It can be difficult to watch an adolescent girl face challenges in an academic setting. Untreated attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can affect many aspects of a girl’s life. What’s more, parents may find it hard to understand the effects of their daughter’s condition. Some parents may assume that their daughter’s mood and focusing inability is the result of hormones during puberty. However, this isn’t usually the case. While co-occurring conditions with ADHD are common, it’s important to determine the root cause of a teenager’s attentional issues. Without proper support, an adolescent can continue to struggle needlessly. Fortunately, Clearview Horizon Girls Academy offers help for girls who are struggling with poor focus and other mental health issues.

What Is ADHD?

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), those facing problems with ADHD may experience persistent patterns of inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity. ADHD may negatively impact an adolescent’s ability to function daily, and her development may be severely impaired.

It is important for families to understand that ADHD is not caused by a lack of comprehension or intentional defiance. Instead, it can arise from many root causes that can diminish one’s ability to focus.

ADHD is a mental health condition that affects a wide variety of individuals of all ages. Although ADHD is more common in males, females diagnosed with ADHD are more likely to experience inattention. Males tend to exhibit hyperactive and impulsive behaviors more often.

Common Symptoms

Based on the aforementioned NIMH webpage, it is common for adolescents with ADHD to fidget, tap, or talk excessively. An individual may also experience difficulty staying still. It is also common for those facing challenges with ADHD to make decisions without thinking them through due to a tendency toward impulsivity. A parent may find that their loved one with ADHD frequently interrupts them during conversation.

It is important to note that not everyone with ADHD experiences all of the same symptoms. Some symptoms may occur more often or be more severe than others. That’s why one adolescent with ADHD may act differently than another with the same diagnosis.

The symptoms of ADHD may negatively impact one’s ability to function in a school setting, maintain relationships with peers, or achieve a successful work life. An adolescent experiencing problems with ADHD may also:

  • Overlook significant details
  • Have difficulty paying attention during tasks
  • Find it hard to follow simple instructions
  • Have difficulty staying organized
  • Be forgetful
  • Answer questions before they are fully asked
  • Be constantly in motion or on the go

Co-Occurring Conditions

According to the World Journal of Clinical Cases, elevated rates of comorbidity may be attributed to shared genetic factors in various conditions. Also, ADHD may commonly co-occur with substance use disorder (SUD) due to impulsivity. Adolescents or teens may misuse harmful drugs to improve focus or self-medicate the effects of their untreated mood condition. However, misusing substances will only worsen one’s mental state and overall state of health in the long run.

ADHD may also co-occur with neurodevelopmental disorders. These conditions typically include autism, tic disorders, or other learning disabilities. The journal article notes that individuals with ADHD and autism spectrum disorder may present more severe symptoms across all domains. This group may also cause potential sleep irregularities, making it even harder to focus daily.

ADHD may also co-occur with externalizing and internalizing disorders. Internalizing means that the person keeps their feelings inside, whereas externalizing involves acting out feelings and impulses. Internalizing disorders commonly include depressive, bipolar, and anxiety disorders. Frequent externalizing disorders that are commonly comorbid with ADHD include oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and conduct disorder. Intermittent explosive disorder (IED) and mood dysregulation disorders have also been shown to be comorbid with ADHD. For example, studies have estimated that approximately 30 to 50% of adolescents with ADHD face challenges with conduct disorder or ODD.

Managing ADHD and Comorbid Conditions at Clearview

Genetics, core deficits, and choice of treatment all play a role in an individual’s path toward recovery. It’s important to seek care from a facility that takes all of those factors into consideration. Parents or caregivers may also benefit from developing an individualized treatment plan with a specialist to plan the best route forward for their daughter. This may be an uncomfortable process, but a specialist will ask a series of questions to best accommodate an adolescent’s needs.

Many families may feel hesitant to start mental health treatment for their daughter. They may fear that introducing something new may cause further distraction and disrupt their daughter’s accomplishments and routines.

However, in many cases, moving forward with Clearview can be a wise choice because Clearview includes an academic program. Clearview’s integrative system includes academic instructors who work closely with students and therapists. This academic program ensures that students receive the education they need while they work on their mental and emotional issues.

Therapies Available for ADHD

Psychotherapy through Clearview can significantly improve a teen girl’s ability to focus. Many types of therapy can address the root causes of a teen’s conditions and also provide the strategies needed to manage symptoms. Treatment options that may treat ADHD and comorbid conditions include:

  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
  • Trust-based relational intervention (TBRI)
  • Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
  • Trauma therapies such as eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and lifespan integration therapy
  • Reality therapy
  • Neurofeedback
  • Craniosacral therapy treatments

At Clearview we understand that the journey toward healing and growth involves not just the girls in our residential treatment center but extends to their families as well. Girls in our care receive expert therapy, lifestyle training, and tools to benefit them for the rest of their lives. We employ a variety of evidence-based therapeutic modalities to address the diverse needs of our students. Our team understands that education is very important. Our therapeutic school for girls is designed to meet the academic needs of our students while encouraging and supporting their emotional growth. Call Clearview at 866-584-4788 to learn how we can help adolescent girls overcome the affects of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).