Symptoms of ADHD in an Adult
If you're constantly losing things, are unable to find the time to get work done and are easily distracted, you could be suffering from symptoms of ADHD that cause stress in your life.
The symptoms of adult ADHD range from mild to severe. They can result in impairment in a variety of settings, such as at home, in school, and at work.
1. Difficulty Focusing
Many people with ADHD have trouble staying focus and have difficulty sitting still. These symptoms can affect adults and children alike, and may have a an adverse impact on a person's day-to-day life at school, work and home.
Finding it difficult to focus can be a frustrating experience, particularly since it's a constant issue and can cause low self-esteem and feelings hopelessness and being unsuccessful. It can also cause health problems, such as absence from doctor's appointments, or not taking prescribed medications, and drinking or eating excessively fast food. It can also cause financial problems, such as the late payment of bills or an increase in overdrafts due to impulse purchases.
Hyperfocus is a term that's used to describe the ability of people with ADHD to focus intensely on activities they find fascinating. This can be beneficial in some circumstances but it's harder to cope with daily tasks 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 and calls TV, social media and music. This can make it hard to complete tasks in school or at the workplace and may impact relationships with family members as well as colleagues, friends and family.
To determine if someone has ADHD their health care provider will ask about their childhood behaviour and their schooling experiences. If they can, they will interview the patient and their parents to collect more details. They will use standardized behavior rating scales and ADHD symptom checklists to examine the way that an adult's symptoms impact their lives. They will also conduct psychological and physical tests to identify medical conditions that cause similar symptoms.
2. Inattention to Specifics
People suffering from ADHD may become so absorbed by an activity that it is difficult to see the people around them. They may also forget important details, or not follow up after a conversation, which can lead them to misunderstand relationships. They also tend to make quick decisions without thinking through the consequences. This can include risky behaviors in the absence of studying for exams, affairs, quitting jobs, spending too much money and aggressive actions like throwing or hitting objects.
It's not enough for a mental health professional to diagnose adult ADHD simply by noting that the symptoms are present in multiple settings and that they are affecting school, work or social activities. To be able to diagnose ADHD in adults it is necessary to 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. Symptoms must be noticeable for at minimum six months, and they must affect the person's performance in a variety of settings. Most often, a healthcare professional will interview the person's life partner or someone who is close to them and ask for a medical history.
The symptoms of predominantly inattentional ADHD are more prevalent and can be summarized as a lack of focus to tasks, ignoring particulars and loosing 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 may be able cope better by identifying and adjusting their surroundings, habits and lifestyle to compensate for their issues. They can also seek assistance from a healthcare professional and take steps to improve their social skills. Adults suffering from ADHD can also find many ways to help them develop and maintain friendships, including a peer support groups.
3. Losing Things
Many people with ADHD struggle to locate items such as keys, wallets, and phones. They also aren't able to locate the paper or other materials that are needed 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 that the brain processes information. This means that the working memory that helps you to manage new information alongside older, previously stored information is impaired. It's easy to lose the track of what you've have just heard, how to follow a recipe or the grocery list, when this happens.
A few adults with ADHD also have difficulty staying focused at work or managing their finances. This can result in poor performance reviews, strained relationships with coworkers, as well as financial difficulties due to missed payments or spending too much. It can be beneficial to consider various options to manage symptoms, including psychotherapy and medication.
Some experts believe that diet modifications can help in reducing ADHD symptoms, especially when high-protein foods are included. It is also essential to avoid sweet drinks and foods, as these can trigger mood fluctuations and make it more difficult to concentrate. Engaging in mindfulness or meditation techniques can also improve concentration. These approaches have not been proved to be effective in treating ADHD.
4. Forgetting Things
People suffering from 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 could have a huge impact on their day-to-day life and relationships. People in their lives might think that the person is not organized or careless. People who don't have a diagnosis of ADHD may also have difficulty paying attention or following directions at school and at work, leading to missed deadlines and mistakes.
If you think you have ADHD then you should speak to your GP to request an appointment with a specialist of health care who can evaluate adults with ADHD. A professional will look at factors such as your mood, medical background, and whether you have any other issues that could cause symptoms that are similar to ADHD such as stress or addiction to substances.
In order to be eligible for an ADHD diagnosis they must prove that their ADHD symptoms cause significant impairment in at least two different areas of their lives--like school, work and home--and that their challenges are not more likely to be explained by other conditions, like anxiety or depression. A provider will review a person's past behavior and discuss their struggles and observe them in action. They may also solicit their loved ones' feedback.
For adults who are diagnosed with ADHD can provide relief and hope. It can help people understand that they are not a failure or a bad person. It can teach people strategies to manage ADHD, such as learning how to prioritize and stay organized. This can help them reach their goals to make positive changes in life, and build a more solid network of support.
5. Inattentiveness
While hyperactivity isn't a symptom of inattentive ADHD adults suffering from this type of disorder may have inability to focus and difficulty staying on task. They may have difficulty to concentrate during business meetings or to complete college assignments. They may be lazy at home or fail to pay their bills. severe ADHD symptoms adults may lose their jobs or fail to meet deadlines, which could throw their lives off course. Inattention ADHD symptoms can also cause problems with family relationships.
Many people who suffer from inattention ADHD struggle for years before being diagnosed. Coworkers and friends may judge them as lazy or irresponsible. Disorganization and procrastination can make them feel overwhelmed. Inability to finish tasks on time and make frequent mistakes can lead to financial problems or work-related issues or even legal troubles.
In order to receive an inattentive ADHD diagnosis A healthcare professional must determine if symptoms began before the age of 12. He or she also must determine that the disorder causes impairments in two major situations, like work and school. The impairment could include not attending important meetings at the office or not paying bills on time, struggling academically at college, not being able to complete chores or chores around the house and then racking up debt due to purchase decisions made on impulse.
In an ADHD assessment, a health professional will look over the medical history of a patient and perform other tests, including hearing tests or eye exams, to rule out physical conditions. The health professional will also speak to the patient about their symptoms, their lifestyle, and family life. They may also ask for old reports and family conversations to determine if the symptoms were present since childhood.