ADHD Symptoms and Treatment in Adults
Many adults report that they have trouble keeping up with their daily activities often expressing frustration and mood swings. If you suspect that you might be suffering from ADHD contact your primary health care provider or a mental-health professional for an assessment.
The criteria for determining adult ADHD is the same as that for children ADHD: symptoms must be evident over 6 months and not be better explained by medical disorders or mental health issues.
Inattentive Signs
Adults with ADHD typically have difficulty to keep up in school, at work or with household chores. They are late for appointments, don't pay bills on time, and struggle to maintain relationships with their family and friends. They are more likely than other people to lose their possessions or make mistakes that can have serious consequences.
Speak to your health care provider if you have difficulty keeping track of work or personal issues. Your primary care provider will assess your situation and refer you to a mental health specialist should it be necessary.
The signs of inattention ADHD are often misunderstood. People with inattentive ADHD do not always listen when they are spoken to and tend to forget quickly or are frequently distracted by irrelevant thoughts. They might have difficulty staying focused, make erroneous mistakes or struggle to follow directions. They also have trouble keeping their hands off their faces or appear unstable or fidgety.
Inattentive symptoms may result in a failure at the workplace or at school, which can cause frustration and shame for the affected. They can also cause issues in relationships with friends, family and colleagues.
Health care professionals identify ADHD based on a clinical assessment, which involves interviewing the individual and reviewing previous behavior. They often request that the person fill out a questionnaire about their symptoms and may conduct tests to exclude mental or physical illnesses that have similar symptoms. The symptoms of ADHD must occur consistently since before age 12 in order for the diagnosis to be made.
Adults with inattentive ADHD typically benefit from psychotherapy, lifestyle modifications and other treatments that help to manage their symptoms. These treatments include medication, behavioral therapy and psychoeducation for families. Psychotherapy is a type of counseling that helps patients learn new skills, attitudes and ways of engaging with others. The use of behavioral therapy can help decrease self-destructive and impulsive behavior, improve the ability to manage and organize, and boost confidence.
It can be beneficial for people suffering from inattention ADHD to talk about their struggles with a family member, family member, or therapist. Teachers, supervisors, and co-workers may be able to offer accommodations. Accommodations are the tools or modifications in the environment that allow the disabled person to do the same tasks as the rest of us, for example, having a step stool for those who are short.
Hyperactive symptoms
The symptoms of this type of ADHD might be different in adults than children. Adult symptoms are more subtle. While children may seem to be restless and fidget adults are less and less talkative. They may forget tasks, get lost or lose get lost and make a few mistakes. They might also feel stimulated and have trouble sitting still, even while eating a meal or in class. They may interrupt others or provide answers prior to being asked a question.
These symptoms can be caused by a myriad of conditions. To determine the underlying cause of symptoms and the most efficient treatment, a thorough psychiatric assessment is required. These could include psychotherapy, medication and lifestyle changes. This could mean the use of a healthier diet plan along with more exercise and an improved sleep schedule. They can also involve adjusting work or school assignments and making use of assistive devices like planners, calendars, and smartphones apps.
You should first discuss your concerns with a family doctor or your primary healthcare provider if you suspect you may have ADHD. You can find tips for speaking with your health care provider about mental health issues in the NIMH's How to Talk to Your Health Care Provider fact sheet.
It is important to understand that in order to be diagnosed with ADHD symptoms must manifest in more than one setting and have a significant impact on daily life. They must be present for at least six months in order to qualify. Your provider will evaluate you to see if you have the inattentive or hyperactive/impulsive symptoms of ADHD.
There are medications to help you manage your ADHD symptoms in addition to adjustments to your lifestyle and accommodations. These are referred to as stimulants. They work by reorganizing the brain signals that affect your mood and attention, as well as your behavior. Your doctor will prescribe the appropriate dosage of the medication to you and will monitor your reaction to treatment. You may be prescribed non-stimulant medication if you experience side effects or if a stimulant doesn't work. They are also combined with stimulants to boost effectiveness.
The symptoms of an impulse
People with inattention ADHD are more likely to lose their keys or phones. If it's a case of doodles in class or losing track of the time in a meeting, those with inattentive ADHD have a harder time to follow tasks, organize their materials and complete their projects. As adults, this may result in a myriad of tasks that are not completed at the house, including unpaid bills, unkempt homes and a vegetable garden that was established but never tended to.
The symptoms of impulsive ADHD can cause difficulties in a variety of aspects of life, but particularly when it comes to relationships. People who suffer from ADHD who are impulsive ADHD are usually impatient and want instant satisfaction. They might be quick to enter social situations without planning ahead or take risks that can lead to negative consequences. In addition, impulsive individuals might react in a stressful or emotional situations. For example, a person may become extremely angry or defensive when arguing with friends or family.
To determine if you have one of the two kinds of ADHD A health professional who specializes in mental disorders should review the medical history of a patient and conduct an examination. The doctor will also ask questions about how the symptoms affect your home, work, and family relationships. To be diagnosed with one or the other form of ADHD, a patient must exhibit six or more of nine major symptoms. The symptoms must affect daily functioning and last for 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 popular type of stimulants is the methylphenidate that was initially used to treat ADHD in children. It is essential to speak with your physician regarding your medication if you are suffering from other health issues like depression or high blood pressure. In addition to medication psychotherapy can help reduce impulsive and distracting symptoms. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a method of helping individuals recognize automatic or irrational thoughts that can trigger negative behavior and develop strategies for self-regulation.
Combined Symptoms
Adults who were diagnosed with ADHD as children may experience symptoms in adulthood. They can have mild, moderate or severe symptoms that affect work, school and social interactions. They also may have other mental health problems like depression or anxiety that require treatment. adhd in adult women treatment may also experience problems with learning, which may make it difficult for them to understand or follow instructions in offices and classrooms.
Adults might not be able to detect the signs of inattention ADHD however, it can still affect their ability to function at home and work. This kind of ADHD makes it difficult for people to sit still in business meetings or college lectures. They may also have trouble keeping up with their work and assignments. They may forget deadlines and appointments, and then lose track of their belongings. They may also have difficulty listening to music or following conversations. 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 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 are present in a variety of settings and can cause issues in 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 started before the age of 12 and persist at home, at school as well as in other social and work environments.
Researchers are studying environmental and genetic factors that could be responsible for the development of ADHD. Research suggests that the brains of individuals with ADHD have trouble regulating certain chemicals, such as neurotransmitters that help to regulate mood, attention, and behavior.
Speak to your primary health care provider if you exhibit symptoms of ADHD. Your doctor can conduct an examination of your body and refer you for an evaluation by an expert in mental health. Treatment for ADHD usually involves psychotherapy as well as medications including stimulants, which increase the levels of certain chemical in the brain. Amphetamines, methylphenidate and other stimulants are used. You should inform your doctor about any other medication you take, such as vitamins and supplements. The FDA's medication site has information about approved medicines as well as warnings and information guides.