“For reasons we don’t quite understand, soon after you command yourself to pay attention, you forget that you commanded yourself to pay attention” – Edward M. Hallowell,M.D., from Delivered From Distraction.

According to the Mayo Clinic, Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a mental health disorder that includes a combination of persistent problems, such as difficulty paying attention, hyperactivity and impulsive behavior. Adult ADHD can lead to unstable relationships, poor work or school performance, low self-esteem, and other problems.

Adults who have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have had it since childhood. Certain people are diagnosed in childhood and timely treatment helps them understand the condition better and deal with it in an effective manner, whereas there are some people who aren’t diagnosed in childhood are termed as naughty children or parents tend to pass it off as a phase which will die down, only to find out later in life that they have ADHD.

Experts are of the opinion that individuals don’t suddenly develop ADHD as adults, they are of the opinion that ADHD stems from the childhood and continues into adulthood for certain people. It is possible that many children with ADHD may outgrow it, but about 60% still have it as adults. Adult ADHD seems to affect men and women equally.


SYMPTOMS OF ADULT ADHD: 

Adult ADHD symptoms may include:·

  • Impulsiveness.
  • Difficulty in following directions.
  • Disorganization and problems prioritizing.
  • Poor time management skills.
  • Difficulty in remembering information.
  • Problems focusing on a task.
  • Trouble multitasking.
  • Excessive activity or restlessness.
  • Poor planning.
  • Difficulty in concentrating.
  • Low frustration tolerance.
  • Frequent mood swings.
  • Problems following through and completing tasks.
  • Hot temper.
  • Trouble coping with stress.

CAUSES OF ADULT ADHD:

1. ADHD tends to run in families and research indicates that genes may play a role in the development of ADHD. If one has blood relatives who have ADHD or any other mental disorder, they are at a higher risk of developing ADHD or any mental disorder.

2. Mothers who drink, smoke or consume drugs during the course of pregnancy are at an increased risk of developing the disorder.

3. Premature birth can also put one at the risk of developing ADHD.

4. Individuals who have had problems during the developmental stages, problems with the central nervous system (CNS) may be more prone to developing ADHD.

5. Children who were exposed to environmental toxins and lead may lead to the development of ADHD.



WARNING SIGNS:·
  • Organization is a problem.
  • Recklessness.
  • Distractibility and lack of focus.
  • Anger outbursts.
  • Not being punctual or always running late.
  • Marital trouble.
  • Poor listening skills.
  • Trouble in beginning and keeping up to tasks.
  • Restless.
  • Prioritizing is an issue.
  • Time management issues.
  • Forgetfulness.

In order to know if you had ADHD as a child you can do the following (WebMD):· 

  • Look at school report cards. Look for comments about behavioral problems, poor focus, lack of effort, or underachievement compared to your potential.
  • Talk with your parents to see if you had any symptoms during childhood.
  • People who have ADHD may have had trouble getting along with others when they were kids or had a hard time in school. Teachers may have had to work with you. For example, maybe you had to sit at the front of the class.

CO-MORBID/ CO-EXISTING CONDITIONS:

Having ADHD doesn’t lead to or cause other psychological or mental disorders but other disorders do occur along with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, some of which are as follows:

  1. Anxiety Disorders.
  2. Mood Disorders.
  3. Learning Disability.
  4. Depression.
  5. Substance Abuse.
  6. Personality Disorders.

TREATMENT OF ADULT ADHD:

Having ADHD continue into adulthood can be quite troublesome for an individual. When individuals remain undiagnosed in childhood, they themselves are not able to understand that they have a problem, they continue to blame and hold themselves responsible for not doing enough to improve. This constant tug of war between wanting to improve and not being able to continue doing so can be disturbing for the individual. Seeking help of a professional at this time is of the utmost importance. 

  1. Medications: Medication is the first line of treatment when it comes to ADHD. Medicines help reduce the symptoms of Hyperactivity or Impulsivity or both and help the individual to concentrate better. It is however important to understand that the symptoms in the individual are chronic, they have been prevalent since a long time and expecting quick results can be quite unrealistic. In such times, it is important to trust your Doctor and give him/her and yourself enough time so see improvements. 
  2. Stimulants: Stimulants help in boosting and balancing the chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. Research indicates that about two – thirds of the adult population with ADHD tend to see improvements in their symptoms with the help of stimulants. The kinds of stimulant medications that are prescribed are, Amphetamine, Methylphenidate,Dexmethylphenidate, Dextroamphetamine and Lisdexamfetamine. It is also important to note that stimulants can be misused, so controlled use and supervision would be advised.
  3. Non – Stimulant Medications: Non – Stimulant medications are another way to go. These  take longer to start working as compared to stimulants, but they help improve focus, attention, and impulsivity. The kinds of non-stimulant medications that are prescribed are, Atomoxetine, Guanfacine and Clonidine.
  4. Psychotherapy: Along with medication, psychotherapy is also important. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on the thoughts that an individual has. When it comes to adults having ADHD, the symptoms can be long standing, by this time individuals are used to blaming themselves and have believed it that they are culprits of their inattention, hyperactivity or impulsivity. With this kind of self-blame, there can also be sadness of mood and self-esteem issues. With the help of Psychoeducation, a psychologist makes individuals aware of the condition and with the help of CBT one understands his/ her own thought patterns and learns to adapt to a realistic way of thinking. With the help of therapy one can also learn time management and develop problem solving skills.
  5. Family Therapy: Family therapy is also important in such cases, educating the family about the condition and helping them in learning how to deal with the individual would also help. One can also work on family issues and work on improving relationships.
  6. Coaching/ Mentoring: Some people may require mentoring or coaching when it comes to work or life. Dealing with things at work or in life can become quite overwhelming and individuals may even tend to procrastinate , setting up goals for yourself and having a mentor or support system may help in these situations.

