Symptoms of ADHD in an Adult
If you are constantly losing things, are unable to finish your work, and easily distracted, then you could be suffering from ADHD symptoms that are causing anxiety.
The symptoms of adult ADHD can range from mild to severe. They can cause impairment in one or more environments, such as at home, in school, and at work.
1. Problems with Focusing
ADHD can make it difficult to sit still and focus. These are signs that are seen in children and adults, and can impact the way a person lives at home, at school and at work.
It can be difficult to be unable to concentrate particularly when it's a problem that persists. It can lead to low self-esteem as well as feelings of despair and failure. It can also trigger health issues, like missed doctor's appointments, not taking prescribed medications, and drinking or eating excessive amounts of fast food. It can also cause financial problems too, such as the cost of paying bills in late or overdrafts slipping out of control due to impulse spending.
People with ADHD often have trouble to stay focused, but they may be able to focus intensely on tasks that interest them - something called hyperfocus. This is a great benefit in certain situations, but it is more difficult to manage when you're doing daily tasks like paying bills, shopping for groceries or preparing documents.
Additionally, people with ADHD are also prone to being impulsive and can easily get distracted by phone calls, text messages and social media, TV and music. This can make it difficult to finish tasks at school or at work. It also can impact their relationships with friends, family and colleagues.
To determine if a person is suffering from ADHD, the health professional will ask about their childhood behavior and school experiences. If possible, they'll interview the patient and their parents to gather more information. They will use ADHD symptom checklists and standardized behavior ratings scales to assess the extent to which symptoms impact an adult's life. They will also conduct physical and psychological tests that can help identify medical conditions that cause similar symptoms.
2. Not paying attention to specifics
People suffering from ADHD can be so absorbed in an activity that they forget about the people around them. They might also forget important details or not follow up after an exchange, which could lead them to misunderstand relationships. They are prone to make decisions in a hurry without considering the consequences. This could include risky behavior in the absence of studying for tests, abandoning jobs, financial overspending and aggressive actions such as throwing or hitting objects.
A mental health professional is unable to diagnose adult ADHD simply by noting that symptoms are evident in different settings and are interfering with school, work, or social activities. To be able to diagnose ADHD in adults, they must meet the criteria outlined by 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. Symptoms must be noticeable for at minimum six months, and they must affect the person's performance in a number of settings. Most often, a healthcare professional will meet with the person's life partner or someone close to them and request a medical history.
Predominantly inattentive ADHD is more common. The symptoms include problems with attention, memory loss, 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 suffering from ADHD can learn to cope by identifying the specific issues they face, and adjusting their environment and habits to compensate for them. They can also seek assistance from a health professional and work to improve their social abilities. There are also symptoms of ADHD in adult women for adults with ADHD to develop and maintain relationships and support groups for peers.
3. Losing Things
Many people suffering from ADHD struggle to locate things such as keys, wallets, and phones. They also aren't able to locate papers or other items required to attend school or work. This can be very frustrating.
The main reason that losing things is common in adults with ADHD is because the disorder affects how the brain processes information. Working memory, which enables you to juggle old and new information is impaired. When this happens, it's easy to forget what you've heard, the steps in a recipe or that grocery list.
Additionally, some adults with ADHD struggle to stay focused on their work and managing their finances. This can result in poor performance reviews, strained relations with colleagues, and financial difficulties due to missed payments or excessive spending. It is possible to explore a variety of options to manage symptoms, including psychotherapy and medications.
Some experts believe dietary changes particularly those that contain high protein foods, can lessen ADHD symptoms. Sugary drinks and foods can trigger mood swings and make it difficult to focus. Engaging in mindfulness or meditation techniques can help improve your concentration. However, these approaches haven't been scientifically proven to treat ADHD.
4. Forgetting Things
Often people suffering from ADHD forget tasks they need to do. They may forget appointments, forget to get groceries, or leave without their keys. This could have a huge impact on their day-to-day life and relationships. People around them may believe that the person isn't well-organized or uncaring. People who aren't diagnosed with ADHD might also have problems staying focused or following directions at school and at work, leading to errors and missed deadlines.
If you think you have ADHD and you suspect that you may have it, talk with your GP to request a referral to a provider of health care who can evaluate adults with ADHD. A specialist will assess factors like your mood, medical background and if you suffer from any other health issues that might cause symptoms that are similar to ADHD such as stress or addiction to substances.
To qualify for an ADHD diagnoses, someone must demonstrate that their ADHD symptoms cause significant impairment in at least two aspects of their life like school, work, and family, and that their challenges are not caused by other conditions, such as anxiety or depression. A healthcare professional will go over the behavior of a person's prior and discuss their issues and observe them in action. They may also ask for feedback from their loved ones.
For adults who are diagnosed with ADHD can provide relief and a sense of hope. It can help people realize that they're not a failure or an utter failure, and can teach them strategies to manage their ADHD including learning to prioritize tasks and stay organized. This can help them achieve their goals and make positive changes to their life, as well in establishing a stronger support system.
5. Inattentiveness
While hyperactivity isn't a symptom of inattention ADHD, adults with this type of disorder may have low focus and difficulties staying on task. They might find it difficult to complete college assignments or attend business meetings. They may be careless at home, or forget to pay the bills. They may lose their jobs and fail to meet deadlines, which can throw their lives off course. Inattentive ADHD symptoms can also lead to issues with family relationships.
Many people who suffer from inattention ADHD have suffered for years before they were diagnosed. People around them may view them as lazy or irresponsible. Procrastination and disorganization can cause them to feel overwhelmed. Their inability to complete tasks on time and make frequent mistakes could lead to problems with finances, work or even legal problems.
A healthcare provider must confirm that the symptoms began before the age of 12 years old. The doctor must also determine that the disorder is causing impairment in two major settings (like work and school). Impairment includes being absent from important meetings at work or not paying bills on time, struggling academically in college, failing to complete household chores and getting themselves into debt due to excessive spending.
During an ADHD assessment, a health care professional will look over the medical history of a person and will perform other tests, like eye or hearing tests to rule out physical issues. The health professional might interview the patient regarding the symptoms, lifestyle, as well as work and family life. The doctor will examine evidence to prove that symptoms have been present from childhood, such as old reports and conversations with family members.