Did you know only about 4% of adults with ADHD can be diagnosed as such? Although ADHD is most commonly found in children, it persists into adulthood for about half of those affected people. Adult ADHD is a very controversial subject and even more so than childhood ADHD. It was not until recently that the disorder had been noticed as one that could continue through adulthood.
ADHD has a core set of consistent symptoms across the lifespan, but other patterns often emerge as a child grows into an adult. The primary characteristics remain to be hyperactivity and the inability to focus or pay attention for long periods. There may also be problems with managing time and tasks as well as emotional dysregulation. However, the most common signs of ADHD in adults might differ from what is typically seen in children.
If you think that you might have ADHD as an adult, the best thing to do is visit a mental health professional and obtain a diagnosis. They will start by asking about your history with the disorder and make sure that the symptoms you might be exhibiting are not due to other mental health disorders.
There are eight primary signs of adult ADHD that merit the diagnosis. These include:
- Fidgeting & Restlessness — You feel like you cannot sit still or have constant movement, even when you’re supposed to be sitting down; fidgeting and restlessness can be a side effect of medication.
- Over-Focusing — You might get stuck on certain activities, thoughts, or ideas; you could end up missing information that is given to you while you’re focused on one thing.
- Hyperfocus occurs when people with ADHD become intensely focused on tasks that they find particularly interesting. This can be beneficial in certain social situations when you need to pay attention to something important or in cases where planning activity is necessary.
- Disorganization — Everyday tasks might be difficult for you because you cannot stay organized; this could include forgetting to pick up your children at school or running late to work every day.
- Impulsiveness — You might feel like you need immediate gratification and find it difficult to wait for things; this can lead you to make poor choices at the moment. It could also cause problems with money management or relationships with others.
- Poor Time Management — You cannot manage your time well; waiting for you to arrive everywhere might be difficult because of this.
- Forgetfulness — You might often forget things that other people would consider important or not easily forgotten; this can affect your job performance and daily activities, among other things.
- Moodiness & Irritability — Your feelings can change rapidly from one moment to another, and you might feel frustrated or easily annoyed with people and things.
If you think that you might have signs of ADHD in adults, the first step is to visit a mental health professional for an assessment. ADHD can be managed effectively once it has been diagnosed.