About ADHD in Adults

When an adult finds out that he has been suffering with ADHD since childhood it can be frustrating, relieving or upsetting. ADHD stands for attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder and requires that a person suffer with the symptoms since early childhood. It's a mental health disorder that can affect an adult's relationships, employment and self-esteem.

Signs and Symptoms

• An adult with ADHD has problems with impulsivity, hyperactivity and distractibility. Adults with ADHD can have a hard time concentrating, sitting still, staying organized and making sound decisions. They often have problems with long-term relationships, aren't able to keep many close friends and have a hard time keeping a job due to the lack of concentration, ability to relate to others and missing deadlines.

  If you're always running late despite trying hard to be on time, constantly forgetting important dates such as your partner's birthday, missing appointments, forgetting items such as your wallet on the subway and move on to other projects before finishing the current one, you may suffer from ADHD. As a child, you would have had symptoms that affected your performance in school, your relationships and your home life.

Causes

• There isn't one specific cause of ADHD. However, there are known risk factors for adult ADHD which include being diagnosed with the disorder as a child, being born premature, and having family members who have been diagnosed with ADHD. This disorder has been linked to abnormal functioning of one's neurotransmitters, but more research needs to be conducted in this area.

Effects of Adult ADHD

• Someone who suffers from ADHD may have a hard time controlling her impulses. For instance, she may blurt things out instead of thinking them through which could affect her relationships and job opportunities. Many adults with ADHD have a difficult time concentrating on specific tasks for long periods of time which can have a huge impact on a person's employment.

  Many adults with ADHD struggle with their relationships. An adult with ADHD may forget about meeting a friend, has a hard time being on time and often interrupts others during a conversation.

Self Help

• If you've been diagnosed with ADHD, there are certain steps that you can take to help yourself. You should exercise on a regular basis, so you're not as restless. This will help you concentrate and sleep at night. Know the negative impact that ADHD can have on your life by doing some research online and in the library. Combat those negative effects with a solid plan. For example, get a planner to record all important dates and meetings, check it every morning and update it every night.

Treatment

• If ADHD is affecting your daily living, you should consider getting professional help from a licensed mental health professional. If your relationship is greatly impacted, consider couples counseling. Both of these options will give you power, because the professional can help you learn about your disorder and assist you in devising a plan of action to deal with it.