6 Symptoms of ADHD in Adults

Finding online research about the symptoms of ADHD in adults can be difficult. While there are plenty of articles about symptoms of ADHD in children, the research for adults is limited. However, based on qualitative findings and some quantitative research, here are six behaviors that can signify ADHD in an adult.

Possible Symptoms of ADHD in Adults

You struggle with restlessness

For children, this may look like hyperactivity. In adults, it often feels like an inability to stop fidgeting or perhaps thoughts that run through your mind at a rapid pace.

If you find yourself unable to focus on a task because your task makes you think of something else, and then another thought, and then a different thought, this could be a signal of restlessness. Still, other symptoms also need to be present (and comorbidities ruled out) before an ADHD diagnosis can be confirmed.

Other symptoms of restlessness might include a fixation on stressful occurrences in your life or others’ lives, getting easily agitated by everyday concerns, or going from frustrated to extreme anger in a short period of time. Restlessness in adults can be a symptom of other issues, so it’s always best to reach out to a counselor at one of our offices to start the diagnostic process.

You misplace items frequently

Because focus and attention are typically a struggle, one of the symptoms of ADHD in adults that can change from childhood to adulthood is organization. If you were diagnosed as a child, this may mean you did not turn in projects on time, you frequently lost important homework or books, or you had a hard time keeping your room clean.

For adults, the struggle with organization can be masked. However, it may be easier for you to recognize if the following “I” statements sound familiar.

• I often lose essentials such as keys or a wallet.
• I spend valuable time each week looking for something I’ve misplaced.
• I struggle to stick with systems for organization.
• I forget to put things back where they go frequently.

You have trouble finishing or starting new tasks, especially when they are not enjoyable

While almost everyone procrastinates from time to time, if you frequently put off everyday essential tasks such as keeping your desk clean, paying bills, or starting a new work project, this may be one of the many symptoms of ADHD in adults. But how do you know if it’s just a non-preferred activity or something to signal ADHD?

There is not a single test you can take to diagnose adult ADHD. Instead, it’s important to talk to your doctor or a mental health provider who can walk you through some diagnostic tools.

An example of someone who has adult ADHD and struggles to finish long-term tasks is someone who tends to begin a project, like cleaning out the garage, but doesn’t take it to the final step.

On a smaller scale, you might know that your boss asked you to write a report, so you block time on your calendar to do it. But when that calendar block pops up, you either get distracted or push it aside for what seems more pressing. Or you may start working on it only to get interrupted and then leave your desk, but you don’t return to it.

The difficulty of facing unfinished tasks can become overwhelming if it’s happening in every area of your life. Another one of the symptoms of ADHD in adults is that you struggle with these tasks in multiple areas of life.

Failing to finish projects or follow through on commitments you’ve made to others may impact your home life, work, and relationships.

You struggle to prioritize tasks

Some symptoms of ADHD in adults are hard to recognize as an issue. But if you find that you can easily get “stuck” on a specific task while other, more pressing tasks are left undone, it may be a sign of ADHD. Adults with ADHD tend to have trouble deciding which tasks are crucial and which can wait.

Imagine this: You’ve decided to make a new dinner recipe, and your son has to be at football practice at 7 p.m. You start cooking dinner and get about halfway through when your sister calls to tell you about her new co-worker.

Letting the dinner sit half-made wasn’t your intention. However, you got sidetracked by your sister’s call and didn’t think about the time. So, at 6:45, when your son needs to leave, he hasn’t had dinner because the time “got away from you.”

Sometimes, what feels like poor time management is a struggle with prioritization. Letting your sister know that you’ll call her back when you’ve finished cooking would be one way to prioritize finishing the task that has an immediate deadline.

Another example is if your boss asks you to keep a monthly log of your sales calls, and he wants an account deal locked in by this Friday. You are overwhelmed with the backlog of calls that need to be recorded, but you also have a pressing deadline.

What do you do first? Track the calls you’ve been making for the last couple of weeks, or work on engaging the client account so you can have it finished by Friday?

Even though it may feel like the call log needs to take precedence, the nearer deadline is a weekly one. The monthly deadline can wait, and you can block time later to prioritize call entry – especially if you finish the new account paperwork before Friday’s deadline.

If this sounds familiar, examine the areas of your life that are affected by a struggle with prioritization.

Listening to conversations or in meetings is difficult, and you tend to forget most of what was said later

Adults with ADHD may be good at masking symptoms, especially if they weren’t diagnosed as children. You might have learned coping mechanisms, such as giving the appearance that you are paying attention.

However, if your mind wanders frequently while you’re trying to listen, or you feel like you listened well but can’t remember anything after the talk or meeting, it could be a sign that you need to see a mental wellness professional, such as those in our offices. It is consistent with the brain wiring that not everything you hear will stick.

But when it’s a pattern of forgetfulness, especially with details, that’s when you might have one of the symptoms of ADHD in adults.

You notice these patterns of symptoms for longer than six months

One of the questions you may be asked at a diagnostic visit is how long you’ve been experiencing symptoms. If they are just occasional or have only recently started, it may be that other factors are at work.

Some symptoms of ADHD in adults can be attributed to comorbidities such as anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or life changes and added stress. Maybe you’re suddenly caring for an elderly parent who has moved in with you, and these symptoms have appeared since that change in circumstance.

If you’ve already been diagnosed with anxiety, it may be that the missing diagnosis is ADHD. ADHD and anxiety do tend to play off each other, especially in women. Either way, the only way to truly know if you are one of the estimated seven percent of adults who have ADHD is to meet with a psychologist who is trained to diagnose it.

The psychologist will meet with you for an initial assessment, asking questions about your medical history, your everyday life, and may have you complete some paperwork and additional questionnaires. Sometimes, the psychologist will ask your friends, family or co-workers to complete a questionnaire, too.

Treatment Options for ADHD

Treatment for ADHD in adults varies, and it can include stimulants or non-stimulants, cognitive behavioral therapy, and additional tools that can help you manage everyday tasks. Find out if your symptoms are related to ADHD by contacting our office to get matched with a Christian counselor who can help.