Symptoms For ADHD in Adults
Adults who suffer from ADHD might have trouble staying organized paying attention to details and following rules in the workplace or at school. People suffering from ADHD might also have difficulty being able to listen to others, which leads to confusion.
ADHD can cause significant impairments in many areas that include issues at school or at work, disagreements with partners and financial problems as a result of impulsive spending.
Inattention
People who have inattention ADHD tend to overlook details, not complete tasks and make erroneous mistakes. They may also have trouble paying attention during classes or at work, and might have difficulty remembering appointments. These issues can cause problems at school, at work and in relationships. Adults with ADHD are most likely to be affected by inattention symptoms.
This kind of ADHD can cause people to have difficulty concentration in noisy or crowded classes, and also in completing academic work or attending business meetings. They forget to return phone calls, pay bills or send birthday cards on time. They may have a messy house or office, with a mess of files and clothes on the floor.
Inattentive ADHD symptoms also include frequent forgetfulness and an inability to remember important dates, like medical appointments or schedules for sports practices. They can also be easily distracted by television, music or an online chat with a pal. Attention-deficit ADHD can also result in poor performance at work or at school.
To be considered a diagnosed adult with inattentive ADHD must satisfy at least six of the nine indicators of inattention identified in the latest edition of the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, the fifth edition (DSM-5). A health professional may inquire about these issues while interviewing a patient. They'll inquire about how long the problem has been present and when it first started and what other factors could have contributed to the problem and what impact the symptoms have had on an individual's life.
A health care professional might also ask the person being interviewed provide a list of his or her symptoms and their impact on home, work and relationships with others. They may also ask the patient to describe his or her childhood experiences and behaviors.
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 sure what causes ADHD, but they believe it's due to changes in brain structure or brain chemistry. They also know that it can be passed down through families, but some people develop it spontaneously without any family background.
Hyperactivity
The symptoms of impulsivity and hyperactivity in adults can be quite different from those seen in children. Women are more likely to have less signs and symptoms, and are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD. However, symptoms of ADHD in adults female can struggle with the impulsivity and restlessness. For instance, they may interrupt conversations or other people frequently. They could also lose things easily and forget appointments or other commitments. They might have trouble understanding social boundaries, and may often interfere with others without recognizing that they may be considered rude.
It can be difficult to determine adult ADHD. This is partly because there are a variety of conditions that mimic the symptoms of ADHD. These include mood disorders, anxiety disorders, head injuries and some medications like antidepressants or steroids. These other conditions may cause ADHD to be misdiagnosed, or the issues of these people may be due to something else.
A health care provider will usually test an adult for ADHD after asking about their childhood behavior as well as school experiences and symptoms. They will employ typical ADHD checklists and questionnaires that include rating scales. They may also interview the person or their life partner parents, siblings, other family members and close friends about their symptoms and history of the disorder. They could request an examination or perform psychological tests to measure working memory, executive function and visual and spatial abilities.
It is essential for a doctor to assess the level of difficulty the symptoms of ADHD can cause a person in their daily routine. Finding the right diagnosis is crucial because it's the first step towards treating and addressing symptoms that can create serious issues at the home, work and social situations. This can include losing a job, having tensions with loved ones or financial issues caused by excessive spending. This can include being placed on academic probation at college due to poor performance. It is crucial that the person seeks help before their problem becomes overwhelming or leads to legal issues or poor physical health. Undiagnosed adults with ADHD might feel misunderstood or unfairly judged. They can get help from peers in adult ADHD peer groups. These are typically run by organisations that provide treatment for ADHD.
Impulsivity
People with ADHD often struggle to control their impulsive behaviors. Their impulsive behaviors can cause problems in their life, such as not completing tasks according to schedule or putting them into dangerous situations. It could be difficult for them to keep track of finances, which can lead to them spending more than they are financially able to pay for. This can cause problems with credit, financial troubles, and stress in their personal relationships.
Additionally, impulsive ADHD symptoms can have a direct impact on the quality of relationships and job performance. It can also have a negative impact on the person's self-esteem and lead to feelings of embarrassment or shame about their mistakes. Although impulsivity is a small proportion of the official ADHD symptoms, it frequently causes more problems than other symptoms of ADHD and is among the most difficult for adults to manage.
Symptoms of impulsivity in ADHD include being unable to stop or delay an action and acting before thinking about the consequences. You might interrupt someone's speech or leave your seat in class to talk or purchase something on impulse. These actions may seem unimportant and minor in isolation but if they're repeated repeatedly, they can have a significant impact on your life.
You might, for example not meet deadlines at your job; lose your job due impulsive behavior; have problems in your marriage due to uncontrollable behavior or remarks or incur debt due to spending too much. They may be frustrated by your behavior however, you shouldn't let them abandon you. They can provide support by gently reminding you to reduce your impulsive behavior. They can also urge you to take a moment to yourself after finishing work, so that you can relax and unwind.
You can ask your GP to conduct an ADHD assessment if you feel that your symptoms are affecting you. You can also request an ADHD assessment to be conducted by a psychiatrist, or psychologist who is licensed. They will employ a variety of tools to assess ADHD, including the checklist, standard behavior ratings, and information from family and friends. They will also conduct psychological and neurological tests to rule out any other conditions that could cause similar issues.
Emotional Issues
Many people suffering from ADHD have difficulty controlling their emotions which makes it difficult to keep up at school or at work. They may have a strong urge to get things done immediately and be overwhelmed or frustrated when things take longer than expected. They might also miss important appointments or tasks and leave unfinished tasks because they get distracted. This could lead them to be criticized for procrastination and lack of commitment.
For adults with more severe forms of the disorder, impulsivity and emotional regulation are more challenging. They experience emotions that are more intense and persist for a longer time in the form of depression or anxiety. They often have difficulty interpreting the emotions of others and could interpret negative feedback as rejection or criticism. This can lead to feelings of self-worth being low and difficulties in maintaining a healthy relationships.
Adults with ADHD might have emotional issues that are harder to identify because they are subtler. They might be overlooked. For instance that an adult with ADHD refuses to make an appointment or arrangement due to the fear that they may not "feel like" doing it later and their peers think that the reason for their refusal is avoidance or a lack of motivation. In fact, these challenges in emotional regulation are akin to the difficulties people have in anticipating how they will feel in the near future and controlling their own emotions.
Those with emotional regulation struggles may experience what Hanline describes as an emotional meltdown, in which they are so overwrought that they react to situations in a manner that is similar to children's temper tantrums. They may cry, yell, or shout, and they can't think clearly.
Adults with ADHD can avoid meltdowns by learning to recognize signs of emotional distress. They can also keep a positive outlook in life. They can practice pausing - a series behaviors that slow down reactions, such as deep breaths or counting to 10 before responding to a trigger. They can also work to develop a strategy to deal with the possibility of a meltdown ahead of time.