POINTS TO REMEMBER:

Every adult having ADHD may not necessarily have the same symptoms, every individual is different. Some individuals may jobs that they enjoy or which gives them enough stimulation, so concentration for these people isn’t an issue, whereas some individuals may not have this privilege and concentrating or maintaining focus becomes a huge ordeal. Following are some points to remember if one has ADHD:

  1. Be consistent with the treatment: In order to see improvement in your symptoms, you need to be consistent and patient with the treatment. Whether it be medication or therapy or any lifestyle change, one needs to commit to it. It is imperative to understand that any kind of treatment requires some time to show its effect and when it comes to adult ADHD the symptoms can be long standing and treating such symptoms can require some time and patience.
  2. Organize: When it comes to ADHD, being in a cluttered environment can be quite distracting for the individual. Organizing your living and work areas would be quite helpful.
  3. Make a list of tasks: Certain individuals who have ADHD can tend to be forgetful and can have poor listening skills, in these situations, it would help to make a list of tasks to be completed for the day and to assign a level of priority to each task.
  4. Break down the tasks: For individuals with ADHD it can be quite overwhelming thinking about the enormity of a task. Breaking down the tasks into manageable portions would help and rather than concentrating on the entire task at one time, one can give attention to a part of it at a given time.
  5. Set realistic goals: Certain adults with ADHD may have a tendency to overcompensate for their lack of maintaining focus and attention and they may keep on piling up the tasks, not knowing when to stop, they set unrealistic and unachievable goals for themselves which they are not able to accomplish and which further makes them feel bad about themselves. The idea is not to load yourself with tasks in the hope that you will come under pressure and complete them. It is essential to understand your condition and work in a way that you are able to achieve the goal.
  6. Stop Procrastinating: Adults who have ADHD also tend to procrastinate when it comes to work or tasks that they have to complete.They either spend all of their time in planning and don’t begin the task or they begin but lose interest mid-way. Procrastinating deters one from the task and breaking down the task, setting realistic goals and making a list will help the individual to concentrate on one task. Another thing to keep in mind is not to spend a lot of time in planning. At the beginning of the day, give yourself 15-30 mins to plan your tasks and make your lists spending more than the required amount of time will again deter one from actually starting the task.
  7. Relaxation: Relaxation and deep breathing help with the anxiety and stress. When you feel you are not able to concentrate or are losing your focus deep breathing or any kind of relaxation technique will help you calm down and clear you mind and you can get back to your task.
  8. Cut down on the distractions: Individuals with ADHD seek stimulation. When there are a lot of distractions around you it will definitely not help when you need to concentrate on one task. Social media is one of the major distractions that distracts people from their tasks. Make it a point to cut down on such distractions and for social media, one can either keep their phone away or block the social media applications during the hours that they are working or don’t want to be distracted.
  9. Set reminders: Set reminders for yourself to complete tasks, reminding yourself about deadlines, or to begin a task. Even if you take a break from work for a little while, getting back to work can also be a challenge for some, setting reminders to remind you to get back to work can also help.
  10. Write notes to self: Using sticky notes to remind oneself about things to do or complete will also help. Pasting them on the fridge, mirror or other places where one will see them regularly would help.
  11. Set up a routine for yourself: It is also important to set up and follow a routine on an everyday basis.
  12. Ask for help: Asking for help is also important, doing everything by yourself puts too much pressure, so delegating work or tasks would help lessen the burden.
  13. Give yourself enough time: It is quite likely that when one starts any kind of treatment they expect quick results and improvements but understanding that it takes time for the treatment and your own efforts to show results. Giving yourself enough time would help.
  14. Self-blame won’t help: Blaming yourself for the past or not putting in enough efforts or not doing enough or wasting time will not help, it just makes one feel bad about themselves. Refraining from blaming yourself would help with your mood.
  15. Make efforts: If you are seeking treatment, it is very good but you also need to understand that one also needs to make efforts and bringing in and adapting to some lifestyle changes. It is likely that you will have to make a lot of efforts to see some amount of result but remind yourself of the end goal and be persistent.

“For an adult with ADHD, the key to success is to find the courage to be who you are. This means shaping your life to fit your impulsiveness, distractibility, high energy and need for stimulation” – Lara Honos Webb, from The Gift Of Adult ADD.