ADHD stands for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Among children, it’s one of the most frequently diagnosed neurodevelopmental disorders, and it can last into adulthood. In many cases, the diagnosis doesn’t happen in childhood, so a person doesn’t know they have this condition until later in life. Individuals with ADHD might be overly active, struggle to focus, or have difficulty managing their impulsive behaviors. ADHD in adults with severe symptoms might cause problems in areas of employment, social relationships, and in their family settings.
The primary characteristics of ADHD include impulsivity, inattention, and hyperactivity. These three symptoms often happen in different combinations, but they might also happen individually. Hyperactivity often makes itself apparent in children by the time they turn seven years old, but inattention might not be identified until later years. Adult ADHD symptoms can manifest specifically as having problems completing tasks, poor planning, disorganization, issues with proper prioritizing, mood swings, difficulty coping with stress, a hot temper, and a low frustration threshold.
Coping with ADHD is possible but might be compounded due to the many common misconceptions about ADHD. Many research and imaging studies have helped the medical community learn much about this condition, but falsehoods are still perpetuated in many places. The biggest misconception is that ADHD isn’t even real, as many people assume that individuals with ADHD need to work harder. It’s also a myth that someone diagnosed with this can’t focus, as some individuals might develop hyperfocus in some situations. Not all ADHD individuals are hyperactive, as that is just one of three primary characteristics and doesn’t always happen. This condition does not discriminate based on gender; it’s not something people will outgrow with time; and it’s not a result of negligent parenting.
Symptoms in Adults
Living with ADHD as an adult means managing the symptoms of the condition. Concentration and focus issues can include problems with following directions, remembering things, and organizing tasks or daily activities. Motivation can be lacking, and procrastination is always a risk. Alternatively, talking too much and restlessness might also happen. Emotional consequences range from boredom, depression, and anxiety to impulsiveness and difficulty controlling your anger. Adult ADHD often takes one of three forms.
The first is inattentive ADHD. In such cases, the primary symptoms include difficulty paying attention and being easily distracted. Doctors used to call this category attention deficit disorder or ADD. If you have it, you are likely disorganized most of the time. You also could have trouble following instructions. Losing things might happen a lot, too.
The second kind is known as hyperactive/impulsive ADHD. Individuals with this kind of ADHD have symptoms revolving around being overactive or acting impulsively. You might be prone to interrupting people or have difficulty waiting for your turn in social circumstances. Restlessness is common; you might talk a lot or have trouble sitting still.
The third kind is combined ADHD. If you meet the diagnostic criteria of both of the first two kinds of ADHD, this would be your diagnosis. It’s the most common kind of ADHD diagnosed in adults.
Challenges Faced
If you’re someone dealing with adult ADHD, then you might be facing long-term issues in quite a few areas of your life, including relationships, work, and personal wellness. Educational issues might manifest as bad grades in classes or needing to repeat subjects. Professional complications are indicated by unhappiness in your current role with an employer, frequently changing jobs, and generally poor performance at work. Relationship issues might include multiple marriages, patterns of divorce and separation, and numerous unstable relationships. Life issues can present themselves as money problems. You might also be involved in car crashes, get many speeding tickets, or wind up with a suspended license. Physical health issues can include smoking, alcohol and drug use, and following a bad diet.
Even though ADHD often manifests in childhood, there are adults who don’t know that they have this condition. Family and teachers might not have recognized the condition in your younger years. It’s also possible it was missed because your case was a mild form, and you managed it well until you had to deal with the demands of adulthood. Adults with undiagnosed ADHD might seem restless and try doing multiple things at one time, but this is usually unsuccessful. Attempting quick fixes can seem alluring instead of following a sequence of steps more likely to attain long-term success. If you have ADHD as an adult, then you might find organization difficult or even impossible. Holding down a steady job and remembering appointments can be burdensome. You might even have trouble with daily tasks as mundane as getting out of bed each morning and leaving your home for work or errands. Even if you do, being on time and productive all day might be a perpetual struggle.
Diagnosis and Assessment
Diagnostic evaluation for ADHD is more complex than just one genetic, physical, or medical test. However, qualified healthcare professionals can diagnose this condition by pulling information from multiple sources, including family members, standardized rating scales to measure behavior, your past and current levels of functioning as an individual, and symptom checklists. Testing might happen to rule out learning disabilities or identify co-occurring conditions. Adults usually need a minimum of five symptoms present over some time, and diagnosis is rarely possible in just one appointment or interview. Symptoms do change over time.
