Symptoms For ADHD in Adults
The symptoms of ADHD in adults include difficulty keeping track of time, adhering to rules at school or at work and paying attention to small details. People who suffer from ADHD might also have difficulty listening to others, which can lead to miscommunication.
ADHD can cause significant impairments in many areas, including issues at school or at work, disagreements with partners, and financial difficulties because of spending impulsively.
Attention
People with inattention ADHD often miss particulars, fail to complete tasks and make careless mistakes. They may also have trouble paying attention in class or at work, and they might have trouble keeping appointments. These issues can lead to difficulties at school, in at work and in relationships. Adults suffering from ADHD are more likely to experience inattentive symptoms.
People with this type of ADHD may have difficulty staying focused in noisy or crowded classrooms, completing assignments at college and attending business meetings. They forget to return phone calls, pay their bills and send birthday cards in time. They might have a messy house or office, with unorganized clothing and files lying on the floor.
Inattentive ADHD symptoms can also include frequent forgetfulness and an inability to keep track of important dates, like appointments with doctors or schedules for sports practices. They may also easily get distracted by music, TV or a conversation with a friend. Inattentive ADHD can also result in poor performance at work or failing grades at school.
To be considered a diagnosed adult suffering from inattention ADHD must meet at minimum six of the nine inattention symptoms listed in the current edition of the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the fifth edition (DSM-5). A health professional could ask about these issues when interviewing an individual. They'll inquire about how long these problems have been present and at what point they first began, as well as what other factors might have contributed to their development and what impact the symptoms have had on the individual's life.
A health care professional might also request that the person being interviewed give an inventory of their symptoms and their impact on the home, work and relationship with others. They could also inquire about the person's childhood, and discuss their behavior.
Many adults who have inattentive ADHD also have hyperactivity/impulsivity or combined ADHD, which is the most prevalent form of the disorder in children and adolescents. They tend to have at least six symptoms of hyperactivity/impulsivity and at least six inattention symptoms. Experts aren't certain of the causes for ADHD but they think it's caused by the brain's chemical structure or brain chemistry. They also know it can run in the family, but some people get it by accident.
Hyperactivity
The symptoms of impulsivity and hyperactivity in adults can be very different from the ones seen in children. Women are more likely to have less signs and symptoms, and are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD. However, they may have issues with restlessness and impulsivity. For instance, they may interrupt conversations or even other people regularly. They may also neglect appointments or other commitments or lose items easily. They might have trouble reading social boundaries, and could intrude on others frequently without realizing they could be viewed as rude.
It can be difficult to diagnose adult ADHD. This is because there are a variety of conditions that can mimic the symptoms of ADHD. These include mood disorders, anxiety disorder, head injuries and certain medications like antidepressants and steroids. People with these other issues may not be diagnosed with ADHD, or their difficulties may be blamed on something else.
A health care provider will usually evaluate an adult for ADHD after asking about their childhood behaviors, school experiences and symptoms. They usually employ standardized ADHD symptom checklists and questionnaires which have rating scales. They might interview the individual, their partner, parents or family members, or close friends to learn about the signs and symptoms of ADHD. They may ask for an examination or take psychological tests measuring working memory, executive function and spatial and visual abilities.
It's crucial for a healthcare professional to assess how much difficulty the symptoms of ADHD are causing in their daily life. Finding the right diagnosis is vital, as it's the first step to treating and addressing symptoms that can cause major problems at the home, work and social situations. This could include losing your job, having tensions with family members, or financial issues resulting from impulsive purchases. This can include being placed on academic probation in college because of poor performance. It is important to seek assistance before the problem gets too overwhelming or causes legal issues or physical health problems. Adults who aren't diagnosed with ADHD may feel unappreciated and unfairly judged by other people. They can find support from their peers in adult ADHD peer groups. These are typically operated by organizations that offer treatment for ADHD.
Impulsivity
People suffering from ADHD often struggle to manage their impulsive behaviours. Their impulsive behavior can cause problems in their lives like not being able to complete work tasks on schedule or putting them in risky situations. It may be difficult for them to keep track of finances and this can result in them spending more than they're capable of paying for. This can lead them to financial problems, credit issues, and stress within their relationships with others.
Additionally, impulsive signs of ADHD can affect work performance and relationships. It can be a drain on the person's self-esteem and can contribute to feelings of embarrassment or shame about their mistakes. Although impulsivity is a small part of the ADHD symptoms, it is able to cause more problems for adults than any other symptom.
Symptoms of impulsivity in ADHD include the inability to stop or delay an action and acting before thinking about the consequences. For instance, you could leave your seat to talk with a classmate, interrupt others during their conversations, or make impulse purchases. These actions may seem unimportant and unimportant in their own right however, if they are repeated frequently, they can have a significant impact on your life.
You might, for example, miss deadlines at work, lose your job due to impulsive behavior, or have issues in your relationship due to reckless remarks or actions; or get into debt because you spend recklessly. Your friends and family might be frustrated with your behavior, but they should never abandon you. They can be supportive by gently reminding you to curb your impulsive behavior. They can also urge you to take a moment for yourself after you finish work, to allow you to relax.
If you are experiencing ADHD symptoms are affecting your life and you are concerned, you can speak to your GP about an assessment of the condition. You can also seek out a psychiatrist or psychologist who is registered to conduct an ADHD assessment. They will use a variety of tools to determine your ADHD using a checklist, standardized ratings for behavior and data from family members and friends. ADHD symptoms in adulthood 'll also conduct psychological and neurological tests to rule out any other issues that may cause similar issues.
Emotional Issues
Many people suffering from ADHD struggle to manage their emotions. This can make it difficult for them to maintain a high level of performance at school or at work. They may have an intense desire to finish everything quickly, and be overwhelmed and frustrated when their tasks require more time or effort than expected. They may also neglect important tasks or appointments, and abandon unfinished projects due to being distracted. This can lead to them being accused of procrastination or lack of follow-through.
Impulsivity and emotional regulation can be more difficult for adults with more severe versions of the disorder. These adults tend to have more intense and lasting feelings, like anxiety and depression. They often have trouble understanding the emotions of others and could interpret negative feedback as rejection or criticism. This can cause them to develop a low self-esteem and difficulty in establishing and maintaining healthy relationships.
Emotional problems in adults with ADHD can be more difficult to identify than trouble with attention or impulsivity, because they are subtler and often go unnoticed. If a person suffering from ADHD refuses to commit to an appointment because they are afraid they might not "feel like" it in the future, their peers will often assume this is a sign of avoidance or lack of motivation. These challenges with emotional regulation are due to the challenges people face in predicting and regulating their emotions in the future.
Those with emotional regulation struggles may experience what Hanline describes as an emotional meltdown where they become so overwhelmed that they react in a way similar to children's temper tantrums. They may cry, yell, or shout and they are unable to think clearly.
For those with ADHD being able to recognize signs of emotional distress can help them avoid meltdowns and maintain an optimistic outlook on life. They can practice pausing and a series of behaviors that delay reactions, like deep breathing or counting to 10 before they react to triggers. They can also prepare a strategy to deal with an eventual meltdown prior to.