ADHD Symptoms and Treatment in Adults
Many adults struggle to keep up with their everyday tasks. They often experience frustration and mood swings. If you suspect that you might be suffering from ADHD consult your primary healthcare provider or a mental health professional for an assessment.
The criteria used to diagnose adult ADHD is the same as that for children: symptoms must be present for at least 6 months and are not better explained by other medical disorders or mental health issues.
Attentive Signs
Adults suffering from ADHD typically have difficulty to keep up with school, at work or with household chores. They often miss appointments and fail to pay their bills on time, and have difficulty maintaining relationships with their family and friends. They are more likely to lose things or make mistakes which can result in serious consequences.
Talk to your health care provider if you have difficulty keeping track of personal or work matters. Your primary care physician will assess your situation and refer you to a mental health specialist should it be necessary.
Inattentive ADHD is often misunderstood. People suffering from inattentive ADHD don't always listen when they are spoken to and are easily distracted or frequently distracted by irrelevant thoughts. They might have difficulty staying focused, make erroneous mistakes or struggle to follow directions. They may also have difficulty keeping their hands off their faces or appear shaky.
Inattentive symptoms can lead to failure at work or school which can lead to feelings of shame and frustration for the person suffering. They can also cause problems in relationships with friends, family members and colleagues.
Health professionals identify ADHD based on a clinical assessment that involves conducting an interview with the patient and reviewing the behavior of the past. They may ask the patient to complete an inventory of symptoms and run medical tests in order to determine if there are other conditions that exhibit similar symptoms. The symptoms of ADHD must be evident consistently prior to the age of 12 to be able to determine if it is an assessment.
Adults suffering from inattention ADHD are often able to benefit from psychotherapy, lifestyle modifications and other treatments that help to manage their symptoms. These treatments include behavioral therapy, medication and psychoeducation for families. Psychotherapy is a form of therapy that helps patients learn new attitudes, skills and ways of engaging with others. The practice of behavioral therapy can teach methods that will decrease self-destructive and impulsive behaviors as well as improve organizational skills and boost confidence.
It may be helpful for people with inattentive ADHD to talk about their issues with a friend, family member, or a therapist. Teachers or supervisors as well as coworkers might be able to provide accommodations. treatment for add adhd in adults are modifications and tools to the working environment that permit the disabled person to complete tasks just like everyone else. For example, a short person can utilize the step stool.
Hyperactive Symptoms
Adults may show different symptoms as children. While children can fidget, appear restless and talkative while adult symptoms tend to be more subtle. They may forget their assignments and lose the track of time or location and make careless mistakes. They might also feel energetic and find it difficult to sit still, even when eating a meal or in class. They might interrupt others or shout out answers before they've been asked a question, and aren't able to wait their turn during games or conversations.
These symptoms can be caused by a myriad of conditions. To determine the root of symptoms and the most effective treatment, a full psychiatric assessment is required. These can include psychotherapy, medication and lifestyle changes. This can include the use of a healthier diet plan along with more exercise, and an improved sleep schedule. This could include changing work or school assignments, and utilizing aidive tools like calendars and planners, as well as smartphone apps.
It is important to discuss your concerns with a family doctor or primary healthcare provider if you suspect you may have ADHD. The How to Talk to Your Provider factsheet from NIMH offers guidelines on how to communicate with your provider about mental issues.
It's crucial to know that to be diagnosed with ADHD symptoms must manifest in more than one setting and have a significant impact on everyday life. To be eligible they must be 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 medications to assist you in managing your ADHD symptoms, as well as lifestyle modifications and accommodations. These medications are called stimulants. They work by reorganizing the brain's signals that affect your mood, attention and behavior. Your doctor will prescribe the right dosage of the medication to you and will monitor your response to treatment. You could be prescribed a non-stimulant medication in the event of a recurring adverse effects, or when the stimulant isn't working, or when combined with stimulants to enhance the effectiveness of treatment.
Instinctive Symptoms
People who are inattentive ADHD are more likely to lose their keys or phones. It doesn't matter if it's drawing in class or losing track of time during a meeting, people with inattention ADHD are more difficult to stay on task or organize their materials. They also find it difficult to complete their projects. As adults, this may cause a variety of half-finished tasks around the house: unpaid bills, unkempt homes and a vegetable garden that was planted but never watered.
The impulse-driven symptoms of ADHD can create problems in many areas of our lives, but specifically with relationships. People who have impulsive ADHD tend to be impatient and need immediate gratification. They may jump into social situations with no planning or taking risks, which can have negative effects. Impulsive people may also overreact to stressful or emotional situations. One can become frustrated or defensive in a dispute with family or friends.
A health specialist who is specialized in mental disorders will examine the medical history of a patient, and perform an exam to diagnose ADHD. The doctor will ask you about your symptoms and how they impact your interactions with others, work, and home. In order to be diagnosed with one of the types of ADHD the patient must have at least six of the nine symptoms and the symptoms must interfere with daily functioning for at least 6 months (American Association for Psychiatric Research 2000).
The most effective treatment for ADHD is psychostimulants. These are drugs that affect the way certain chemicals communicate in the brain to regulate behavior. The most common type of stimulant is the methylphenidate drug, which was originally used to treat ADHD in children. The medication may not be suitable for people with other health issues, for example, high blood pressure or depression It is therefore essential to discuss your medications with your doctor. In addition to medicines psychotherapy can aid in reducing the symptoms of distraction and impulsivity. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), focuses on teaching people to identify automatic or irrational thinking that triggers negative behaviors and develop strategies for self-regulation.
Combination of Symptoms
Adults who had ADHD as children might experience symptoms that return in adulthood. They can have mild or moderate symptoms that interfere in their work, school, and social interactions. They may also have other mental health problems, such as depression or anxiety that require treatment. Some adults may also have difficulties with learning, making it difficult to understand or follow instructions in classrooms and offices.
The signs of the inattentive kind of ADHD aren't as obvious in adults but they do influence how people perform at home and work. It's hard for people who suffer from this type of ADHD to sit quietly for college lectures or business meetings, and they may be unable to keep up with assignments and work-related tasks. They can often lose track of their belongings and forget appointments or deadlines. They might also have trouble following conversations or listening music. They are more susceptible to distraction by people or activities in the vicinity than most 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, fourth 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 across multiple domains including 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 started before the age of 12 and persist at home, at school as well as in other work and social situations.
There's no known cause of ADHD, but researchers are studying genetic and environmental factors that may have a role to play. Research suggests that the brains of those with ADHD have trouble regulating certain chemicals, including neurotransmitters which help manage mood, attention and behavior.
Consult your primary healthcare provider if there are indications of ADHD. Your doctor can conduct an examination of your body and refer you to an assessment by a mental health professional. Treatment for ADHD usually involves psychotherapy and medications including stimulants, which boost levels of certain chemicals in the brain. These include amphetamines and methylphenidate. Inform your doctor about any other medications you are taking including supplements or vitamins. The FDA's website for medications contains information about approved medications as well as patient information and warnings guides.