ADHD Symptoms and Treatment in Adults
Many adults struggle to keep up with their daily activities. They may experience stress and mood swings. If you suspect you may have ADHD consult your primary health care provider or mental-health professional for an evaluation.
The criteria for diagnosing adult ADHD is similar to the criteria used for children The symptoms must be present for at least 6 months and are not be more easily explained by medical disorders or mental health issues.
Inattentional symptoms
Many people with ADHD struggle to complete homework, work or household chores. They often miss appointments and fail to pay their bills on time, and have difficulty maintaining relationships with friends and family. They are more likely to lose things or make a mistake that can have serious consequences.
If you are having trouble keeping track of your work or personal affairs, consider talking to your health care provider. Your primary care physician will evaluate your situation and possibly refer you to a mental health professional should it be necessary.
Inattentive ADHD is often misunderstood. People suffering from inattentive ADHD aren't always attentive when spoken to. They forget easily or are distracted by irrelevant thoughts. They might have difficulty staying focused, make erroneous mistakes or struggle to follow instructions. They also have difficulty keeping their hands off their face or appear shaky or fidgety.
Inattention to the symptoms can lead to failing at school or at work which can lead to frustration and shame for the person suffering. They can also cause problems with relationships with friends, family and colleagues.
Health care professionals diagnose ADHD based on a clinical assessment, which includes conducting an interview with the patient and reviewing the behavior of the past. They might ask the person to complete an inventory of symptoms and run tests on the body to determine if there are other conditions that exhibit similar symptoms. The symptoms of ADHD should be present continuously prior to the age of 12 to be able to determine if it is a diagnosis.
Adults suffering from inattentive ADHD may benefit from psychotherapy and lifestyle changes to manage their symptoms. These treatments include medications, behavioral therapy and family psychoeducation. Psychotherapy is a form of counseling that helps patients develop new skills, attitudes and ways of interacting with other people. The practice of behavioral therapy can teach methods that can reduce self-destructive and impulsive behavior as well as improve organizational skills and boost confidence.
It may be helpful for those with inattention ADHD to talk about their struggles with a family member or family member a therapist. Teachers or supervisors as well as coworkers might be able to provide accommodations. Accommodations are tools or changes in the work environment that allow disabled people to carry out tasks just like others, like having a step stool for those who are short.
Hyperactive Symptoms
Adults may exhibit different symptoms in comparison to children. Adult symptoms are more subtle. While children might seem to be restless and fidget while adults tend to be less talkative. They may forget about their tasks and lose the time or location and make a few erroneous mistakes. They may also feel overly active and struggle to sit still during a meal or class. They might interrupt other students or respond to questions prior to being asked a question.
There are a variety of ailments that can trigger these symptoms. A thorough psychiatric examination is required to determine the cause of the symptoms as well as determine the most effective treatment. These include psychotherapy, medications and lifestyle changes. They can be eating a healthy diet, exercising and sleep schedules. They could also include adjusting work or school assignments and making use of assistive devices like calendars, planners and smartphone apps.
You should first discuss your concerns with your family doctor or primary healthcare provider if you suspect that you may have ADHD. The How to Talk to Your Provider factsheet from NIMH contains guidelines on how to communicate with your provider regarding mental health issues.
To be considered to have adhd treatment for adults medication must be evident in at least two different settings and have an impact on your everyday life. They must be present for at least six months in order to be considered to be diagnosed. 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 assist you in managing your ADHD symptoms in addition to adjustments to your lifestyle and accommodations. These medications are known as stimulants. They function by reorganizing brain's signals that influence your mood and attention, as well as your behavior. Your doctor will prescribe the right dose and keep track of your response. You may be prescribed a non-stimulant drug when you experience unpleasant side effects, when stimulants aren't working or is used in conjunction with stimulants to increase the effectiveness of treatment.
Instinctive Symptoms
People who are inattentive ADHD are more likely to lose their keys or phones. People with inattentive ADHD have a tougher time following tasks, arranging their material and completing projects. As adults, the result may be a million incomplete projects around the home: unpaid bills, dirty houses and the garden that was started but never watered.
The impulsive symptoms of ADHD can create difficulties in a variety of aspects of life, but especially in relationships. People who have impulsive ADHD tend to be anxious and require immediate gratification. They might be quick to enter social situations without thinking ahead or take risks that could lead to negative consequences. Impulsive people may also overreact to stressful or emotional situations. Someone could become angry or defensive when fighting with family or friends.
A health specialist who is specialized in mental disorders will review the medical history of a patient, and conduct an examination to diagnose ADHD. The doctor will ask you about the symptoms and how they affect your interactions with others, work, and your home. In order to be diagnosed with one of the types of ADHD, a person must have six or more of the nine main symptoms and the symptoms must interfere with daily functioning for at least 6 months (American Psychological Association, 2000).
Psychostimulants are the most effective treatment for ADHD. They affect the way that certain chemicals communicate with each other in the brain to regulate behaviour. The most commonly used type of stimulant is methylphenidate, which was first used to treat ADHD in children. It is important to speak with your doctor about your medication if are suffering from other health issues like depression or high blood pressure. Psychotherapy can reduce distraction and impulsive symptoms in addition to medication. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is focused on teaching individuals to identify automatic or irrational thoughts that can trigger negative behavior and to develop strategies for self-regulation.
Combination of Symptoms
Adults who suffered from ADHD as children may have symptoms that resurface during adulthood. They may have mild, moderate or severe symptoms that affect school, work, and social interactions. Other mental health issues, like anxiety or depression, might also require treatment. Adults may also suffer from learning disabilities, which make it difficult to comprehend or follow directions in offices and classrooms.
Adults might not be able to detect the signs of inattention ADHD, but it can be affecting their ability to function at home and work. It's difficult for those with this kind of ADHD to sit quietly for classes or business meetings, and they could have trouble keeping up with assignments and work tasks. They may forget deadlines and appointments, and may lose their possessions. They also have trouble following conversations or listening to music. They are more prone to being distracted by the 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 Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV TR) Fourth edition of the American Psychiatric Association, includes a criterion to diagnose the disorder. This includes symptoms that appear before age 12 and occur in multiple settings and cause problems across multiple domains.
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 person was 12 years old and continue at home, in school, as well as in social and work environments.
Researchers are investigating the effects of environmental and genetic factors that may be at play in the development of ADHD. According to studies, people with ADHD might have trouble regulating certain brain chemicals that aid in controlling the way they behave, their mood and attention.
If you have signs of ADHD, talk to your primary care physician. Your doctor will conduct an exam of your body and recommend you to an expert in mental health care to conduct an evaluation. Psychotherapy and medication are typically employed to treat ADHD and other disorders, such as stimulants that increase the levels of certain brain chemicals. Amphetamines and methylphenidate as well as other stimulants are used. Tell your doctor about all other medications you are taking including supplements or vitamins. The FDA's website for medication contains information about approved medicines along with warnings and information guides.