What It’s Like Being an Adult With ADHD? 9 Symptoms, Complications

Related Articles

Easy & healthy snack ideas to keep you energized

March 3, 2023

The 13 Healthiest Root Vegetables: List of Veggies

December 7, 2022

Plantains: Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits

December 7, 2022

ADHD in adults results in mental and physical problems that eventually impact relationships and cause difficulty in daily life.

Adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) might face a wide range of difficulties in all aspects of their lives. According to the American Psychiatric Association, approximately five percent of children have ADHD and roughly half will continue to display symptoms well into adulthood.

ADHD in adults results in mental and physical problems that eventually impact relationships and cause difficulty in daily life. It can be difficult to find solutions to help them reduce typical symptoms. Adults and children have comparable symptoms; some of them differ or alter as people age.

Adult ADHD frequently encompasses a broader range of emotional dysregulation and functioning impairment than kids.

• Emotional dysregulation
  • Inability to control one's emotions and reactions
  • Estimated that 34 to 70 percent of adults with ADHD have it
  • Emotional dysregulation can cause mood swings or severe depression, which can lead to risky actions or impulsivity
• Functional impairment
  • Having difficulties doing daily activities or working or keeping a job due to symptoms

9 common symptoms adults with ADHD may experience

1. Lack of attention to detail
2. Trouble finishing tasks before starting new ones
3. Poor organizational skills
4. Difficulty prioritizing or focusing
5. Often losing, misplacing, or forgetting things
6. Restlessness or impatience
7. Commonly interrupting other people’s conversations or having trouble waiting for their turn
8. Mood swings, difficulty coping with stress, or general irritability
9. Displaying risky behaviors

Having a variety of symptoms might have an impact on both professional and personal life. It might lead to underachievement or difficulties engaging with others.

Patients may exhibit symptoms of other illnesses, such as:

• Anxiety disorders
• Oppositional defiant disorder
• Depression
• Autism spectrum disorder
• Epilepsy
• Tourette’s syndrome or learning difficulties, such as dyslexia

What are the complications of untreated ADHD?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can have an impact on a person's quality of life. People with ADHD may struggle to sustain relationships or careers.

If their ailment was undiagnosed and untreated as a youngster, they may have struggled in school. A lifetime of dealing with this behavioral issue might lead to low self-esteem. To cope with these feelings, some persons with ADHD experiment with drugs or alcohol. People with ADHD are more likely to suffer from personality disorders and other psychological issues.

Untreated ADHD can lead to:

• Work and finance issues
  • Frequent job changes or loss of employment
  • Productivity issues
  • Disorganization
  • Lower-income
  • Less motivation to engage and follow up on important tasks
• Relationship and social life strain
  • Symptoms can interfere with finding and maintaining social relationships
  • Marital problems
  • Increased risky behavior
• Mental health and well-being struggles
  • Low self-esteem, which can delay personal growth
  • Increased antisocial acts
  • Avoiding seeking help due to the social stigma of ADHD
  • More substance abuse, suicide risk, and psychological and mood disturbances

QUESTION

Who is at greater risk for developing ADHD?
See Answer

What causes adult ADHD?

Most people believe that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that only children suffer from (and grow out of).

• ADHD symptoms in youngsters can cause hyperactivity, difficulty focusing and perceived cheekiness.
• ADHD in adults means being impulsive, forgetful, and occasionally inattentive. 

Although there may be many causes of ADHD, doctors believe the following are a few of the most frequent ones.

• Genetics
  • According to studies, a child diagnosed with ADHD has a parent with ADHD 20 to 30 percent of the time.
  • People with ADHD do not produce enough neurotransmitters in particular sections of the brain that aid with mental organization. ADHD is thought to be caused by this. Chemical scarcity may be caused by a person's DNA.
  • ADHD is more likely in people who have a close family member who has the illness according to research.
• Biological factors
  • Premature birth
  • Being exposed to certain illnesses during pregnancy
  • Smoking during pregnancy
  • Substance abuse during pregnancy
• Underdiagnosed and support
  • Symptoms of adult ADHD are typically present in childhood but are either unidentified or attributed to other sources.
  • In certain cases, ADHD symptoms may just be less noticeable.
  • When a person grows up in a very controlled school setting with a lot of parental support, they may not know they have ADHD until they start living on their own.

Latest Mental Health News

• ‘Dirty Dozen’ List of Produce
• Water Systems Contain Uranium
• Erectile Dysfunction Drugs Harm Eyes
• Insomnia in Heart Disease Patients
• HIV Meds Slow Advanced Cancers
• More Health News »

Trending on MedicineNet

• Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
• Causes of Stool Color Changes
• Good Heart Rate By Age
• Laminectomy Recovery Time
• Normal Blood Pressure By Age

What are the risk factors for ADHD?

Recent research suggests there are certain risk factors for ADHD, including:

• Exposure to environmental toxins (lead)
• Brain injury
• Low birth weight

ADHD symptoms are sometimes disregarded in childhood, resulting in a missed diagnosis. Knowing what signs to look for as an adult could be the key to accurate diagnosis and therapy.

Seek a comprehensive clinical evaluation by a health professional, who may consider personal history, self-reported symptoms, mental-status testing, early development problems, and symptoms for proper diagnosis. Overlapping symptoms of concomitant psychiatric illnesses can make the correct diagnosis of ADHD difficult.

7 treatment options for ADHD

In the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), medication is commonly employed as the first-line treatment. However, some people utilize a combination of therapy and medication combination or do not use any medication at all.

The only way for the conditions to be treated is for the ADHD sufferer to identify their main symptoms.

The following are some of the therapy options:

1. Education: Assists the individual and family to better understand and manage their condition.
2. Lifestyle improvement:
   • Regular reduction in the use of drugs and alcohol
   • Increase physical activity
   • Include a diet that may be good for overall health
   • Stress management
3. Medication: Depending on the patient's symptoms, both stimulant and non-stimulant drugs are employed.
4. Psychotherapy: Deals with difficulties, such as low self-esteem and substance abuse.
5. Other therapies: Depending on the needs of the individual, behavior therapy and cognitive-behavior therapy teach anger management, organizational skills, and social skills.
6. Vocational counseling: Boosts a person's chances of success and job happiness.
7. Other options:
   • Joining a support group may assist patients with ADHD to overcome daily obstacles.
   • Family therapy for ADHD families teaches them how to comprehend and care for people with ADHD.

Patients with ADHD may attempt several therapies before finding one that works for them.

Is there a cure for ADHD or can you grow out of it?

There is no cure for ADHD, and children do not grow out of it, contrary to popular assumptions. Many youngsters may need extra treatment as adults. Others might be able to manage on their own.

Living with ADHD can be difficult, but there is assistance available. A diagnosis of adult ADHD is established by a full psychiatric evaluation. Its treatment involves psychotherapy, which can help control symptoms and provide a better quality of life.