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A surprising number of people believe that attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) only affects children. The vast majority of information on this brain development condition focuses on how parents and caregivers can spot the condition in kids.
In reality, ADHD can affect people of all ages. Many kids with ADHD eventually “outgrow” the condition, but for some, ADHD lingers well into adulthood. That’s why Grace Muthami, PMHNP-BC, offers personalized ADHD treatment for adults of all ages through her practice at Brightmind Wellness in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
If you or someone you love experiences adult ADHD, you understand just how disruptive and challenging it can be to thrive as a neurodivergent person in a world shaped largely around neurotypical individuals.
What does ADHD look like in adults?
No matter your age, ADHD is diagnosed based on the type of symptoms you experience. You might have inattentive or hyperactive/impulsivity subtypes of ADHD. Some people display signs of both subtypes, and are considered to have mixed ADHD.
Inattentive ADHD in adults can look like the following:
- Struggling to complete tasks
- Errors at home or work due to lapses in attention
- Tendency to avoid complex work tasks
- Becoming easily distracted
- Frequently losing belongings
Hyperactive/impulsivity ADHD in adults could appear as these behaviors:
- Problems maintaining conversational restraint
- Frequent fidgeting
- Trouble staying within common social boundaries
- Inability to sit still for prolonged periods of time
- Difficulty staying quiet while enjoying relaxing activities
If you display multiple symptoms from each subtype, you might be diagnosed as having “combined” or “mixed” ADHD.
When should adults consider seeking treatment?
Let’s be clear: Everyone experiences some of the symptoms of ADHD at one point or another. You’ve probably caught yourself wiggling in your seat when you’d like to be somewhere else, interrupting conversations to make a point, or putting off a complicated project because it feels overwhelming.
The difference between these “normal” behaviors and a person who has ADHD is the frequency of these behaviors and the degree to which they get in the way of success at home, at work, or in social settings.
People with ADHD often feel as though they simply don’t “fit in” with their peers. They often encounter repeated problems at work or with friends and family.
It’s important to understand that while there may be nothing you can do to prevent or avoid ADHD, there are many ways to treat and manage the condition. There’s no need to suffer through symptoms that interfere with your life when help is readily available.
Options include medication to help balance the brain chemicals that trigger ADHD behaviors. You might also explore psychological counseling, which is a wonderful way to learn how to identify potentially problematic behaviors and make choices that minimize the chance of negative outcomes (cognitive behavioral therapy).
Counseling can also help improve your close relationships with family, friends, and co-workers. This type of therapy also helps your neurotypical loved ones better understand how ADHD affects your behaviors.
If you’d like to learn more about ADHD diagnostic or treatment services, reach out to Grace and the rest of the team at Brightmind Wellness. Booking a visit takes just moments via phone or online.