Disorganization reigns as one of the most common symptoms among children, teens and adults who struggle with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. The mental health information website Helpguide.org reports that adults with ADHD often feel as if life is chaotic and out of control. Things seem to spiral out of control. A combination of medication and counseling can help combat disorganization and other symptoms of ADHD.
Signs
Children, adolescents and adults with ADHD often display signs of disorganization. They often forget and lose things. Children and teens usually have messy lockers, backpacks and desks and forget to turn in homework. Adults with ADHD might have a hard time keeping a clean house, office and car. They often forget important appointments and constantly run late.
Effects
Disorganization can greatly impact a person's ability to succeed at school or work. Children and teens often receive poor grades due to not turning in assignments or forgetting to complete assignments. This can lead to a lack of confidence and difficulty getting a higher education. Adults with ADHD might be demoted or fired after missing meetings, misplacing important documents, running late and not turning in projects on time. This can lead to other mental health issues such as depression or anxiety. Some teens and adults turn to alcohol or drugs to self-medicate, developing substance abuse problems.
Treatment
MayoClinic.com reports that stimulants and Straterra are the most commonly prescribed medications for ADHD. If those medications aren't effective, antidepressants might be recommended. All of these medications alter the chemicals in the patient's brain helping to regulate the symptoms of the disorder. Individual and family counseling help children, teens and adults learn behavioral techniques to reduce their symptoms. For instance, a therapist might recommend that a child and her parents spend 10 minutes each night organizing her backpack after she's finished her homework. Therapists also help adolescents and adults understand how their thoughts affect their emotions and behaviors.
Considerations
Most children, adolescents and adults who have ADHD become frustrated with the disorganization that surrounds them. They wish that they could change. Children and teens don't purposely lose their textbooks or forget their homework at home. Parents and teachers need to remember this when they're reacting to a child or teen who's done something due to her mental health disorder. Some children with this disorder develop a low self-esteem and ridiculing them or yelling at them for something out of their control only makes it worse.
Prevention
Children, teens and adults can take steps to prevent the disorganization from affecting their lives in negative ways. All age groups should spend time each day to get and stay organized. Keep an organized planner with all important dates and appointments listed. Helpguide.org reports that color coding helps people with ADHD. Before leaving a room, pick up for 10 minutes and always organize loose papers at the office at the end of each day.
