ADHD

ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder can be easily misunderstood for mood disorders and laziness. Early detection of this disorder can help to begin treatment early. If left undiagnosed, the patients’ mental health that has ADHD could fall into a worse state or even depression. 

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Adults

ADHD can also occur in adults and is not just a childhood disorder. If you find yourself always overwhelmed, forgetful, disorganized, and late for your tasks, you might be suffering from ADHD. It affects several adults, and its various symptoms that are frustrating can hinder everything from your career to your relationship. 

If you were detected with ADHD in your childhood, chances are you have carried some of the signs in adulthood. However, it doesn’t mean Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder can’t affect you as an adult even if you were never diagnosed as a child. 

In the past, very few were aware of the disorder. So there are chances that ADHD goes unrecognizable throughout childhood. Instead of identifying and recognizing your symptoms, your teachers, family, or others may label you as a bad student, troublemaker, slacker, goof-off, or a dreamer. 

Now, when you try to juggle your responsibilities, such as running a household, raising a family, and pursuing a career with undetected ADHD, it requires a greater ability to focus, organize, and remain calm. However, it can be hard for anyone if you have ADHD if it feels impossible for you. 

Signs of ADHD in Adults

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in adults looks pretty different from in kids, and its symptoms are unique for each individual. The following signs highlight common signs of adult ADHD. 

Forgetfulness and Disorganization

Life seems out of control and chaotic when you are suffering from adult ADHD. Staying on top of things can be extremely hard, like prioritizing your to-do list, sorting out relevant information, managing your time, and keeping track of tasks. Common symptoms of forgetfulness and disorganization include:

  • Procrastination 
  • Poor organizational skills
  • Trouble finishing tasks
  • Constantly misplacing or losing things
  • Forgetting commitments, deadlines, appointments frequently
  • Chronic lateness

Trouble Staying Focused and Concentrating

Adults suffering from ADHD can concentrate on tasks they find engaging or stimulating but struggle to focus on mundane tasks. It is easy for you to get distracted by irrelevant sounds and sights, become bored, or jump from one task to another. Sometimes the symptoms of this category are overlooked as they are less externally disruptive. The following are the signs:

  • Seeking out new stimulating experiences
  • Getting quickly bored
  • Poor listening skills
  • Incomplete work
  • Leading to errors or 
  • Tendency to overlook details
  • Struggling to complete tasks
  • Difficulty paying attention or focusing
  • Having many simultaneous thoughts
  • Becoming easily distracted by low-priority activities

Emotional difficulties

You may have a hard time managing your feelings if you have adult ADHD, especially regarding emotions like frustration or anger. Common emotional symptoms of adult ADHD are:

  • Hypersensitivity to criticism
  • Trouble staying motivated
  • Sense of underachievement
  • Sense of insecurity
  • Low self-esteem
  • Irritability
  • Being easily stressed out and flustered

Impulsivity

You may have trouble inhibiting your responses, behaviors, and comments if you have any symptoms in this section. You might act without considering the consequences or before thinking. You may rush through task reading instructions, blurting out remarks, and interrupting others. Besides, the staying patient is very challenging. The symptoms in this category include:

  • Problems behaving in appropriate ways socially
  • Acting spontaneously or recklessly without thinking of the outcome
  • Addictive tendencies
  • Poor self-control
  • Interrupting Others
  • Talking Over Them

Restlessness or Hyperactivity

Adults with ADHD may be highly energetic and constantly on the go mode as if a motor runs them. For many ADHD adults, the symptoms become more mild and internal as they age. Common symptoms include:

  • Constant fidgeting
  • Trouble sitting still
  • Ability to take risks
  • Craving excitement
  • Getting bored easily
  • Talking excessively
  • Racing thoughts
  • Feelings of agitation, inner restlessness

Treatment Options for ADHD

As such, there is no defined treatment for this medical condition. However, there are options that can help you improve symptomatically. Some of the possible treatment options are:

Psychosocial Treatment and Psychotherapy 

Adults with ADHD need help from their social circles, like friends, family, or offices. In addition to the inner circle, there are specific psychosocial therapies that have been known to manage and improve their symptoms efficiently. 

Medications

Medications for ADHD may help many to focus better at work. Those who are prescribed medications for this medical condition must be constantly monitored. One of the most commonly prescribed medications for ADHD is stimulants. They elevate norepinephrine and dopamine, which are essential brain chemicals responsible for thinking and attention. But, these medications bring side effects with them, such as headache, poor appetite, difficulty sleeping, increased irritability or anxiety, personality changes, and abdominal pain. So it would help if you were medically supervised. You must only take them if prescribed by your doctor. 

Another medication for ADHD is non-stimulants which are usually prescribed when the stimulants don’t tend to work for any patient. They are also given in combination with stimulants. Besides, antidepressants are also used as a single medicine or in combination with other medications. You can find all the medications on Medomand. However, you would require uploading a valid prescription for the same. 

Apart from the above, stress management and social support groups can also help in the treatment of ADHD.