ADHD in Adults

There are a great many adults with ADHD who are struggling in life, having difficult in work and home and who have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder that has not been diagnosed. These people often know something is wrong as they struggle to organise their personal lives, care for children and manage their job responsibilities. They most often, however, cannot understand what is wrong. This lack of understanding often leads to low self-esteem, poor self-confidence and an internal view of themselves as somehow “just not right” It is an unfortunate by-product of a lack of recognition of ADHD for many years has left a lot of walking wounded struggling to live a life of quiet dignity and self-respect.

AHDD is a neurobiological condition that affects about 7% of the general population. It is a life-long condition, can not be cured, but can be treated quite effectively with low level interventions in adult life. ADHD can be mild or severe, or in between these two polarities. In its severe forms it is usually characterised by exceptionally high levels of restlessness in adults, difficult with relationship caused by impulsive actions and insensitivity to others and extreme distractibility. These same characteristics are present in more mild cases but often go unrecognised as being secondary to ADHD.

Adults with ADHD often flit from job to job and are often unable to accept feedback or criticism from their supervisors. They have difficulty with time management and are often late in submitting assignments or meeting deadlines. They can be temperamental and irritable with colleagues at work and sometimes have problems complying with office routines and expectations. They level of restlessness is often notable as they are obviously more fidgety while seated and have a need for frequent walks around the work place. Unfortunately these behaviours are often perceived by others as manipulation and work avoidance.

Adults with ADHD can benefit from counselling interventions that are focused and related to clear goals and objectives. Sometimes these adults require medication to resolve the most outstanding symptoms. ADHD in adults can be treated and managed and it is important to recognise its symptoms. If untreated adult ADHD can lead to depression, substance abuse and chronic stress problems.