ADHD Symptoms and Treatment in Adults
Many adults have difficulty keeping up with their daily tasks. They may experience stress and mood shifts. If you suspect that you have ADHD you should consult your primary care provider or an expert in mental health for an evaluation.
The criteria for determining adult ADHD is similar to the criteria used for children ADHD: symptoms must be evident over 6 months and not better explained by medical disorders or conditions.
Attentive symptoms
Many adults with ADHD find it difficult to keep up with homework, work or household chores. They are late for appointments, don't pay bills on time, and struggle to maintain relationships with family and friends. They are more likely than other people to lose things, or make careless errors that can have serious consequences.
Speak to your health care provider if have difficulty keeping the track of your work or personal issues. Your primary care doctor will evaluate your situation and refer you to a mental specialist when needed.
Symptoms of inattention ADHD are often misunderstood. People with inattentive ADHD aren't always attentive when they are spoken to. They forget easily or are distracted by irrelevant thoughts. They are unable to stay focused on tasks, may make mistakes or fail to follow instructions. They also struggle to keep their hands off their faces or appearing shaky or fidgety.
Inattention to the symptoms could cause a drop in performance at the workplace or at school which can lead to frustration and shame for those affected. They can also cause issues in relationships with friends, family members and colleagues.
The diagnosis of ADHD is based on the clinical assessment. This includes an interview with the patient as well as a review of past behavior. They may ask the patient to complete the symptom checklist and perform medical tests to determine if there are other conditions that exhibit similar symptoms. The symptoms of ADHD must be present consistently before the age of 12 to be able to determine if it is a diagnosis.
Adults suffering from inattention ADHD can often benefit from psychotherapy, lifestyle adjustments and other treatments to manage their symptoms. These treatments include medication such as behavioral therapy, family therapy and psychoeducation. Psychotherapy is a kind of counseling that helps patients learn new attitudes, skills and ways of engaging with others. Behavioral therapy can teach techniques that can reduce self-destructive and impulsive behavior as well as improve organizational skills and build confidence.
It could be helpful for people with inattentive ADHD to discuss their issues with a 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 and changes to the environment that enable the disabled person to carry out tasks like all other people. For instance, a short person can use the step stool.
Hyperactive Signs and symptoms
Adults may exhibit different symptoms in comparison to children. While children can fidget, seem agitated and agitated while adult symptoms tend to be more subtle. They may forget about their tasks and lose the track of time or location and make careless mistakes. They might also feel stimulated and have trouble sitting still, even while sitting down to a meal or in class. They might interrupt others or mutter answers before they've been asked a question, and have trouble waiting their turn in conversations or games.
These symptoms could be caused by a myriad of conditions. To determine the cause of the symptoms and determine the most effective treatment, a full mental health assessment is needed. These could include psychotherapy, medication and lifestyle changes. This can include an improved diet, more exercise and an improved sleep schedule. This can be done by making adjustments to work or school assignments and making use of assistive tools like calendars and planners, as well as smartphone apps.
If you suspect that you have ADHD, your first step is to discuss your concerns with your family physician or primary care doctor. You can find tips for speaking with your health care provider regarding mental health issues on NIMH's How to Talk to Your Health Care Provider fact sheet.
To be considered to have ADHD the symptoms must be present in at least two different settings and have an 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.
There are a variety of medications available to aid in managing your ADHD symptoms in addition to lifestyle modifications and accommodations. These drugs are known as stimulants. They function by enhancing the signals in your brain that influence your mood, attention and behavior. Your doctor will prescribe the appropriate dosage of the medication for you and monitor your reaction to treatment. You might be prescribed a non-stimulant medication when you experience unpleasant side effects, if the stimulant isn't working, or when combined with stimulants to enhance the effectiveness of treatment.
Instinctive Symptoms
Everybody loses keys or a cellphone from time-to-time However, for those with inattention ADHD the little distractions can become an issue. Whether it's doodling in class or losing track of time during a meeting, people with inattention ADHD have a harder time to follow tasks, organize their materials and complete their projects. As adults, the result can be a million incomplete projects around the house: unpaid bills, messy homes and the garden that was started but never watered.
Relationships are one of the most common areas where the impulsive ADHD symptoms can cause issues. People with impulsive ADHD are usually fast-paced and crave immediate gratification. They may be impulsive and enter social situations without thinking ahead or take risks that could cause negative consequences. In addition, impulsive individuals may react too strongly in emotional or stressful situations. For example, a person may become extremely angry or defensive in arguments with family or friends.
A medical specialist who is specialized in mental disorders will examine the medical history of a patient, and conduct an examination to determine ADHD. The doctor will also inquire about how symptoms affect your work, home and family relationships. To be diagnosed with one or the other form of ADHD, a person must show at least six of the nine main symptoms. The symptoms must also hinder daily functioning and last at minimum six months (American Association for Psychiatric Research 2000).
The most effective treatment for ADHD is psychostimulants, which are medications that affect the way certain chemicals interact with the brain to regulate behavior. The most commonly used stimulant is methylphenidate. It was originally used to treat ADHD in children. It's important to talk with your physician about your medication if you are suffering from other health issues such as depression or high blood pressure. Psychotherapy can reduce the symptoms of impulsivity and distracting behavior in addition to medications. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is focused on helping individuals recognize the automatic or irrational thoughts that can trigger negative behavior and develop strategies for self-regulation.
Multiple symptoms
Adults who were diagnosed with ADHD as children may experience symptoms in adulthood. They may have mild, moderate, or severe symptoms that affect work, school and social interactions. first line treatment for adhd in adults , such as anxiety or depression, might also require treatment. Adults may also suffer from difficulties with learning, making it difficult to comprehend or follow directions in offices and classrooms.
Adults may not be able recognize the symptoms of inattentive ADHD, but it can be a problem for them to perform at work and home. This kind of ADHD makes it difficult for people to remain focused in business meetings or college lectures. They might also be unable to keep up with their work and assignments. They can often lose track of their belongings and forget deadlines or appointments. They also have trouble following conversations or listening to music. They are more prone to being distracted by people or activities that are going on around them than the majority of 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 4th edition (DSM-IV TR) has a criterion for diagnosing the disorder that includes symptoms that begin before age 12, occur in multiple settings and lead to impairment in a variety of areas like school and 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, as well as in other social and work settings.
There's no reason for ADHD, but researchers are studying environmental and genetic factors that could be a factor. According to studies, people with ADHD may have difficulty controlling certain chemicals in their brains that help control the way they behave, their mood and attention.
Consult your primary healthcare provider if you show signs of ADHD. Your doctor can conduct an examination and refer you for an evaluation by a mental health professional. Psychotherapy and medications are usually employed to treat ADHD and other disorders, such as stimulants that increase the levels of certain brain chemicals. These include amphetamines and methylphenidate. Tell your doctor about all other medications you are taking, including vitamins or supplements. The FDA's medication site has information about approved medicines along with warnings and information guidelines.
