Adult ADHD: Beyond Focus Problems

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) isn’t just for kids anymore. Although ADHD has long been associated with childhood and adolescent attention and regulation problems, many kids carry their symptoms and behaviors into adulthood. 

You may also first be diagnosed with ADHD as an adult. That doesn’t mean you suddenly developed ADHD when you hit 30. In all probability, the condition was just overlooked when you were a child. Not all kids manifest ADHD in the same way, particularly if they’re girls.

Approximately 15.5 million women and men in the United States have ADHD. Only half of those were diagnosed in childhood. 

At Precise Research Centers, our expert psychiatrist, Joseph Kwentus, MD, understands that your ADHD diagnosis may be puzzling, or it may suddenly bring your life into clarity. At our offices in Flowood, Mississippi, we conduct clinical trials with new medications and offer supportive therapies for adults who have ADHD.

Do you suspect or know that you have adult ADHD? This disorder may interfere with more than just your ability to focus. 

You have trouble getting organized

Everyone has times when they’re unfocused or distracted. If you have ADHD, however, it’s a chronic problem that can affect your life in multiple ways. You may struggle to:

• Pay your bills on time
• Make it to work or school on time
• Finish assignments by their deadlines
• Prioritize tasks
• Stay focused

Disorganization may extend to your use of time, too. You underestimate how long a task will take, and then don’t even finish it. You lose track of important dates. You lose important objects, including files or tools you might need for work or school.

You’re impulsive

You find it hard to say “no” to a decision you need to make, even if you know saying “yes” will bring negative consequences down the road. You may quickly get into or out of relationships. You may switch jobs often.

You might also be impulsive when it comes to risks. Maybe you like to live “on the edge,” or put yourself in danger. While behaviors like this can be symptoms of a mental health condition, such as bipolar disorder, they’re also associated with ADHD.

You lose your temper  

Women, men, and children with ADHD tend to be impatient — both with themselves and with others. You may get frustrated easily and give up when trying to learn a new task, blaming yourself angrily. 

You may also get overly aggressive or irritated by everyday challenges and annoyances, such as standing in line or being cut off in traffic. You may have trouble managing your emotions, which can result in explosive emotional or physical outbursts that endanger your relationships and the safety and well-being of loved ones.

You’re restless

You may have trouble sitting still for long periods. You might need to move around or fidget just to keep yourself calm. 

Restlessness and impulsiveness could combine into quickly making big changes in your life without thinking them through. You may frequently buy things you can’t afford, just for the stimulation. You may also move or travel because you can’t stand to stay in one place for long.

If you change jobs, careers, or relationships quickly, that could also be a sign of restlessness and the inability to focus on one thing at a time. The constant need to move, change, and “switch things up” could have a negative impact on your life, including your finances and stability.

ADHD must be diagnosed

Even if you think you have ADHD, it’s not a condition you can diagnose on your own. Mental health disorders — including depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder — share many characteristics with ADHD. Also, you could have ADHD in combination with a mental health disorder.  

Girls are especially underdiagnosed with ADHD as children, because their symptoms tend to skew more toward the inattentive form of ADHD, rather than the more noticeable impulsiveness and hyperactivity exhibited by boys. 

As an adult, however, your ADHD symptoms may make it difficult for you to thrive in your career and in your relationships.

Are you still struggling with the symptoms of ADHD you experienced as a child, or do you suspect your diagnosis was missed? Call our helpful staff at 601-685-3457 for an ADHD evaluation. You can also book an appointment online or send a message to our team.

You may be eligible for new medications and supportive therapies, including talk therapy, for ADHD. There is no charge to you if you’re accepted into a clinical trial.