ADHD Support for Adults in Berlin

Decoding communication

Ever wonder why certain conversations feel challenging or how your message sometimes gets lost? Therapy helps you get to the root of your own communication patterns and understand the impact they have on others, making way for clearer, more effective interactions.

Finding your inner calm

ADHD can often bring along unwelcome companions like anxiety and depression. Therapy offers strategies and support to manage these feelings, helping you find 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 — naturally begin to flow. This leads to less friction, more understanding, and deeper bonds.

Ultimately, ADHD therapy 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 that is truly worthwhile.

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. But 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 load

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 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, a constant mental hum, or an inability to truly relax – the urge to fidget remains.

Getting stuck

You dive deep into a task, only to find yourself unable to shift between tasks or move on, 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

Unpack your 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 therapist 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 Therapy for adults 

ADHD therapy 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 therapy 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.