ADHD Support for Adults in Berlin
Not everyone’s brain works in the same way! For individuals with ADHD, this often means a distinct way of processing information, focusing attention, and regulating energy.
Imagine counselling as your roadmap, helping you navigate the unique landscape of your own mind. It's not about "fixing" who you are, but rather about gaining a deeper understanding of how you brain works, what truly motivates you and what your specific needs are. This self-awareness is can be incredibly empowering!
Communication
Have you ever wondered why certain conversations feel more challenging or how your message sometimes gets lost? Counselling may support you to get to the root of your communication patterns and understand the impact they have on others. This in turn may make way for clearer, more effective interactions with your loved ones.
Finding your inner calm
ADHD can often co-occur with other mental health conditions. Counselling may offer a safe space from where to explore strategies that work for you and to manage emotional challenges. This in turn may help towards finding a greater sense of peace and stability.
Building stronger connections
When you understand yourself better and communicate more effectively, your relationships — with family, friends, colleagues, and most importantly, yourself — begin to flow. This leads to less friction, more understanding, and deeper bonds.
Ultimately, ADHD counselling isn't just about managing symptoms. It's about embracing your authentic self, fostering healthier relationships, and significantly enhancing your overall quality of life. It's an investment in your well-being.
ADHD in adults
Untreated ADHD can significantly impact adults, often going unnoticed for years because the symptoms manifest differently or have been masked (an adaptive behaviour that comes at a high energetic cost) since childhood. Understanding these adult symptoms is the first step towards healing.
Untreated ADHD can show up as:
Not feeling “good enough”: Low self-esteem often takes root when you're consistently struggling with tasks others seem to manage effortlessly.
Workplace challenges: Reduced performance, missed deadlines, and difficulty organising creating stress in your career progression and daily life.
Relationship difficulties: Communication breakdowns, impulsivity, or inattentiveness can lead to misunderstandings and frustration with loved ones.
Emotional overwhelm: The constant effort of navigating a world not designed for your brain can trigger anxiety and depression, sometimes even leading to substance misuse as a coping mechanism.
Do you resonate with some of them?
While ADHD is as unique as the individual experiencing it, some common threads may emerge in adulthood:
Procrastination paradox: You know what needs to be done, you even want to do it, but getting started feels like climbing a mountain.
Losing focus: Difficulty sustaining attention, easily getting distracted or zoning out during conversations.
Internal restlessness: While childhood hyperactivity might have been external, in adults, it often manifests as an internal restlessness or an inability to truly relax.
Getting stuck: You dive deep into a task, only to find yourself unable to shift between tasks or move on, sometimes losing track of the bigger picture.
Tasks unfinished: Starting many projects but struggling to see them through to completion.
Impulsivity: Saying things without thinking, making rash decisions, or struggling with patience.
The emotional rollercoaster: Intense mood swings, low frustration tolerance, or difficulty regulating strong emotions.
The journey of unmasking
Many adults with ADHD learn to mask their symptoms from a young age, developing coping strategies to blend in. While these strategies can offer temporary relief, they are incredibly exhausting and can lead to burnout, heightened anxiety, and a delayed diagnosis.
When these carefully constructed masks begin to crack under the pressures of adult life, the underlying symptoms can emerge, causing significant stress and mood disorders. This is where the journey to understanding and support truly begins.
ADHD support in Berlin
If any of these resonate with you, know that you're not alone and help is available. In Berlin, starting the conversation with a qualified therapist who understands neurodivergence can be a valuable first step to:
Explore your experiences: Reflect on your potential symptoms, their impact on your life, and how they might connect to ADHD.
Develop coping strategies: Learn practical tools and techniques to manage daily challenges.
Navigate the diagnostic process
While getting a formal diagnosis from a psychiatrist in Berlin can involve long waiting lists, a counsellor can work with you to understand your needs and guide you through the system. Sometimes, a general practitioner (family doctor) can provide a referral, but direct contact with a psychiatrist is also an option, though challenging.
Arula Counselling integrates creative, psychodynamic, mindfulness and ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) approaches with a focus on neurodiversity-affirming and trauma-informed care.
ADHD counselling for adults
ADHD counselling for adults can start with talking to someone who understands neurodivergence. It is important to find someone whom you feel comfortable with and who is qualified to support you in your process. Therapy can help to better understand ADHD, to develop strategies that work for you in your daily life, to recognise your strengths and to support understanding your emotions.
Counselling and ADHD
Talking and creating awareness and understanding of yourself can help you manage day-to-day activities and create structure in your life. Coming up with a format that is needed specifically for your needs and assessing what works for you. This can vary greatly, depending on the person, since everyone’s needs differ. ADHD counselling can therefore be a great resource in starting to be aware of yourself and your needs.
Music therapy and ADHD
In addition to talking, we can access our inner resources creatively since not everything can be expressed in words. Music therapy can help alleviate anxiety and find ease and understanding in yourself. Because music activates the whole brain, it can help to shut the wired brain off from interfering thoughts to focus on the present. In counselling, we can think about which type of music works best for your brain to help you support your focus and emotion processing. There is no one way that works for all.
Read an article on how to start therapy to help you start the process.
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and does not replace a therapeutic relationship with a trained professional. If you are in a mental health crisis, please call 112 or your country's crisis line, where professional mental health workers can help you.