What Does ADHD Look Like in Adults?
While ADHD was once thought of as a condition impacting children during childhood, our understanding of it has changed over the years. We now know that ADHD is something of a chameleon. The symptoms of ADHD change as we age, and because there are many misconceptions about ADHD, it can be especially difficult to recognize in adults.
In today’s post, we’ll explore some of the different signs of ADHD in adults and how they play out in someone’s day-to-day life.
ADHD & Neurodivergence
First, it’s important to understand that ADHD is a neurodivergence — it’s not as simple as an excess of energy or a need to fidget. There’s tremendous diversity among humans — not just in our bodies but also in our brains. People with ADHD perceive the world differently than others, and that difference carries over into how they think about issues and tackle problems. While many brains develop along a well-trod path, we now know that those with ADHD develop differently with age. In many cases, those differences provide creative spark and ingenuity — but they can also make it difficult to function in a world designed around neurotypical behavior.
Signs of ADHD in Adults
ADHD in childhood is associated with a lack of focus and physical hyperactivity. As people with ADHD age, that need to fidget typically diminishes but is replaced by restlessness, anxiety, and difficulties with organization. Most people with ADHD develop workarounds and coping mechanisms as they age, which means symptoms may vary from person to person.
Difficulty Completing Tasks
Adults with ADHD often have a burst of energy when they first pick up a new task or project. The novelty of the task combines with their creative problem-solving abilities, leading them to make quick progress. However, they’ll often pile up several unfinished projects as their attention floats from one interest to the next. In other cases, they’ll describe feeling as if they’ve solved the problem even before they’ve finished implementing the solution, making it harder to see it through to completion.
Forgetfulness
Famously, many adults with ADHD come across as absent-minded professors. They may have a deep wellspring of knowledge covering a broad array of topics, with the ability to recall facts with laser-like precision — but ask them where they left their keys. Not a clue in the world. Keys, wallets, and phones all vanish without a trace — left somewhere in passing while their attention was fixed elsewhere — and forgotten.
Issues with Time Management
Instead of thinking of ADHD as a lack of focus, it may be helpful to think of it as an inability to control focus. This means that adults with ADHD can often lose themselves in tasks or activities that are engaging and interesting to them. Intense focus on hobbies may distract from professional and personal responsibilities, creating friction at work and at home.
Trouble with Healthy Habits
Individuals with ADHD often struggle to maintain healthy habits, including but not limited to maintaining a healthy diet, getting a good night’s rest, and so forth. With ADHD, it can be difficult to manage what might seem like simple tasks, such as taking medication, for example. Especially with age, this kind of neglect for self-care compounds, leading to health complications.
Schedule an Appointment
Are you struggling to keep yourself organized and on task? Is it difficult to maintain your responsibilities at work or at home? If you think you may be suffering from adult ADHD, reach out and schedule a free consultation today. There are several strategies and coping mechanisms that can help mitigate the impact of ADHD on your life. For more information about anxiety or depression therapy, reach out to schedule a consultation today.
About the Author
Will Dempsey, Founder of HHHC
Will Dempsey is the founder of Heads Held High Counseling. He started this practice with a simple goal: to help people. Over time, he realized how often the healthcare system gets in the way of that. Insurances don’t pay providers enough to make a livable wage, but charging what’s fair for therapists can make care unaffordable for clients. It’s a broken system, and he wanted to do something about it.
