Adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) make up between 2.5 and 4.4% of the population; many more have neither received a diagnosis nor are aware that they exhibit symptoms associated with ADHD. These are 15 indicators of ADHD in adults.
In particular, you can read more about the prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults. This can be due to several reasons. First, the diagnostic criteria for ADHD have evolved over the years. Additionally, old stereotypes say that only children have ADHD (which is not true) and that ADHD is the same in people of all ages and genders (which is also false). Because the signs and symptoms of ADHD in adults are not widely known, many adults remain undiagnosed throughout their lives.
The American Psychiatric Association reports that about 2.5% of adults have ADHD, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimates that 4.4% of adults between the ages of 18 and 44 have ADHD. A review of population-based studies from January 2000, published in the Journal of Global Health in February 2021, found that 2.58% of adults worldwide have "adult persistent ADHD". child. . In addition, about 6.76% of adults have "symptomatic adult ADHD," meaning that a person may not have been diagnosed with ADHD as a child, but may develop symptoms as an adult.
Additionally, a 2014 literature review published in the CNS Disorders Primary Care Companion found that ADHD in adults remains underdiagnosed and often misdiagnosed. But a diagnosis can change your life.
Adults with ADHD have lower incomes and higher rates of accidents, unplanned pregnancies, and substance abuse than adults without ADHD. Wetzel, MD, assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska.
Getting the right diagnosis can help you better understand yourself and how your brain works. It relieves feelings of failure, anger and low self-esteem. You will also be able to cope well with work, daily activities and relationships with friends, family and yourself. Here are 15 signs or symptoms of ADHD in adults: If you or someone you know has these symptoms, know that there are lifestyle changes, treatments, and medications that can help.
Children with ADHD may be hyperactive, while adults may feel nervous or anxious. Children and adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (CHADD) and adults with ADHD sometimes feel as if their stomachs are being controlled by their motors. Adults don't show obvious signs of running or jumping, says Colette de Marneff, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist in Silver Spring, Maryland. Hyperactivity is a more subtle form of anxiety. This can lead to tremors in the limbs or difficulty sitting still in a chair.
Now, if you're wondering if you have ADHD, you might think back to your tumultuous childhood. doctor. Wetzel had a patient who remembers spending a lot of time in the hallways of her school because she couldn't sit still. "It's a classic story," says Dr. Wetzel. Additionally, when a child is diagnosed with ADHD, some adults who may have the same symptoms as the child realize that they may have always had ADHD.
You have problems in your relationship
Adults with ADHD report difficulty maintaining professional, personal, and romantic relationships. Coworkers, friends, and partners may feel frustrated when adults with ADHD exhibit symptoms such as restlessness, tardiness, disorganization, procrastination, poor hearing, and memory retention. CHADD notes that people with ADHD often interrupt others, talk too much, or speak bluntly, which can make relationships difficult.
On the other hand, while adults with ADHD may desire and continue a relationship when the initial excitement for a new friendship or partnership wears off, a person with ADHD may become bored, anxious, or anxious in the relationship.
"Adults with ADHD often have difficulty making this transition," says de Marneff. "Once a relationship becomes stable and predictable, conflict often arises."
Being easily distracted or distracted, a symptom of ADHD, can also cause a breakdown in relationships with family, friends and others who view a loved one's behavior as selfish, Dr. Wetzel added.
You do a lot of shopping.
A study published in August 2015 in Psychiatry Research found that adults with ADHD are associated with compulsive shopping. According to a study published in December 2014, this may be an attempt to mimic your self-image to improve your mood, fight depression, relieve stress and boost self-esteem.
The results of psychiatric research were published. It is also associated with impulsivity, another symptom of adult ADHD.
Smoking or drinking too much alcohol
Adolescents and adults with ADHD are at increased risk of abusing substances, including alcohol, drugs and tobacco, according to a review published in Current Psychiatry Reports in March 2014. But more data are needed to understand the complex relationships.
Adults with ADHD are more likely to be daily smokers, according to a study published in August 2016 in Psychology of Addictive Behavior. “Nicotine is very effective for many ADHD symptoms, and it is not uncommon for someone to experience this for the first time after quitting smoking,” Dr. Wetzel said.
Doctors say this is often due to problems with focus and concentration. Wezel has arrived. Although not everyone with ADHD has trouble paying attention, a study published in The Journal of Pediatrics in December 2013 found that people with childhood attention deficit disorder are more likely to abuse cigarettes, alcohol, cannabis, and/or cocaine later in life. it turns out that the risk is higher. . .
People may turn to these substances to cope with recurring disorders such as depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder, as well as the low self-esteem and feelings of failure that can accompany ADHD.
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If ADHD is suspected in an adult, an early history of ADHD symptoms, such as difficulty sitting still, paying attention to a teacher, or concentrating on one's own activity, can confirm the diagnosis.
"What my adult patients tell me over and over again is that they have to work twice as hard as their peers to get half as much in school," says Dr. Wetzel. These difficulties can continue into adulthood. In a study published in the Canadian Journal of School Psychology in October 2019, students reported experiencing academic difficulties, which they often attributed to a lack of motivation or a perceived lack of motivation.
