Symptoms of ADHD in Adults
The symptoms of ADHD can create a difficult life for adults. When diagnosed with ADHD, they are able to manage their symptoms and reach their goals both at home and at work.
A visit to your doctor is the best way to start an assessment. They can recommend the most appropriate treatment for you, which could include community mental health services or special neurodevelopmental services.
1. Attention
If you have ADHD the brain's automatic system for focusing may not be working as well. As a result, you could miss important details at work or in school, and you may have difficulty remembering things. You might also find it difficult to concentrate on tasks that require sustained concentration, such as reading, math or writing. You might be having trouble waiting your turn during conversations or games. You may mutter answers before others have finished asking their questions. You may not be able to sit and wait for your phone to answer or interrupt others at inappropriate times.
Children suffering from ADHD often outgrow hyperactivity and impulsivity, but inattentive symptoms continue to cause challenges for many adults. People who are mostly inattentive ADHD usually have trouble being on task at home, at school and at work. Symptoms of this type of ADHD can be mild, moderate or severe.
Adults with attention deficits can become more problematic when a person's day-to-day life becomes more complex and stressful. This could happen when a person is moved out of the family home or into a job and new responsibilities like caring for a child could add to the overall stress and anxiety.
There are many treatments for adults suffering from ADHD, including lifestyle modifications as well as diet and medication. Stimulant medications such as methylphenidate (Ritalin) and amphetamine-based medicines (Adderall) can help to reduce symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. Non-stimulant medicines like atomoxetine (Strattera) are also a possibility for individuals who don't like stimulants or who don't respond to them. Your doctor can recommend the best treatment options for you. They can assess your symptoms and medical history and identify any medical conditions that could be causing them, and identify appropriate treatment options.
2. Hyperactivity
People with ADHD may have difficulty staying focused on their task. They can make erroneous mistakes at work or school or switch from one task to the next. People with ADHD tend to forget important dates and events, and are unable to follow routines. They may also have difficulties keeping their things in order or keeping track of long-term projects.
Adults with ADHD still show problems with inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity, but these symptoms may become less noticeable with age. For a diagnosis health professionals will look at the person's experience with ADHD symptoms as a child, and later in the early years of adulthood, talk to friends, family members, coworkers, or others who are familiar with them, and use standardized behavior rating scales and ADHD symptoms checklists. Health care professionals or mental health professionals might also conduct a physical examination and conduct an assessment of their psychological health.
The doctor will also take into consideration the person's mood and whether other illnesses like depression, anxiety or a medical issue could cause similar symptoms to those of ADHD. They will also inquire about the history of family and friends as well as lifestyle habits and other mental health issues that the person might be suffering from.
Adults with ADHD might be relieved to know that they're not 'lazy or unwilling'. They might also feel frustration at the fact that they were not diagnosed when younger, or at the impact untreated ADHD has had on their lives and the lives of others around them. They may also be anger at their teachers, parents or healthcare professionals for not being aware of the signs and treating them. They might also feel a sense of sadness over missed opportunities and the effect untreated ADHD has had on their relationships.
3. Fidgeting
ADHD symptoms in adults are different in comparison to children's. Adults can conceal hyperactivity better, and other health issues like anxiety or depression can mask it.
Fidgeting is one of the most common symptoms of ADHD. It can be thought of as your body's attempt to ease your stress and help you focus. It can manifest as notes or doodles written during a meeting or tapping your feet or biting your nail. Some research has shown that people with ADHD are able to concentrate better when they fidget.
Disruptiveness is a different sign of ADHD in adults. It may be a sign of difficulty following directions, not being punctual or forgetting important deadlines or events. You might find yourself not attending work or social events and having financial difficulties because of impulse-driven purchases. Adults with ADHD may be frustrated and unfulfilled because they're not performing to their full potential.
It is essential to recognize the symptoms of ADHD in yourself so that you can seek help. It is crucial to test out various dosages and medications to determine which one is most effective for you. Alongside medication, counseling and creating structure in your life can help to manage ADHD symptoms.
Being diagnosed with ADHD can bring up a range of emotions such as satisfaction that you have an explanation for your problems and are not being labelled as lazy, incompetent, or unmotivated. You may also feel discontent or anger for not being diagnosed and treated as a child, and sadness over the negative impact that untreated ADHD has had on your career and relationships.
4. Disruptiveness
ADHD symptoms for adults are usually different from the symptoms of teenagers or children. Hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity, however, are all common. This can make it difficult to keep up with work, keep deadlines on track, and build good relationships.
In adults, the signs are less obvious and could be present across many aspects of everyday life. People with ADHD for instance might have trouble staying still, and may be unfocused when reading, watching television, or at work. They might also have trouble doing leisure or hobbies in a quiet manner. Additionally, they may have difficulty keeping their emotions in check and are more likely to react in a panic or become angry more frequently than other people.
As they age they might have more difficulty with planning and organisation. This is because they're no longer receiving the guidance and structure of school. This can result in delays in household obligations, appointments and work tasks. People with ADHD might find it difficult to stop or start tasks, and may have trouble assessing the long-term impact of their actions.
Stimulant medication is the most commonly used treatment for adults suffering from ADHD. severe ADHD symptoms in adults are designed to help people focus better, be less impulsive and feel more calm. They are available for prescription from a psychiatrist or GP who specializes in treating the condition. If considering stimulants, individuals should discuss their other medications with their doctor. Some drugs can interact with them.
Non-stimulant drugs are available for those suffering from ADHD such as atomoxetine and guanfacine. These are not as effective as stimulants and can take a few weeks to start working, but are an alternative for those who do not want to use stimulant medication or who are unable to use it due to medical reasons.
5. Impulsivity
While the official ADHD symptoms that involve inattention and hyperactive behavior get the bulk of the attention, impulsivity can cause significant problems for adults with ADHD as well. It's unfortunate that impulsivity gets short shrift when it is a part of ADHD diagnosis, because it's a major component of the disorder and causes more problems than other symptom of ADHD.
Self-control is an ongoing challenge for adults with the disorder of impulsive ADHD. It can lead to embarrassing mistakes that affect the status of relationships and social standing. It can also be harmful to your health and well-being.
People with hyper-impulsive ADHD are more likely to engage in risky behaviors and have trouble managing their finances or driving. They are more likely to have mood swings and have anger outbursts. People with ADHD might have an enlarged Amygdala. This could be due to an inability to control their impulses.
Adults with an impulsive ADHD may also have trouble getting their turn in lines or conversations. They might scream out answers prior to the end of the question or take over activities or games. They usually don't have a lick of respect for rules or the rights of others' property.
If you suffer from an impulsive ADHD, there are ways to help you gain control over your impulses. Regular aerobic exercise, for instance helps with all ADHD symptoms, including the impulsivity. Make sure you do 30 minutes of exercise every day to get your heart rate up. Also, consider the past incidents of impulsivity to determine what your triggers are and prepare to address these in the future. Ask your doctor for non-stimulant ADHD medications, which require a while before they start working, but can help improve impulse control.