Adult ADHD Symptoms and Signs - Recognizing the Disorder

What are the typical adult ADHD symptoms and signs?

Until about the mid 1980s, it was believed that children outgrew ADD upon reaching adolescence. However, the issue of adult ADHD is indubitably a serious concern today.

According to the public service campaign Adult ADHD is Real, an estimated 10 million adults are believed to have ADHD. It is never too late to seek help for this pervasive condition, and there are a number of ways it manifests itself in adults. By recognizing the possible adult ADHD symptoms and signs, one can seek the assistance of a physician in moving forward from the paralyzing inattention and hyperactivity of this disorder.

It is important, particularly with adult ADHD, to clear up some common misconceptions about the disorder. People tend to assume that because a person has reached a certain age without having been diagnosed, their difficulties are not severe enough to warrant an ADHD diagnosis. However, according to Dr. Thomas E. Brown, “Many adults struggle all their lives with unrecognized ADD / ADHD impairments. They haven’t received help because they assumed that their chronic difficulties, like depression or anxiety, were caused by other impairments that did not respond to the usual treatment.”

Furthermore, the idea that ADHD is actually ‘just a lack of willpower’ is entirely incorrect, as there are proven biochemical and neurological deficits in those who suffer from ADHD.

Although an ADHD diagnosis is rather complex, as many psychiatric disorders manifest with similar symptoms, there are a few adult ADHD symptoms that may mean it is best to have a professional assess one’s condition. There are two aspects to ADHD, inattention and hyperactivity.

In adults, the inattention aspect is defined by extreme difficulty with concentration; this may mean inability to converse properly, “zoning out” frequently, inability to finish tasks, and frequent distractions or forgetfulness. Significant and troublesome difficulty with organization is also part of the inattentive part of adult ADHD.

The other part of ADHD is hyperactivity, which tends to look quite different in adults than it does in children. Adults with hyperactive tendencies may become easily bored, find themselves unable to sit and relax (or be quiet), and may experience feelings of irritation, nervousness, and being full of energy; these are some possible adult ADHD symptoms.

A major part of hyperactivity in people with ADHD is the impulsivity it leads to. In adults, this may mean a great deal of difficulty making decisions, or it may manifest as a struggle to relate to others - such as having trouble listening, following a conversation, interrupting, or blurting things out.

ADHD is a very serious problem, and has the potential to affect one’s life in multiple arenas, from one’s career to relationships. Unfortunately, in adults especially, the symptoms of ADHD are written off as character flaws or a lack of willpower, when in reality, they are due to an imbalance.

It is not necessary for individuals with ADHD to suffer. There are many ways of addressing ADHD in an adult, but the first step is recognizing the adult ADHD symptoms in oneself or a loved one, and realizing that it is indeed a disorder, and as such, can be treated successfully.

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