How It's Complicated works
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Learn more about ADHD
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects attention, impulse control, and activity levels. It is recognised in the ICD-11 and DSM-5, which classify it into three types based on which symptoms dominate: predominantly inattentive (mainly difficulties with focus, organisation, and follow-through), predominantly hyperactive-impulsive (mainly restlessness, impulsivity, and difficulty sitting still), and combined, which includes both. ADHD is not a lapse in willpower or effort: it reflects differences in how the brain regulates attention and self-control. Symptoms usually appear in childhood, though many people are only recognised or diagnosed as adults, when the demands of work, study, or relationships make the difficulties harder to mask.
ADHD tends to show up across two areas, inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity, and people can experience one more strongly than the other. You might recognise:
- Difficulty holding focus during conversations, reading, or tasks, and being easily distracted
- Losing things, missing details, or forgetting daily responsibilities
- Struggling to organise tasks, manage time, or follow through to the end
- Restlessness, fidgeting, or finding it hard to sit still
- Acting or speaking before thinking it through, or finding it hard to wait
- Feeling "tired but wired", mentally restless yet drained, often at the end of a demanding day
ADHD is highly manageable, and support usually combines practical skills with the right clinical input.
- CBT: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy helps you build strategies for focus, organisation, and managing the thoughts and habits that make symptoms harder. It has strong evidence for adult ADHD, particularly alongside medication.
- Coaching focuses on the day-to-day: time management, routines, and executive-function skills like planning and follow-through. It suits people who want concrete, forward-looking structure rather than clinical treatment.
- Psychiatry covers assessment and, where appropriate, medication, which is a common and well-evidenced part of ADHD treatment for many people.
- DBT: Dialectical Behaviour Therapy can help with the emotional regulation and impulsivity that often accompany ADHD, teaching skills to manage intense feelings.
- Clinical psychology offers structured assessment and tailored treatment planning, useful where ADHD overlaps with anxiety, depression, or other difficulties.
It's Complicated is a therapist-founded mental health platform connecting clients with verified practitioners across Europe and globally, in over 60 languages. We work with over 2,500 vetted therapists, with in-person availability in Berlin, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Lisbon, Vienna, and other major cities, alongside online sessions worldwide. It's Complicated is free to use, and you pay your chosen therapist directly at rates they set.
Finding an ADHD therapist can be its own executive-function challenge, especially when focus and follow-through are exactly what you're struggling with. Our matching service is built to remove that friction. You complete a short survey, our psychologists combine data-driven insights with human judgement to identify the right therapists for your situation, and you choose from a shortlist of strong candidates. You can also browse our directory directly if you'd prefer to choose yourself.
Get matched with a therapist who specialises in ADHD, or browse the directory to choose yourself.
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