Adult ADHD: Symptoms, Causes, Treatments | Amizur Nachshoni
Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Psychological Treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Adults.
Attention and concentration disorders, such as ADHD, bring a sigh of relief to many older women and men. As children and teenagers, hundreds of thousands of people grappled with stigmas due to deviations from the norm. Nowadays, most likely, they have been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, benefiting from recognition, test and assignment accommodations, effective psychological and pharmaceutical treatments, and, above all, a clearer understanding of their condition.
How does an adult with ADHD feel?
In recent years, the term “attention deficit disorder” has become somewhat commonplace (“It’s my ADHD…”). However, not everyone truly experiences ADHD, and for those who do, it presents a complex array of challenges on a daily basis:
For an individual with ADHD, even seemingly straightforward tasks such as grocery shopping or paying an electric bill online can trigger overwhelming feelings. While anyone can encounter mood swings, lapses in focus, or struggles with organization, individuals with ADHD may contend with these issues on a daily, ongoing basis.
ADHD in Adults: What Are We Talking About?
ADHD is commonly diagnosed during preschool and school years, marked by difficulties in concentration, impulsiveness, and sometimes accompanied by hyperactivity and restlessness. In children, this disorder impacts academic and social functioning, causing challenges at home and in educational settings.
Previously, consensus held that 60% of childhood diagnoses would experience attention and concentration difficulties into adulthood. However, an August 2021 study revealed that up to 90% of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder might continue to exhibit symptoms into young adulthood, with intermittent periods of remission.
Only in 1987 did researchers, psychiatrists, and neurologists collectively agree that ADHD persists into adulthood. While attention disorders were recognized belatedly, the professional attention toward diagnosing ADHD in adults came even later.
Currently, it’s widely understood that these disorder traits don’t simply vanish in adulthood, much like other characteristics persisting from childhood. This perspective suggests symptoms persist past puberty, obliging individuals to manage them without hindering functioning, even channeling them advantageously.
For instance, someone prone to distraction might struggle in an occupation requiring unwavering focus on one subject but excel in multitasking roles, turning distraction into an asset. (E.g., adults with attention disorders often engage more in politics than average.)
ADHD in Adults: Data and Statistics
From an epidemiological perspective, the most comprehensive study was conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO). Researchers surveyed over 11,000 adults aged 18–44 across 10 countries in America, Europe, and the Middle East. Utilizing the data, they calculated the average ADHD prevalence rate among adults in the population to be approximately 3.5%, with a range spanning from 1.2% to 7.3%. Notably, prevalence is lower in low-income countries (1.9%) compared to high-income countries (4.2%).
What Does the Disorder Look Like in Adults?
ADHD is typically present since childhood. If attention and concentration difficulties emerge in an adult, they might stem from emotional, physiological, or other factors. This disorder can affect various aspects of life, including interpersonal relationships, studies, and work.
Work Challenges
Adults with ADHD might become bored faster than others, needing higher interest levels to maintain focus. Routine tasks with many steps become problematic, leading to more errors. For instance, strictly following a baking recipe could exhaust someone with attention and concentration difficulties. On the other hand, using creativity while cooking could be enjoyable for them.
Additionally, organizing becomes tough, leading to tardiness or forgetfulness. Forgetfulness and struggles with details at work might be misinterpreted as a lack of care or motivation, unfairly affecting perceptions. Managing schedules and tasks requires more effort for those with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, leading to quicker fatigue and the need for more breaks.
Educational Struggles
Adults with ADHD were often children with the disorder, resulting in a history of academic difficulties and low achievements regardless of intellectual abilities. Even gifted adults with ADHD might underestimate their talents, affecting their educational experience. This self-esteem challenge might deter them from participating in educational programs due to fear of failure.
Quick boredom and difficulty sustaining attention hinder higher education pursuits. These individuals might take longer to complete tasks, needing breaks to maintain focus. Impulsiveness and difficulty with sustained effort might negatively impact test performance, making grades an unreliable measure of knowledge.
People with ADHD often grasp ideas rapidly but lose interest in their details, making memorization challenging. This struggle to internalize ideas leads to missed material in class and a poor memory of lessons.
(Notably, universities and colleges offer counseling and diagnostic centers that provide academic support for ADHD students, helping them overcome these challenges. Utilizing these resources is advised upon enrollment.)
