Can Adults Have ADHD? 6 Common Symptoms of Adult ADHD

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is commonly seen in children but can follow them into adulthood. The symptoms typically diminish and become less severe as the children grow. However, adult ADHD symptoms can interfere with daily activities at home and work. Inability to concentrate, losing patience, and disorganization can affect your relationships. Although there is no cure for adult ADHD, once you recognize the symptoms, you can seek help.

What is adult ADHD?

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder affects millions of adults worldwide, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Global Health (February 2021). Whether the adults experienced ADHD symptoms as children or not, this mental health disorder is taken seriously. There are several reasons why someone may develop ADHD.

These include genetics (hereditary traits), environmental factors, and central nervous disorders. ADHD can also coexist with mood and anxiety disorders. According to diagnostic testing, adults must consistently exhibit at least five symptoms over six months before being diagnosed with ADHD. However, only a professional mental health specialist can make the determination.

Adult ADHD Symptoms

Perhaps you were never officially tested for ADHD while growing up. Many of the symptoms in children are sometimes chalked up to a child being too excitable or even referred to as a troublemaker by those who do not recognize the signs. Many of the symptoms listed are seen in childhood but escalate as adults. How many of these symptoms did you have as a child and still have today?

You are easily distracted Do you often sit at your desk trying to work but catch yourself daydreaming out the window? How often have you set out to do a task but end up distracted by new tasks, scrolling social media, or watching videos? Inability to stay focused is one of the most common signs of Attention-Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

If focus is a challenge, try something new to make yourself focus on a task for a limited time. The Pomodoro Technique is a system that helps you do that. When you sit down to tackle a project or task at work (or at home), give yourself twenty-five minutes of undivided attention.

After the twenty-five-minute block of time, reward yourself with five minutes of free time. If this is a larger project, then after four of these Pomodoro blocks, take a more extended break of fifteen to thirty minutes.

Completing your tasks will give you a sense of accomplishment, while taking breaks to do something fun, like returning a call to a friend, fixing a cup of tea, or reading for a few minutes, provides a reward. Try it. You may find yourself looking forward to your next block of time at work.

You have little to no patience You have probably heard the adage “patience is a virtue.” But to someone with ADHD, patience becomes a little more complicated due to impulsive behaviors. Meeting deadlines, relationship expectations, and staying on a budget can be challenging in light of impulsivity and distraction.

Lifestyle choices can interrupt sleep schedules and healthy diets, affecting mood. Try adopting a healthier lifestyle by attempting seven to eight hours of sleep per night, nutritious food choices several days per week, and exercising on most days. These tips may help improve your mood and your level of patience.

In many circumstances, patience and kindness are a choice. The Bible teaches love, patience, and kindness, so if you feel impatient, take a moment to silently pray and ask God to help you slow down and breathe. Taking a mental step back can give your mind and emotions a break from the busyness of the day.

You are extremely restless Unfortunately, getting enough sleep may be problematic. A person with ADHD might struggle to release the thoughts of the day. This overworking of the mind can spill over to the physical body, making it difficult to sit or lie still. With the mind moving quickly from thought to thought, making your body stay in one spot at work or a meeting is a challenge.

This restlessness can degrade your mood. Impatience and frustration can grow if you are forced to stay in one spot as your mind bombards you with thoughts and tasks. This can lead to confrontations at work and home.

Restless leg syndrome (RLS) can develop in people with ADHD when the body and mind cannot shut down for restorative sleep. RLS is usually classified as a sleep or neurological disorder. Still, researchers find that it may correlate with ADHD due to a deficiency in iron and a lower level of dopamine. More research is needed, but your physician should check your levels with lab work.

You bounce from one activity to another “Shiny object syndrome” is the unofficial name for the practice of jumping from one activity to another. It can be from boredom, confusion, dread, or a lack of time management skills. For someone with adult ADHD, this is an extension of the distraction symptom.

For example, it is housecleaning day, and you have made a list of the chores you need to accomplish. You start with a load of laundry that you pop into the washer, then unload the dishwasher. But then you notice that a few of the glasses still have food stuck to them.

You stop unloading the dishwasher to wash the glasses. As you are washing a glass, your eyes land on the microwave. When was the last time you cleaned the inside of that? You begin cleaning the outside of the microwave and slide the glass turntable into the hot, soapy water. Then the phone rings.

By the end of the day, you realize it is time to make dinner, but the microwave turntable is still in the dishwater (now cold), the dishwasher is still full of clean dishes, and there are more dirty dishes on the counter. The laundry has been in the washer all day. This is just a small example. These distracting trains of activities can wreak havoc in your career and home life.

You consistently lose things Due to distraction issues, people with ADHD may begin to hyperfocus on activities or tasks so as not to bounce from one thing to another or waste time. However, this hyperfocus on one thing can make them forget or not pay attention to other details. Being late for work, losing car and house keys, missing deadlines, and misplacing everyday items are frequent occurrences.

This behavior can lead to more frustration, impatience, anger, and guilt. It also causes trouble in relationships as bosses, coworkers, spouses, and friends may not understand the ADHD symptoms. If this is the case, try to slow down and remain calm. You might need help getting organized.

You have trouble with organization If you displayed ADHD symptoms as a child, you might remember struggling to keep all of your school papers in your backpack. You felt like you could not stay organized like the other students. Perhaps you believe you could have been an honor student if you had been able to manage your belongings and assignments.

Adults with ADHD symptoms face the same issue. When combined with the other symptoms, being unorganized can leave you feeling defeated. A therapist can help with specific problems while teaching organizational skills. It might also be beneficial to create a chart of what needs to be done at home or work.

When it comes to projects, be realistic. Don’t over-commit yourself or overestimate what you can do by a specific date. You should still challenge yourself but work on that skill before tackling more on your agenda if disorganization is hampering your life.

Finding Support Through Christian Counseling in Texas

If adult ADHD symptoms interfere with your career and personal relationships, it is time to take control. Seek the help of a licensed mental health care specialist who can create a personalized plan to assist you in managing the symptoms. You can overcome the hold ADHD has over you.