Symptoms of ADHD in an Adult
If you find yourself constantly losing things, inability to complete your work and easily distracted, you might be suffering from ADHD symptoms that are causing anxiety.
The symptoms of adult ADHD can range from mild to severe. They can result in impairments in more than one setting, including at home, school as well as at work.
1. Difficulty Focusing
ADHD can cause problems to sit still and focus. These are signs that are seen in both children and adults, and can impact the way a person lives at home, school and work.
Having trouble with focusing can be difficult, especially since it's a constant issue and can cause feelings of self-doubt and hopelessness and being unsuccessful. It can also cause health problems, such as missed doctor's appointments, not taking prescribed medication and drinking or eating excessive amounts of fast food. It can also cause financial issues too, with bills being paid late or overdrafts getting out of control due to impulse spending.
Hyperfocus is a term that's used to describe the ability of those with ADHD to focus their attention on tasks they find interesting. This can be helpful in some circumstances but it can be difficult to deal with everyday chores and responsibilities such as paying bills, shopping for groceries, or filing documents at work.
People with ADHD are also impulsive, and easily distracted by text messages, calls as well as social media, television, and music. This can make it difficult to complete tasks at school or at work. It also can affect their relationships with their family, friends and colleagues.
To determine if someone suffers from ADHD, the health professional will inquire about their childhood behavior and school experiences. They will then conduct an interview with the person and their parents, if possible to obtain additional information. They will use standardized behaviour rating scales and ADHD checklists for symptoms to determine how an adult's symptoms affect their lives. They will also conduct psychological and physical tests, which can help determine if medical conditions are causing similar symptoms.
2. Inattention to Specifics
People suffering from ADHD are often so immersed in their work that they ignore those around them. They may also forget important details or not follow up on an exchange, which could lead them to misunderstand relationships. They tend to make decisions in a hurry without considering the consequences. This can include risky behaviors and inability to study for exams, affairs, quitting jobs, financial overspending and aggressive actions such as throwing or hitting objects.
A mental health professional can't diagnose adult ADHD by merely noting that symptoms are present in different settings and are interfering with school, work, or social activities. To be able to identify ADHD in adults they must meet the criteria set out in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5). This includes having five or more symptoms of both inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity. The symptoms are required to be present for at least six months and affect the person’s functioning in different situations. Often, a healthcare provider will interview the person's life partner or a person close to them and request a medical history.
The symptoms of predominately inattentive ADHD are more frequent and can be summed up as difficulty paying attention, trouble keeping track of tasks, forgetting details and losing things. Those with this type of ADHD usually show these symptoms throughout their lives, but they are not as prominent as the symptoms of predominantly hyperactive/impulsive ADHD.
Adults with ADHD can cope by identifying their specific challenges and adapting their surroundings and routines to accommodate for them. They can also seek help from a health professional and work to improve their social abilities. There are numerous resources available for adults with ADHD to build and maintain friendships and support groups for peers.
3. Losing Things
Many people with ADHD have trouble locating things, particularly keys, wallets and cellphones. They also find it difficult to locate the paper or other materials required for school or work. This can be extremely frustrating.
Losing things is a common occurrence in adults with ADHD. This is because the disorder affects the way the brain processes information. Working memory, which allows you to manage old and new information is weakened. It's easy to lose the information you've just heard, how to follow a recipe or the grocery list, when this happens.
Additionally, some adults with ADHD struggle to stay focused on their work and ensuring their finances are in order. This can lead to poor performance reviews, tensions in relationships with coworkers, and financial difficulties due to missed payments or spending too much. It is possible to explore a variety of options for managing symptoms, including psychotherapy and medications.
Some experts believe that diet modifications can help in reducing ADHD symptoms, particularly when high-protein foods are incorporated. Sugary foods and beverages can cause mood swings and make it difficult to focus. The practice of meditation or mindfulness techniques can also help improve concentration. These methods have not been proven to work in treating ADHD.
4. Forgetting Things
People with ADHD often forget to do things. They might not remember to attend appointments, or not take their groceries, or leave the house without their keys. This can have a major impact on their everyday life and relationships. People around them might perceive this as a lack of care or think that the person isn't organized. Undiagnosed ADHD can cause people to have trouble maintaining their focus or following directions at work or at school, which may lead to missed deadlines and mistakes.
If you suspect that you have ADHD and you suspect that you may have it, talk with your GP to request an appointment with a doctor of health care who can assess adults with ADHD. A specialist will assess aspects like your mood, medical background, and whether you have any other issues that could cause symptoms similar to ADHD such as stress or substance abuse.
To qualify for an ADHD diagnosis, one must prove that their ADHD symptoms cause significant disability in at least two different areas of their life including school, work, or family life, and that their problems are not caused by other conditions such as anxiety or depression. A provider will review the behavior of a person's prior and talk to them about their struggles and observe them in the course of their actions. They may also ask for feedback from their loved ones.
Adult ADHD diagnosis can bring relief and hope to adults. It can help people realize they're not a failure or a failure, and it can teach them ways to manage their ADHD including learning to prioritize tasks and remain organized. This can help them reach their goals to make positive changes in life, and build a stronger network of support.
5. Inattentiveness
Hyperactivity is not a symptom for inattentive ADHD. However ADHD hyperactivity symptoms in adults who suffer from this type of ADHD might have difficulty staying focused and on task. They might find it difficult to stay focused in business meetings or complete college assignments. They may be unintentionally negligent at home or forget the bills. They could lose their jobs or fail to meet deadlines, which can make their lives difficult. Inattentional ADHD can also lead to problems in family relationships.
Many people who suffer from inattention ADHD suffer for years before getting diagnosed. People around them may view them as lazy or irresponsible. They might feel overwhelmed by their procrastination, lack of organization, and impulsiveness. Inability to finish tasks on time and make frequent errors could result in problems with their finances, work or even legal problems.
A doctor must verify that the symptoms began before the age of 12. He or she also must determine that the disorder causes problems in two main settings, such as school and work. The impairment could include not attending important meetings at work or not paying bills in a timely manner or struggling with college, not being able to complete chores or household chores, and going into debt due to purchase decisions made on impulse.
In an ADHD evaluation, the health care professional will review the medical history of the patient and perform other tests, like hearing tests or eye exams to rule out physical conditions. The health professional will also talk to the person about their symptoms, lifestyle and work and home life. He or she may also ask for previous reports and conversations with family members to determine if symptoms have been present from childhood.