What is the Impact of Adult ADHD?

Do you struggle to complete a task from beginning to end without becoming distracted? Do you routinely find yourself forgetting important dates or deadlines? Have you always had a hard time shutting down and genuinely resting? Do you frequently experience an intense feeling of restlessness or the need to keep moving? For those with adult ADHD, the answer to most of those questions is likely, “yes.”

Whether you were diagnosed as a kid or you just recently became aware that not everyone feels this way, managing the symptoms of ADHD can often feel like a full-time job. While only a qualified mental health professional can determine how ADHD affects you, this article will look at how ADHD symptoms may impact adult life. Read on to learn more about the impact of adult ADHD on home life, work, and relationships.

What is ADHD?

ADHD, short for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is a neurodevelopmental condition that causes difficulties with sustained attention, impulse control, distraction, and hyperactivity. While ADHD is primarily considered a childhood condition, symptoms of the disorder can persist into adulthood. This is especially true if a person is undiagnosed or untreated while they are young.

Adult ADHD is a term used to describe any inattentive, impulsive, or hyperactive symptoms that continue to cause difficulties after adolescence. Due to differences in brain development, structure, and functioning, adults with ADHD may struggle to manage tasks and responsibilities that other people of the same age can accomplish more efficiently. Without the proper support, these struggles can lead to issues with self-esteem, anxiety, or depression.

However, consistent treatment, along with the support of a qualified counselor, can significantly improve outcomes for people with adult ADHD. If you or a loved one struggles with persistent, pervasive symptoms of inattention, impulsivity, or hyperactivity, there is help available.

It is entirely possible for adults with ADHD to live healthy, successful, and fulfilled lives. With the right attitude, it is even possible to start seeing the beauty in your brain’s differences instead of just the downsides.

Common ADHD Symptoms in Adults

Though everyone may sometimes struggle with periods of distractibility, impulsivity, or restlessness, people with ADHD face these difficulties for most of their lives. Only a mental health professional can diagnose Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and rule out other possible explanations for your symptoms. However, it can be helpful to understand what kinds of signs may point to adult ADHD.

For an adult to be diagnosed with ADHD, they must display at least five symptoms of inattention or at least five symptoms of hyperactivity or impulsivity. These symptoms must be persistent, have been a problem since childhood, and occur in multiple settings or circumstances. Further, another physical or mental health condition must not better explain the symptoms.

Inattentive symptoms in adults

• Frequently makes thoughtless mistakes and does not pay close attention to detail
• Has difficulty maintaining focused attention over any extended period
• Appears not to pay attention when spoken to
• Has difficulty following through when given instruction
• Struggles with organization
• Disinterested in tasks requiring sustained, focused attention
• Frequently misplaces important objects
• Highly distractable
• Forgetful even within daily routines

Impulsive or hyperactive symptoms in adults

• Unable to sit still and frequently fidgets in their seat.
• Finds it difficult to remain seated for extended periods.
• Extremely restless or active.
• Has difficulty engaging in quiet leisure activities.
• Appears to be driven by an internal motor or abnormal energy.
• Frequently talks out of turn or excessively.
• Anticipates the ending and answers questions before they are fully asked.
• Impatient and struggles to take turns.
• Has difficulty with boundaries and frequently intrudes on or interrupts others.

Whether you present with more inattentive or impulsive/hyperactive symptoms, adult ADHD likely impacts every area of your life. From unseen difficulties like having to force yourself to remain on-task at work to more apparent problems like frequently forgetting to pay bills on time even when you have the money, ADHD symptoms can have far-reaching consequences. Read on to learn more about how adult ADHD may affect your work, home life, and relationships.

Adult ADHD at Home

Disorganization, forgetfulness, and inattention can cause the home life of adults with ADHD to feel out of control. You may frequently misplace items essential to everyday life, such as your keys, phone, wallet, or work ID.

Household management tasks like laundry, cleaning, paying the bills, and performing routine maintenance may feel too overwhelming to handle. You may find yourself in constant conflict with your family or roommates for your perceived carelessness.

In addition, ADHD impacts your ability to control your impulses and causes your brain to crave the dopamine that comes from participating in pleasurable activities. As a result, adults with ADHD may struggle with issues like compulsive eating, substance abuse, or excessive spending. These can lead to health issues, family alienation, or difficulties in your finances.

ADHD can affect your hygiene, sleep quality, organization, credit score, and more. Together, these difficulties can lead to a constantly reinforced belief that you are not good enough and will never be able to make meaningful improvements in your life. Many people with adult ADHD struggle with self-esteem issues, anxiety, chronic stress, or depression.

Adult ADHD at Work

The same ADHD symptoms that can cause trouble at home can also result in difficulties at work. Because of the problems ADHD can cause in school, adults with the condition may be less likely to hold degrees from higher education, sometimes leading to underemployment in later life.

Additionally, problems with time management, sustained attention, and self-motivation can potentially complicate career achievement. If you struggle to show up on time or keep track of materials essential to the performance of your job, you may struggle to retain employment.

However, when individuals with adult ADHD find careers that offer them significant pleasure and a high dopamine response for their efforts, they can thrive in the workforce. ADHD adults may excel in creative, hands-on, or personal service jobs, depending on their interests. With the proper support systems, these individuals can achieve career stability and success.

When ADHD is properly diagnosed and treated, some of the neurological differences associated with the condition can be an asset in the workforce. For example, many individuals with ADHD tend to be creative, think outside the box, and are comfortable taking strategic risks.

Further, the hyperfocus associated with ADHD can lead to extreme attention to detail in areas of particular interest and in-depth knowledge of many varied subjects. These are all characteristics of some of the most successful CEOs and business owners.

Adult ADHD in Relationships

The core symptoms of ADHD, inattention, impulsivity, hyperactivity, or restlessness, all have the potential to make maintaining healthy, long-term relationships challenging. The basis of any healthy relationship is a strong feeling of connection.

So, when ADHD symptoms cause you to miss important dates, fail to give your full attention, or have difficulty being an active, responsible life partner, the other person may feel uncertain about your commitment or interest.

A further relational complication for those with adult ADHD is the “out-of-sight-out-of-mind” phenomenon that many with the disorder experience. Because object permanence is difficult for the ADHD brain to maintain, you likely don’t think about people when you are not in constant or frequent contact with them. Even if someone is important to you, you may find yourself “forgetting” about them when they are not around.

While there are strategies that you can use to prevent ADHD symptoms from negatively impacting your relationship, an understanding partner and open communication are essential to making any long-term relationship work. Feelings of shame for previous forgetfulness or inattention can lead to future forgetfulness and inattention. So, give yourself grace, talk issues through with your loved ones, and seek help when necessary.

Can Counseling Help?

Adult ADHD has the potential to complicate almost every aspect of life. However, with diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing support, the symptoms can be managed, and your quality of life can improve significantly.

When you work with a qualified counselor, you can learn new strategies to improve your daily functioning at home, at work, in your relationships, and more. Counseling can help you work toward and achieve personal goals in manageable ways.

Your Christian counselor will partner with you to find the best treatment plan for your symptoms. He or she will also work to support you in whatever areas of your life you currently feel most overwhelmed by.

Combining all counseling best practices with a faith-based perspective, your counselor will help you learn, grow, and heal. If you are struggling with symptoms of adult ADHD, don’t wait any longer. Contact us today to schedule your first counseling session and start the healthier next chapter of your life.