Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is often mistakenly perceived as a disorder affecting only children and adolescents. One of the reasons for this is that the fidgetiness that often occurs in children decreases in adulthood. In fact, however, the disorder that develops in childhood and adolescence persists in adulthood for around 60 percent of those affected. Read all important information about ADHD adults here.
ADHD symptoms: adults
The symptoms of ADHD are not the same in every age group, but change in the course of life. In adulthood, motor hyperactivity is usually less pronounced than in children, which is why one often speaks only of attention deficit disorder (ADD). Internal restlessness, forgetfulness, and dizziness are in the forefront of ADHD and ADD in adults. However, symptoms such as impulsive behavior and ill-considered actions remain. Almost all adult ADHD patients feel inwardly restless and driven. Far too rarely, these signs are recognized as ADHD symptoms. As a rule, the person concerned has been showing these behaviors for such a long time that they are perceived as part of their personality.
ADHD adults: Organizational difficulties
Difficulties with planning and organization are typical ADD symptoms. As a result, adults often do not achieve the goals they had set for themselves at work and in private life. ADHD in adulthood is often associated with poorer career opportunities. ADHD in adults often manifests itself in behaviors that may be alienating and careless to the environment. Problems include, for example, the lack of endurance, delays and disorder.
ADHD adults: attention disorder
The inability to focus on a cause for a long time results in those affected forgetting or only partially completing tasks. This happens especially when the interest in the task is not great. But if they are enthusiastic about a topic, they can focus on it with great perseverance.
The attention deficit can have far-reaching consequences. Thus, job loss is a common consequence of ADHD or ADD in adults. ADS adults also have an increased accident risk due to their low ability to concentrate.
ADHD adults: impulsivity
Adults with ADHD often act impulsively. You make decisions spontaneously from the gut. Their mood can change quickly.
They are extremely sensitive to criticism and are quickly injured. At the same time they are not restrained when they bluntly tell others their opinion. For their fellow humans, this behavior can be very stressful. It then helps to realize that people with ADHD often have problems regulating their feelings and behavior. Most of the time it only becomes clear to them afterwards that they have behaved wrongly.
Their impulsiveness can also be dangerous for ADHD adults on the road.
ADHD adults: low stress and frustration tolerance
The reduced ability to control impulses has a negative effect, especially in combination with stress. New situations and tasks are therefore a big challenge for adults with ADHD. They generate stress that those affected can only cope poorly due to their lack of organizational ability. If things do not go as they hoped, they are often very frustrated. This is often expressed in irritation and hot temper. The low stress and frustration tolerance complicate both the professional and the social life.
ADHD adults: overactivity
The typical motor hyperactivity of childhood can be found in ADHD adults rather attenuated. Many sufferers, however, have difficulty sitting still for a long time. They drum their fingers and bounce their feet to reduce their inner agitation. A symptom that often occurs even in adulthood is a strong need for speech and interjection.
The positive side of ADHD
Overall, adults with ADHD are much more emotionally responsive than other people and feel more intense – including the positive ones. In addition, they approach things more openly and playfully and often develop very original ideas. If they succeed in channeling and using their wealth of ideas, adults with ADHD can even be extremely successful at work. The decisive factor is that those concerned are interested in their work. Find joy at work, dedication and motivation. Your performance may even be above average.
Comorbidities of ADHD
The occurrence of other mental disorders is often associated with ADHD in adults. Symptoms, such as severe anxiety or depression, may be an indication of anxiety disorder or depression. There is an increased risk of depression and anxiety, especially in the dreamy form of ADHD, which occurs especially in women. Adults with ADHD are also more likely to suffer from personality disorders.
Research has shown that people with ADHD who are not treated often use addictive substances. With the consumption of cannabis, alcohol or nicotine they try to become calmer or to increase their efficiency. They use drugs to a certain extent for self-medication. If a drug addiction has developed, it must be treated before starting the actual ADHD therapy.
ADHD adults: examinations and diagnosis
In adulthood, the symptoms of attention deficit (hyperactivity) disorder are slightly different than in childhood. However, there are no specific diagnostic criteria for adult ADHD. The psychiatrist or psychotherapist is therefore guided by the diagnostic criteria of ADHD in childhood and adolescence.
Recognizing ADHD in adulthood is particularly difficult. For one, the symptoms may also be due to another mental disorder. On the other hand, the doctor or psychologist must make sure that the disease has already existed in childhood for the diagnosis of adult ADHD.
For the examination, the doctor or psychologist leads a detailed conversation with the person concerned. The specialist can use targeted questions to determine which signs point to ADHD and if there are other mental disorders. To rule out other causes, such as a thyroid disorder or sleep disorders, the doctor also performs a physical examination.
ADHD adults: therapy
Adults diagnosed with ADHD do not necessarily need treatment. However, if the disorder is severe and affects several areas of life (work, leisure, relationships), a combination of medication and psychotherapy is often useful.
ADHD Adults: Psychotherapy
According to current knowledge, ADHD can not be cured. Sometimes, however, the disturbances partly form with the years. Some sufferers also develop coping strategies with which they master everyday life and work successfully. Above all difficulties with the work organization as well as the vocational and private communication can be treated well behavior-therapeutically. Through a so-called self-induction training, ADHD patients learn how to better control their impulsivity. Individually and in groups, behavior patterns are practiced that facilitate everyday life with colleagues, family or partner.
ADHD adults: medications
For a long time experts thought that ADHD would only occur in children and adolescents. Until a few years ago, the active ingredient methylphenidate in Germany could not be prescribed for adults. Since 2011, physicians can now prescribe adult medications for ADHD. The drugs with the active ingredient methylphenidate and atomoxetine are primarily used.