Adult ADHD

Many only associate ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) with children, but did  you know that a large percentage of individuals who experience symptoms as a child will find that they are carried well into adulthood? Sometimes even while their old symptoms start to decline, new symptoms will begin to appear that are primarily dominant in adult ADHD. It is important to be aware of this common occurrence so that you can react accordingly if you or someone you know experiences any of the following symptoms.

1. Problems staying organized

Disorganization is the main symptom of adult ADHD that can even worsen as an individual grows older. As a child being disorganized may have been a simple annoyance to yourself and those around you, however as an adult this can prove to be catastrophic when it comes to staying on top of bills, jobs and even children.

2. Marital or Relationship Problems

This shouldn't be considered an immediate red flag that indicates ADHD as a large percentage of couples experience marital or relationship issues. It is primarily certain aspects of a troubled relationship or marriage that might point to an undiagnosed case of ADHD - these include poor listening skills, depression and even the inability to understand why your partner is upset due to common symptoms.

3. Traffic and/or Speeding Tickets, Reckless Driving and Accidents

Because ADHD makes it hard to maintain your attention on any given task, driving a car for any extended period of time can often lead to careless accidents and an increase in the likelihood of getting pulled over for speeding.

4. Poor Listening Skills

"Zoning-out" during conversations or forgetting appointments is another common trait found in adult ADHD. 

5. Extreme Distractibility

Because the main symptoms of ADHD focus around the inability to maintain attention, adults who are affected by it's symptoms tend to be easily distracted. This includes not being able to finish projects and sometimes can lead to a history of underperformance in the work-environment.

6. Restlessness and Problems Relaxing

The 'H' in ADHD stand for hyperactivity, which in adults prevents them from being able to relax as easily as they should, sometimes coming across as appearing 'on edge' or 'tense.'

7. Outbursts of Anger

ADHD in adults will sometimes lead to the individual having problems controlling their emotions, leading to flare ups where they might exhibit short tempers or outbursts of anger.

8. Problems Starting A Task

In the same way that children with ADHD will try to put off doing their homework or assigned chores, adults tend to have problems starting basic tasks. This also can lead to marital and even work-related problems.

9. Chronic Lateness

The main reason why those affected by adult ADHD are chronically late is either they were distracted by an event when they should have been focused on the appointment or they underestimated how long it would take to finish a given task. It is a common trait of adult ADHD to have difficulty in estimating how long it will take to complete tasks or jobs. 

10. Problems Prioritizing

The inability to maintain attention as well as difficulty in estimating how long tasks will take can result in problems prioritizing and planning both work and social events. Instead of focusing on the necessary goal, an individual with adult ADHD might spend hours involved with an un-related activity instead (e.g. getting a higher score on a video game).