Relationships
Impulsivity and difficulty delaying responses in individuals with attention and concentration disorders, especially with a hyperactive component, can strain interpersonal relationships. Forgetfulness and inattentiveness can create impressions of indifference and disdain among peers.
Low frustration tolerance might lead to escaping or outbursts, worsening conflicts that could otherwise be resolved. For instance, research indicates that adults with ADHD are more likely to experience road rage compared to others.
Wandering attention and struggles in maintaining focus over time are noticeable, leading others to interpret this as disinterest and boredom. For example, building a relationship with ADHD might be challenging; succeeding in a date lasting over an hour can exhaust individuals with attention disorders. Partners may misunderstand the difficulty in following conversations and interpret it as lack of interest or disrespect.
In Marital Relationships: A new study suggests that ADHD symptoms in adults might lead to hypersexuality and excessive pornography use in both men and women, as outlined in the ICD-11.
How Is ADHD Diagnosed in Adults?
ADHD originates in childhood. Consequently, diagnosing ADHD in adults involves a thorough assessment of the patient’s academic and social performance during childhood. If there’s evidence of ADHD during their early years, prior to the age of 7, there’s a foundation to suspect the continued presence of the disorder.
Conducting interviews with psychiatrists, neurologists, or psychologists is essential to illuminate the situation and make a determination. Presently, the field of psychology provides various strategies to address the disorder effectively.
How Is ADHD Classified in the DSM-5?
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder marked by symptoms of attention deficits, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. The definition of this disorder has evolved over the years in conjunction with changes within the various editions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).
The Evolution of ADHD Diagnosis
It took several decades of research before the notion of chronicity in attention deficit disorder was fully embraced. Gradually, it became evident that children diagnosed with ADHD would continue displaying symptoms into adulthood.
In the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), Second Edition (1968), the disorder was initially termed “childhood hyperkinetic response,” and its description was brief.
In the third edition of the DSM, released in 1980, the classification of mental disorders advanced from mere descriptions to defined criteria. At this juncture, the disorder’s name changed to “attention deficit disorder” (ADD), accompanied by the introduction of subtypes “with” and “without” hyperactivity.
The diagnostic framework as we recognize it today was established in the third revised edition of the American Diagnostic Manual in 1987. This version notably omitted the ADD subtype that did not include hyperactivity.
Subsequent editions (4th and 5th) outlined specific ADHD types: primarily inattentive, primarily hyperactive-impulsive, and combined types. They introduced 18 core symptoms, quality qualifiers, and threshold symptoms essential for diagnosing ADHD. The fifth edition (2013) extended its coverage to ADHD in adults, aiding psychiatrists and mental health professionals in diagnosis and treatment.
In this edition, semiotic definitions changed, eliminating the ADD/ADHD distinction. Instead, three subtypes emerged:
- ADHD/I — characterized by inattention.
- ADHD/HI — characterized by hyperactivity and impulsivity.
- ADHD/COM — characterized by both inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity.
Additionally, symptom onset is required before age 12, revised from age 7 in previous editions.
For adults, the symptom threshold was reduced to five (from six) in each subtype, reflecting clinical evidence of developmental impact across life stages.
Another significant update in the latest edition addresses comorbidity: separate diagnoses for autism spectrum disorders and attention/hyperactivity disorders are now feasible.
The Most Effective Treatments for ADHD in Adults
What are the best treatments for ADHD in adults?
Medication
Medication often serves as the primary defense against ADHD symptoms due to its proven efficacy, supported by numerous studies. Once the right medication and dosage are identified for the patient, at least 80% of patients experience noticeable symptom improvement. Medical guidelines endorse using Vivins, Ritalin, or Concerta as first-line options for managing adult ADHD. If neither of these stimulant drugs brings relief within 6 weeks or causes intolerable side effects, Strattera (a non-stimulant) is recommended.
To maximize the benefits of drug treatment, open communication with the attending physician and adhering to their guidance is essential, especially at the outset. Recent comprehensive studies confirm that all described medications are more effective in treating ADHD than a placebo. It’s important to note that while medications help manage ADHD symptoms, they do not cure the disorder. A more effective approach involves combining drug treatment with behavioral psychotherapy and/or training sessions. In addition to Ritalin and Adderall, other ADHD medications approved for adults include Focalin, Focalin XR, Concerta, Ditrena, Metadate CD, Adderall XR, and Vivance.
