Symptoms of ADHD in an Adult
If you're constantly losing things, unable to finish your work, and easily distracted, you may have ADHD symptoms that are causing you stress.
The symptoms of adult ADHD can range from mild to severe. They can cause impairments in multiple settings that includes at home, school and at work.
1. Problems with Focusing
Many people suffering from ADHD struggle to focus and have difficulty sitting still. These symptoms can affect both children and adults alike, and may have a an adverse impact on a person's daily life at school, work, and home.
It can be frustrating to be unable to concentrate and concentrating, particularly when it's a chronic issue. It can lead to feelings of self-esteem loss as well as feelings of despair and failure. It can also cause health issues and health, such as a lack of appointments with doctors, not taking medication as prescribed and over-indulging in unhealthy habits like fast food or drinking. It can also cause financial problems, such as late payments on bills or an increase in overdrafts due to impulsive purchases.
People with ADHD often have trouble to stay on task but they might be able to concentrate intensely on the tasks that are important to them, a process known as hyperfocus. This can be useful in certain situations, but it is harder to deal with when you're doing daily chores like paying bills, buying groceries or preparing documents.
People suffering from ADHD are also impulsive, and easily distracted by text messages, calls, social media, television, and music. This can make it difficult for them to finish tasks at school or at work. It also can affect their relationships with family, friends and colleagues.
To determine if someone suffers from ADHD, the health care professional will ask about their childhood behavior and school experiences. If they can, they will interview the patient and their parents to collect more information. They will use ADHD symptoms checklists and standard behavior ratings scales to assess the extent to which symptoms impact the lives of adults. They will also conduct physical and psychological tests that can help rule out medical conditions causing similar symptoms.
2. Inattention to Specifics
People suffering from ADHD can become so absorbed by an activity that they are unable to notice those around them. They might also fail to follow up on conversations or miss important details, which can result in relationship misunderstandings. They tend to make decisions in a hurry without thinking about the consequences. This could include risky behavior, failure to study for exams, affairs, quitting jobs, spending too much money and aggressive actions such as hitting or throwing things.
A mental health professional is unable to diagnose adult ADHD simply by observing that symptoms are evident in different settings and interfere with school, work, or social activities. In order to be diagnosed with ADHD an adult must meet the criteria set forth 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 interfere with the person's functioning in a variety of settings. Often, a healthcare provider will speak with the person's partner or someone close to them and ask for a medical history.
A predominately inattentional ADHD is more prevalent. 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 may be able cope better by identifying and adapting their habits, environment and lifestyle to overcome their difficulties. They can also seek advice from a healthcare professional and work to improve their social abilities. Adults suffering from ADHD can also find many ways to help them develop and maintain strong friendships, including a peer support group.
3. Losing Things
Many people with ADHD struggle to locate things particularly keys phones, wallets, and keys. They also aren't able to locate the paper or other materials that are needed for school or work. This can be extremely frustrating.
The main reason that losing things is common among people with ADHD is that the disorder affects how the brain processes information. In the end, the working memory that helps you manage new information and older, previously stored information becomes impaired. It's easy to lose the information you've just heard, or how to follow a recipe or the grocery list, when this happens.
Additionally, some adults with ADHD are unable to focus on tasks at work and ensuring their finances are in order. This can result in poor performance reviews, stressed relations with colleagues, and financial problems due to missed payments or spending too much. It is beneficial to consider various options for managing symptoms, including psychotherapy and medication.
Certain experts believe that dietary modifications can help in reducing ADHD symptoms, particularly when high-protein food items are included. Drinks and foods that are high in sugar can trigger mood swings and make it difficult to remain focused. Engaging in mindfulness or meditation techniques can also help improve concentration. However, these techniques aren't scientifically proven to help with ADHD.
4. Forgetting Things
Most often people suffering from ADHD forget tasks they need to complete. They might not remember to attend appointments, or not take their food items or leave the house without keys. This can have a major impact on their daily life and relationships. People around them may think that the person is not organized or careless. People who don't have a diagnosis of ADHD may also have difficulty staying focused or following directions at work and school and can result in errors and missed deadlines.
If you suspect you may have ADHD then you should speak to your GP to get an appointment with a specialist of health care who can evaluate adults with ADHD. A professional will assess factors such as your mood and medical history as well as whether you have any other issues that can cause symptoms similar to those of ADHD, such as anxiety or addiction to substances.
For someone to meet the criteria for an ADHD diagnosis they must demonstrate that their ADHD symptoms cause significant impairment in at least two areas of their lives, such as school, work or family. They must also prove that their problems are not better explained by other conditions, like anxiety or depression. A provider will review the person's previous behavior, talk with them about their issues and observe them in the course of their actions. They may also ask for feedback from their loved ones.
For adults diagnosed with adult ADHD can provide relief and hope. It can help people realize that they're not a failure or a failure, and it can help them develop strategies to manage their ADHD such as learning to prioritize tasks and remain organized. This can help them reach their goals and make positive changes in their life and develop a stronger network of support.
5. Inattentiveness
Hyperactivity isn't a symptom of inattention ADHD. However, adults who have this kind of ADHD might have difficulty staying focused and on task. They may have difficulty to stay focused during business meetings or to complete college assignments. They might be impulsive at home or forget their bills. Their lives may be thrown off course because they fail to meet deadlines or losing their job. Inattentional ADHD can also lead to problems in family relationships.
Many people with inattentive ADHD struggle for years before getting diagnosed. They might get labeled as lazy or irresponsible by friends and coworkers. Inattention and a lack of organization can cause them to feel overwhelmed. Inability to finish tasks on schedule and their frequent mistakes can lead to problems with finances, work or even legal issues.
In ADHD symptoms in adult men to receive an inattentive ADHD diagnosis, a healthcare provider must confirm that the symptoms started prior to the age of 12 years old. They must also determine that the disorder causes impairment in two major situations (like school and at work). Impairment can be caused by not attending important meetings at work, not paying bills on time, struggling academically in college, failing to complete tasks or chores at home and getting themselves into debt with reckless spending.
In an ADHD assessment, a health care professional will review the medical history of a patient and use other tests, including hearing tests or eye exams to rule out physical issues. The health professional will also talk to the person about the symptoms, their lifestyle, and home life. The health care professional might also request old reports and conversations with relatives to determine if the symptoms were present since childhood.