ADHD Symptoms and Treatment in Adults
Many adults discover that they struggle to keep up with daily tasks, often experiencing frustration and mood swings. If you suspect you have ADHD you should consult your primary care physician or an expert in mental health for an assessment.
The criteria for determining adult ADHD is the same as that for children: symptoms must be present over 6 months and not be more easily explained by medical conditions or mood disorders.
Inattentive Signs
Many adults suffering from ADHD struggle to keep up with schoolwork, work, or household chores. They often skip appointments and don't pay their bills on time, and have trouble maintaining relationships with family and friends. They are more likely than other people to lose possessions, or make mistakes which can result in serious consequences.
If you're having difficulty managing your personal or professional affairs, consider talking to a health care provider. Your primary care provider will evaluate your situation and refer you to a mental health professional when needed.
Inattentive ADHD is often misunderstood. People with inattentive ADHD aren't always attentive when spoken to. They forget easily or are distracted by irrelevant thoughts. They are unable to stay focused on their work, and can make careless errors or struggle to follow instructions. They may also have trouble keeping their hands away from their faces or appear shaken.
Inattention to symptoms can result in a failure at the workplace or at school and can result in frustration and shame for the affected. They can also cause problems in relationships with family, friends and colleagues.
The diagnosis of ADHD is based on a assessment of the clinical. This involves an interview with the patient as well as an examination of their previous behavior. They may require the patient to fill out a questionnaire about their symptoms and may conduct tests for medical reasons to determine if there are mental or physical illnesses that have similar symptoms. The symptoms of ADHD must occur consistently since before age 12 for the diagnosis to be established.
Adults who suffer from inattention ADHD typically benefit from psychotherapy, lifestyle changes and other treatments to manage their symptoms. These treatments include behavioral therapy, medication, and family psychoeducation. Psychotherapy is a type of counseling that assists patients develop new attitudes, skills and ways of communicating with others. Behavioral therapy can teach techniques that will decrease self-destructive and impulsive behaviors, improve organizational skills and increase confidence.
People with inattention ADHD might find it beneficial to discuss their struggles with a trusted friend, family member or therapist. They may also be able to seek accommodations from their teachers or supervisors, as well as coworkers. Accommodations are tools or changes in the environment that allow a person with a disability to perform tasks like everyone else, such as using a step stool for people who are small.
Hyperactive Symptoms
Adults may exhibit different symptoms than children. Adult symptoms are less obvious. While children can seem to be restless and fidget, adults tend to be less talkative. They may forget tasks, lose track or place and make careless errors. They may also feel overly energetic and have difficulty sitting still during a meal or in class. They may interrupt others or blurt out answers before they've been asked a question, and struggle to keep their place during games or conversations.
These symptoms can be triggered by a myriad of conditions. A full psychiatric evaluation is needed to determine the cause of the symptoms and identify the most effective treatments. These can include psychotherapy, medications and lifestyle adjustments. These can include a healthier diet, exercise and sleeping schedules. This could include making adjustments to work or school assignments, and utilizing assistive tools like calendars, planners, and smartphone apps.
You should first discuss your concerns with your family doctor or primary healthcare provider if you suspect that you may have ADHD. The How to Talk to Your Provider factsheet from NIMH contains tips on how to talk with your doctor about mental issues.
It is important to understand that in order to be diagnosed with ADHD, symptoms must occur in at least two or more environments and have a significant impact on everyday life. To be eligible, they must have been present for at least six months. Your provider will evaluate you to see if you have the inattentive or hyperactive/impulsive symptoms of ADHD.
Alongside lifestyle modifications and accommodations, there are medications that can help you manage the symptoms of ADHD. These are known as stimulants. They work by reorganizing the brain signals that affect your mood, attention and behavior. Your doctor will determine the best dosage of the medication for you and monitor your reaction to treatment. You might be prescribed non-stimulant medication if you experience side effects or if a stimulant doesn't work. They can also be used in combination with stimulants to boost effectiveness.
The symptoms of an impulse
Everyone loses keys or cellphone from time to time, but for people with inattention ADHD small distractions are more of an issue. People with inattentive ADHD have a tougher task of focusing on tasks, arranging their materials and completing projects. As adults, the result could be a million unfinished projects around the house, such as unpaid bills, unkempt houses, and the vegetable garden that was started but never watered.
Relationships are among the most prevalent areas where impulsive ADHD symptoms can lead to problems. People with impulsive ADHD tend to be impatient and need immediate satisfaction. They may jump into social situations with little planning or risk taking, which can have negative effects. People who are easily triggered can also react to emotional or stressful situations. One can become annoyed or defensive when arguing with family or friends.
A health professional with a specialization in mental disorders will go over the medical background of a patient and conduct an examination to determine ADHD. The doctor will also inquire about how the symptoms impact your work, home and family relationships. To be diagnosed with any type of ADHD the patient must exhibit at least six of the nine main symptoms. The symptoms must affect daily functioning and last at least six months (American Psychological Association, 2000).
Psychostimulants are the most effective treatment for ADHD. These medications target the way that certain chemicals communicate with one another in the brain to regulate behaviour. The most commonly used stimulant is methylphenidate. It was originally developed to treat ADHD among children. It is essential to speak with your physician about your medication if are suffering from other health issues such as depression or high blood pressure. Psychotherapy can help reduce impulsive symptoms and distracting behaviors in addition to medications. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on helping people recognize the automatic or irrational thoughts that can trigger negative behavior and to develop strategies for self-regulation.
Combination of symptoms
Adults who experienced ADHD as children could experience symptoms that come back in adulthood. They may experience mild, moderate, or severe symptoms that hinder work, school and social interactions. adhd in adults untreated may have other mental health problems like anxiety or depression, that require treatment. A few adults may also have learning disabilities, which make it difficult to understand or follow instructions in offices and classrooms.
The signs of the inattentive kind of ADHD aren't as easy to see in adults but they do impact how people function at home and work. This kind of ADHD makes it difficult for people to stay focused in business meetings or college lectures. They may also have difficulty keeping up with their work and assignments. They often lose the track of their belongings or forget appointments or deadlines. They may also have trouble keeping track of conversations or listening to music. They tend to be more easily distracted by activities or people surrounding them than other people.
Hyperactive-impulsive ADHD symptoms are more common in adults than the inattentive type of the disorder, but they can be difficult to diagnose in adults, too. The American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fourth Edition (DSM-IV TR) has a criterion for diagnosing the disorder that includes symptoms that begin at the age of 12 and occur in multiple settings and lead to impairment in a variety of areas like school or in relationships.
To qualify for a diagnosis of hyperactive-impulsive ADHD, people must have six or more symptoms that have persisted for at least six months. The symptoms must have begun before the age of 12 years old and continue at home, in school and in other social and work settings.
There's no reason for ADHD however, researchers are studying genetic and environmental factors that may be a factor. Research suggests that the brains of individuals who suffer from ADHD are unable to regulate certain chemicals, including neurotransmitters which help manage mood, attention and behavior.
If you are experiencing signs of ADHD you should talk to your primary care physician. Your doctor can perform a physical examination and refer you for an evaluation by an expert in mental health. Psychotherapy and medications are usually utilized to treat ADHD and other disorders, such as stimulants that raise the levels of certain brain chemicals. Amphetamines, methylphenidate, and other stimulants are commonly used. You should inform your doctor about any other medications you take, such as vitamins and supplements. The FDA's medication site has information on approved medications as well as warnings and information guides.