The 3 Pillars of ADHD Treatment

Why It’s Not Just You, It’s ADHD

Understanding Holistic ADHD Treatment

Let’s start with a quick reality check: If you’ve been diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, you might feel like you’re constantly spinning plates, waiting for them to crash. One minute you’re hyperfocused on organizing your spice cabinet (because obviously, that’s urgent), and the next, you can’t remember the deadline for that work project you were so excited about last week. You know, the one that’s due tomorrow? Yeah, that one.

If this sounds familiar, it’s not your fault. Really. ADHD isn’t just about being “a little disorganized” or needing to “try harder.” ADHD requires a comprehensive treatment approach. And chances are, you’ve only been given part of the treatment puzzle—if that. But don’t worry, we’re going to walk through what full ADHD treatment looks like, and why it might be the missing piece in your journey.

And if you are someone who was diagnosed as a child and you’re thinking you’ve had a “true” ADHD treatment plan because you had a really long (and expensive) ADHD assessment and you’ve taken medication, and maybe even worked with a coach, but you still feel like a “hot mess”, then keep reading. Finding holistic ADHD treatment isn’t easy and I’m going to help you understand what you’ve been missing.

So grab your favorite fidget, assume whatever awkward position works best for you, and let’s dive into the three pillars of ADHD treatment.

ADHD Treatment Pillar 1: Understanding ADHD: The “Oh, That’s Why” Moment

ADHD is tricky because it’s not a “one-size-fits-all” kind of diagnosis. It can show up in different ways for different people. One person might struggle with constant daydreaming, while another is impulsively making big life decisions at 2 AM. Sound familiar? More than that, for many of us, ADHD doesn’t even seem like ADHD, it seems like anxiety, a mood disorder, or learning problem.

ADHD Assessment is the first step in understanding how ADHD is affecting you. This isn't just about checking boxes on a form. It’s about digging into how ADHD shows up in your life—your work, your relationships, your bank account (yep, impulsive spending counts and the accounts you avoid looking at), and even your hobbies.

For some, this realization is like seeing your life in high-definition for the first time. You start connecting the dots: “So that’s why I could never finish a project without 18 tabs open on my computer!”
It’s not that you aren’t trying hard enough. It’s that ADHD brains function differently, and once you understand that, it becomes easier to identify the treatment options that will actually work for you. Think of it as the “user manual” you never got for your brain.

ADHD Treatment Pillar 2: Skill Building: Because ADHD Isn’t Just in Your Head, It’s in Your Daily Life

Now that you understand ADHD, it’s time to build the skills you need to live with it. Here’s the deal: ADHD doesn’t just go away because you’re now aware of it. So unless you want to live in a constant state of “I’ll do it later” or “Wait, what was I doing?” (we’ve all been there), you need some practical tools.

ADHD affects executive function—the brain’s ability to plan, organize, and manage time. It’s why you can remember every detail about that one obscure hobby you picked up two years ago but can’t remember where you put your keys. (Spoiler: they’re in the fridge again.)

The good news is that with skill-building, you can strengthen your executive function. This includes:

Time management strategies (because let’s be honest, “time blindness” is a real thing).
Organization hacks that actually work for ADHD brains.
Communication techniques to help you express your needs without losing your train of thought halfway through a sentence, sliding into people-pleasing, impulsively signing yourself up for WAY too many tasks, or confusing the person you are talking to with your tangential interruptions.
Emotional regulation skills to manage the rollercoaster of big emotions (ADHD is not just a “focus” issue—hello, frustration and overwhelm).

And don’t worry, we won’t recommend that you “just use a planner.” Because we all know how well that works for ADHD brains. Instead, we focus on strategies that make sense for you.

ADHD Treatment Pillar 3: Psychological Processing: Healing from Trauma and Negative Messages

Let’s get real for a second. Most adults with ADHD have spent years internalizing negative messages. “Why can’t you just focus?” “You’re so lazy.” “You never follow through.” Sound familiar?

ADHD isn’t just a disorder of attention. It’s also about how those attention struggles have affected your self-esteem and mental health over the years. That’s where psychological processing comes in.

Here’s the thing: ADHD treatment isn’t complete without addressing the emotional wounds that come from years of feeling like you don’t quite measure up. For many, this means working through attachment issues, trauma, and all the negative self-talk you’ve absorbed along the way.

The goal? To unlearn the idea that you’re “not enough.” You are more than enough—your brain just works differently. And once you’ve processed those emotional blocks, you’ll start to see that ADHD doesn’t have to define you or hold you back.

This is the part of treatment that often gets overlooked. Medications can help with focus, and skill-building can help you manage your time, but healing the deeper emotional wounds is what brings it all together. It’s what helps you finally feel at peace with who you are.

So, What Does Full ADHD Treatment Look Like?

In short: it’s a combination of understanding, skill-building, and healing. When you bring all three of these pillars together, you get a treatment plan that actually works. It’s not about working harder. It’s about working smarter (and kinder) with yourself.

As one of my clients once said:
"I’ve spent years thinking I was lazy, but I’m not lazy—I just have ADHD. And now that I know that, I can finally stop blaming myself."

ADHD treatment isn’t a quick fix, but it’s absolutely possible to thrive with ADHD. By addressing all three pillars—understanding, skills, and emotional healing—you’ll find that life doesn’t have to be so overwhelming. You don’t have to live in a constant state of catch-up, and you definitely don’t have to feel like you’re always falling short.

You’re Not Alone in This

ADHD can feel isolating, but you’re not alone. The ADHD brain is unique, and there’s a whole community of people who understand what you’re going through. With the right treatment, you can stop working so hard just to “keep up” and start living a life that feels balanced, fulfilling, and—dare we say it—fun.
ADHD isn’t your fault. But now that you understand it, you can start to take control in a way that works for you. So, next time you’re spiraling into the “Why can’t I just do this?” rabbit hole, take a deep breath and remember: ADHD is part of you, but it doesn’t have to control you.