an APA list of references contact jshuler@mail.pillarsinspires.com**
References
American Psychiatric Association. (1987). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (3rd ed., rev.). Washington, DC: Author.
Barkley, R. A. (2012). Executive functions: What they are, how they work, and why they evolved. Guilford Press.
Cortese, S., Kelly, C., Chabernaud, C., Proal, E., Di Martino, A., Milham, M. P., & Castellanos, F. X. (2012). Toward systems neuroscience of ADHD: A meta-analysis of 55 fMRI studies.
American Journal of Psychiatry, 169(10), 1038–1055. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2012.11101521
National Institute of Mental Health. (2023). Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). https://www.nimh.nih.gov
Ramsay, J. R., & Rostain, A. L. (2015). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for adult ADHD: An integrative psychosocial and medical approach (2nd ed.).
Routledge. Safren, S. A., Sprich, S., Mimiaga, M. J., Surman, C., Knouse, L., Groves, M., & Otto, M. W. (2017). Cognitive behavioral therapy vs relaxation with educational support for medication-treated adults with ADHD and persistent symptoms. JAMA, 304(8), 875–880. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2010.1192