Behavioral Therapies
As previously mentioned, drug treatment alone is typically insufficient, especially for adults juggling multiple daily responsibilities. While stimulant medications operate at the neurological level to regulate the brain, behavioral therapy targets specific behavioral issues. It aims to teach patients how to manage their time, establish routines, and increase positive outcomes. Behavioral therapy is founded on altering behavior through conditioning — such as creating an environment conducive to desired behavior, providing positive feedback and reinforcement for appropriate behavior, and setting clear consequences for undesirable behavior, including withholding rewards or praise.
Some self-help techniques like Body Doubling have been anecdotally effective in managing ADHD, but their recommendation remains challenging due to the lack of research.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT maps how the disorder impacts a patient’s thoughts and behavior, helping them recognize its influence on their life. This psychological treatment exposes patients to the various facets and consequences of ADHD in their life, enabling them to develop coping mechanisms and leverage their strengths. Combined with medication, CBT often involves working with a therapist to pinpoint behavioral problems and devise strategies for change. CBT is goal-oriented and aims to alter negative thought patterns and how patients perceive themselves, their abilities, and their future.
The process involves selecting one behavioral issue to address with the therapist, understanding the underlying motives, modifying the thoughts and perceptions that fuel it, devising practical methods to change behavior, implementing strategies, and exploring alternatives if initial approaches are ineffective. CBT is effective for most individuals with ADHD, except for those requiring a more structured and cooperative approach. When opting for CBT, it’s important to work with a therapist well-versed in its unique aspects regarding ADHD. Given that many adults with ADHD face comorbid disorders like anxiety or depression, CBT should address basic challenges like time management, organization, and procrastination related to ADHD. It’s crucial to treat these concurrent conditions before optimal ADHD CBT benefits can be achieved. Conditions such as borderline personality disorder, severe depression, anxiety, or addiction must be addressed. Pre-treatment of anger may be beneficial before focusing on ADHD treatment. A skills group within dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) for adults with ADHD, which cultivates diverse skills in a group setting, has also proven effective as a CBT variant.
Online Treatment
Online psychological therapy can be suited to the unique challenges of adults with ADHD, a condition demanding comprehensive treatment that often extends beyond medication. ADHD symptoms can trigger various issues like low self-esteem, behavioral problems, mood disorders, and interpersonal challenges. Online therapy can effectively address many of these concerns and is thus a vital component of ADHD treatment, recommended in conjunction with drug treatment.
In addition to these treatments, alternative and complementary approaches to ADHD treatment include:
Maintaining a Balanced Diet
Alterations in daily dietary habits can play a crucial role in managing ADHD. Incorporating ADHD-friendly foods such as fish oil, zinc, iron, magnesium, proteins, and complex carbohydrates can optimize brain function and stabilize mood and behavior fluctuations.
Engaging in Exercise
Current understanding highlights the positive impact of regular physical activity on executive functions, encompassing cognitive continuity, working memory, prioritization, impulse control, and attention focus. Committing to just 30 minutes of walking four times a week can yield substantial benefits.
In a 2020 article, research findings have been progressively accumulating, underscoring the effectiveness of sports and gymnastic activities in addressing ADHD challenges.
Physical training offers numerous advantages, including:
1. Reduced impulsiveness.
2. Diminished hyperactivity.
3. Enhanced attention management.
4. As previously mentioned, improvement in executive functions.
Engaging in exercise not only promotes physical well-being but also serves as a valuable tool for managing ADHD symptoms and enhancing cognitive performance.
Nature Therapy
A study dating back to 2004 highlighted the value of a “daily dose of nature,” like a walk in the woods or a visit to a greenhouse, in mitigating ADHD symptoms.
Mindfulness and Yoga
Mindfulness, involving heightened awareness of thoughts, feelings, sensations, and the body, can contribute to both physical and mental well-being. A 2019 systematic review found that mindfulness-based interventions led to improved brain function and behavior in adults with ADHD. Mindfulness training also aids in behavior and emotion regulation.