While you might suspect that you have ADHD, only a qualified mental health professional can truly diagnose you. These professionals include clinical social workers, family physicians, neurologists, psychiatrists, and psychologists. Having someone qualified handle your diagnosis is important for many reasons. They can ensure your diagnosis is accurate so you can access the right ADHD resources for adults. They can also prescribe medications that help you manage your condition. Ask about their experience and training in dealing with ADHD, but you should also inquire about their work on adults with the condition specifically to ensure you are in good hands.
Coping Strategies
If you struggle with this condition as an adult, then potential ADHD management techniques can improve your daily life. Personal organization is crucial to daily success. Don’t let things like maintaining a constantly clean bedroom overwhelm you; instead, make your bed once daily. If you have organizational tasks that you struggle with, break them down into chunks you can handle. Find permanent places for things you are prone to losing, and get a dedicated basket for clean clothes you have yet to put away. Clear bins help you sort things but see what’s in each container, and a personal planner can help you remember many things without burdening your brain too much.
Adults with ADHD can have time management troubles, but that’s because many of them perceive time differently than others in how it passes. Clocks and timers can help immensely if you use them to designate a certain amount of time for each task. Get in the habit of allowing yourself extra time on top of how long you think each task will take you. When facing multiple tasks, identify the most urgent or important ones, and start your list there. When you start a task, do only one thing at a time.
Life can seem overwhelming with adult ADHD, but there are plenty of coping mechanisms you can use throughout your daily life. Whenever possible, deal with things immediately regarding cleaning messes up, returning phone calls, or filing papers. Anything you can do in under two minutes should be done immediately. Check your mail daily, and have a set place where you decide on what to answer, file, or trash. Going paperless minimizes how many documents you have to deal with.
Treatment Options
ADHD treatment options can include medication, therapy, and lifestyle changes. The categories of adult ADHD medication include antidepressants, nonstimulants, and stimulants. It’s rare for a single medication to manage all symptoms, so combinations might be used in multimodal treatment. Antidepressants help adult ADHD sufferers who might have mental health issues, such as bipolar disorder, anxiety, or depression. Nonstimulants can help improve individual symptoms, such as impulse control and concentration. Stimulants have been used for decades in cases of ADHD to help afflicted individuals ignore distractions and focus their thoughts. They work in most cases of moderate to severe diagnoses.
Your healthcare professional may recommend adult ADHD therapy as a potential course of action. Medicines usually don’t work enough by themselves, especially if you have trouble with daily responsibilities. Medications can regulate your brain at a neurological level, but behavior therapy can help deal with specific problem behaviors as you learn how to handle certain issues. Cognitive behavioral therapy goes further in pinpointing problems with specific behaviors and helps you develop strategies to change things in a short-term and goal-oriented format.
General adult ADHD lifestyle changes can help you across the board, and sleeping well is a common concern among afflicted adults who have difficulty falling asleep. Stimulant medications and heightened sensitivity to distractions or noises in the home or bedroom can result in this. Aim for at least seven or eight hours of nightly sleep, but get more if needed. Physical activity during the day and consistent bedtimes can help you achieve sleep regularity.
Support and Resources
Adults can access ADHD support groups for help and guidance in living with this condition. Effective ADHD organizations can provide you with programs, support groups, and resources that help you cope with your condition. You can find local chapters with in-person meetings in many markets. The biggest national support establishment is CHADD, and you can find out more about it through the website. The organization offers advocacy, education, and support for all individuals diagnosed with the condition locally and nationally. Utilize the resource directory lists to find helpful professionals ranging from doctors and psychologists to education specialists and coaches.
American citizens with ADHD traits impacting their professional duties might be able to take advantage of specific job rights and accommodations. Workplace protections exist for employees with qualified disabilities thanks to the several pieces of legislation passed. You might also want to look into body-doubling tools that let you pair remotely with another professional. You can both help each other stay focused and finish tasks with one another. Reading books from start to finish can be an issue for adults with ADHD, but there are many titles that can specifically help you learn how to manage your condition better.
Granite Recovery Centers Can Help
We’re here to help anyone in need of client-centered treatment. We help bring about positive, long-term changes in the lives of those we help. Our care is compassionate, innovative, and accountable. Come to us for the highest-caliber mental health treatment and services available, and witness our values of excellence, teamwork, respect, and integrity in action. We have multiple locations across New Hampshire to help those from New England and beyond looking for evidence-based healing and medicine. Our services include both outpatient and inpatient treatment for numerous mental health issues, so we can help you or the person you care about with ADHD and any co-occurring or dual-diagnosis conditions that might be present. Contact us at (855) 712-7784.