You are a champion procrastinator.
Are you living from term to term? By definition, procrastination means postponing action. A study published in July 2014 in the International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research classifies procrastination in three ways: Procrastination can look like putting off studying or starting work until the last minute.
Daily procrastination can mean putting off organizing daily activities and completing them even before the deadline. It could also mean giving yourself time to respond to texts or calls, or paying late bills. Finally, procrastination occurs when you have difficulty making decisions on time or procrastinate. "I can't tell you how many times I've had a patient tell me, 'I'm the king of procrastination' or 'I'm the queen of procrastination.' Because they feel that procrastination is inevitable," says Dr. Wetzel. "Other people can put off everything they can do."
Dr. Wetzel added that this is something people with ADHD can focus on when they're feeling anxious. However, constant worrying can cause stress.
Are you a thrill seeker?
People with ADHD are often drawn to stimulating activities. They may engage in risky behaviors such as speeding, gambling, and even extramarital affairs.
A September 2013 study published in the journal PLoS One found that children and teens with ADHD are at greater risk of developing risky behaviors, such as gambling, than adults with ADHD. However, this may lead to developmental changes in "sensitivity to reward and/or punishment," which researchers hypothesize may occur in adulthood. "The key is to channel your enthusiasm and desire for new things into activities that don't compromise work and family life," says de Marneff. Parasailing or other adventure activities can be good alternatives.
You lose things or feel confused.
Tip: Your desk is full of paper and you waste 30 minutes looking for important legal documents. Or maybe you haven't been able to get your child to see the pediatrician and the school needs an immunization report. doctor. Wetzel described ADHD as a "weak state of consciousness." If you put the keys down and don't focus, your brain won't remember the story.
"I don't think that ever happened," Dr. Wetzel said. If you have ADHD, it can be difficult to stay organized. CHADD offers several ways to improve organization and productivity, including breaking tasks into small steps, dividing space into sections, and creating a filing system that fits your lifestyle.
You will have problems at work.
Everyone has tasks they don't like, but most people can find a way to get the boring aspects of their job done, De Marneff says. However, people with ADHD have this problem. Duplicate tasks tend not to overlap well, says De Marneff. Choose a career that you enjoy and that satisfies your need for innovation and variety.
You have a short temper
If you skip turns and move quickly in times of anger or frustration, this could be a sign of ADHD.
Because this type of irritability can be a symptom of bipolar disorder, some people with ADHD may be misdiagnosed, Dr. Wetzel says. (However, it's possible to have both.) It's important to get a thorough evaluation and diagnosis.
Children with ADHD are often misclassified as "bad," "rude," "destructive" or "aggressive," but a study published in August 2016 in the journal Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica linked this type of childhood behavior. ADHD.
Have trouble completing tasks
Is your house full of laundry? Is your expense invoice still being processed? Even if you haven't discovered procrastination, it can be difficult to finish what you start.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), inability to complete tasks can be a symptom of ADHD in adults. doctor. Wetzel, author of the e-book "The Adult ADHD Handbook for Patients, Family and Friends" ($3, amazon.com), has found that the most successful people with ADHD are entrepreneurs who surround themselves with people they recognize and care about. disorder.. I filled out the details and paperwork and took care of the simple parts of the task.
You are impulsive
If you feel like you keep everything to yourself without considering the consequences, this could be a symptom of ADHD. ADHD can manifest as impulsivity in teenagers, according to a June 2012 study published in the journal Nature Neuroscience. The Fifth Edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) describes ADHD symptoms in adults as excessive talking, slurred answers before completing questions, and disruptive behavior in adults. And acting impulsively without thinking can cause problems with your family or colleagues. Examples include suddenly quitting a job, having unprotected sex, or making impulsive purchases without thinking about the consequences.
You can't relax
Your partner wants to watch a movie, but if it's not a thriller you want to see, you might find yourself waking up a few times or having random thoughts that distract you from the plot.
Keeping calm requires a calm mind, and this can be difficult for people with ADHD because "there are so many other things that can occupy their mind," says Dr. Wetzel. "People with ADHD will tell you that meditation is impossible."
You are easily distracted
You're on a conference call, but your mind is wandering. Before you know it, part of the conversation is lost. According to the DSM-5, maintaining concentration is a specific problem and core symptom in ADHD. Focus on unimportant things, from external sounds and movements to dreams. It's not your fault and it doesn't show how much you care about anything or anyone. A study published in August 2014 in the Journal of Attention Disorders looked at the relationship between ADHD and delusions in adults. CHADD recommends trying strategies such as asking questions or moving to a quiet workspace, using noise-cancelling or white-noise headphones, and keeping a list of ideas while listening so you you can refer to them later.
If you are running late or have trouble managing time
Time management is a challenge for many people, but being punctual or estimating how long it will take to do something can be associated with ADHD in adults. A January 2013 study published in the journal Neuropsychological noted that "lack of time," or time problems, is associated with inattention and impulsivity.
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