Neurofeedback
Methods such as neurofeedback and Cogmed hold promise in enhancing attention and working memory without relying on medication, though the scientific community remains cautious. Working memory, pivotal for attention, problem-solving, and impulse control, is often impaired in ADHD due to attention fluctuations. Neurofeedback brain training can boost working memory capacity, enabling better focus, reduced distractions, improved emotional management, and enhanced learning. Neurofeedback involves brain exercises that teach individuals to produce focus-indicative brainwave patterns, alleviating ADHD symptoms like impulsivity and distraction.
Coaching
An ADHD coach assists individuals in developing skills to surmount challenges unique to the disorder. This includes fostering organizational structures, setting goals, enhancing motivation and persistence, and refining time and money management abilities. Some coaches even offer in-home support for tasks like document organization and social skill development. Many ADHD sufferers explore various treatment avenues to effectively manage their symptoms. Maintaining a progress diary to document each strategy’s outcomes is recommended, and it’s wise not to hastily abandon an approach that doesn’t yield immediate results, unless adverse effects become overwhelming. Positive changes take time. Seeking expert guidance to tailor treatments before discontinuing them is advised.
Selecting Treatment for Adult Attention Disorders
Addressing ADHD in adults typically involves a multifaceted approach, combining complementary methods to alleviate symptoms. Crafting an effective strategy necessitates customization based on individual needs. This entails consultation, thoughtful planning, meticulous organization, and unwavering perseverance. As such, seeking guidance from an expert at the outset is crucial to embark on a well-informed and successful treatment journey.
Comparing CBT and Medication for Adult ADHD
Numerous studies underscore the substantial efficacy of both stimulant and non-stimulant medications as treatments for adult ADHD. Additionally, research has demonstrated that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can yield benefits for patients, regardless of whether they are utilizing medication.
Although a direct comparison between the effectiveness of CBT and medication has yet to be undertaken, clinical experience reveals distinct outcomes:
- Medication aids in managing core ADHD symptoms, including distraction, short attention span, and impulsivity.
- On the other hand, CBT excels in teaching essential skills and reinforcing habits necessary for self-management. It may also enhance emotional regulation and interpersonal skills.
To explore further, you’re welcome to seek guidance and a recommendation for a clinical psychologist specializing in the treatment of ADHD in adults within your local area.
Case Study: David’s Journey
Exploring the Case of David: Navigating Adult Attention and Concentration Challenges with Hyperactivity
Meet David, a 32-year-old man who sought assistance at our institute due to increasing emotional turmoil. From the outset, it was apparent that David had difficulty staying seated, manifesting restlessness during his initial session. As the conversation began, he shared his concerns about an impending job loss and a strained relationship with his partner of over a year. The central conflict revolved around his partner’s desire to start a family, while David grappled with doubts about his ability to be a responsible parent.
Delving deeper into David’s experiences, the therapist unveiled recurring struggles with managing time and an inclination towards disorganization that significantly impacted his daily functioning. Routine occurrences, like misplacing his wallet, contributed to consistent lateness for work engagements. David’s quest for perfection in his tasks often clashed with moments of inattention and errors, creating a cycle of frustration.
Recent events further intensified David’s stress as he faced warnings from his supervisor due to missed deadlines and lapses in work quality. This mounting pressure eroded his self-assurance and ignited pervasive self-doubt. David’s work performance plummeted, paralleling his waning enthusiasm for starting a family.
David’s academic history also held relevance. While he had experienced some academic accommodations such as extended exam time, he had never undergone formal neuropsychological testing. A comprehensive assessment, encompassing insights from his partner, illuminated the presence of adult-onset ADHD as the underlying factor.
Symptoms:
- Anxiety
- Concentration difficulties
- Impulsiveness
- Persistent worries and distressing thoughts
Diagnosis:
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (Adult ADHD).
David’s journey exemplifies the intricate manifestations of ADHD symptoms and their far-reaching implications on various life domains. This case underscores the imperative of thorough evaluation and tailored interventions to empower individuals like David in managing their challenges and achieving optimal well-being.
Understanding Treatment-Resistant ADHD
Treatment-resistant ADHD refers to instances where professionals encounter challenges in effectively mitigating the symptoms of ADHD through drug and psychotherapeutic interventions in adults. This phenomenon of minimal improvement, despite initial treatment efforts, is recognized in the field and termed as treatment-resistant ADHD.
Exploring the Causes of Treatment-Resistant ADHD
Researchers and psychologists dedicate significant efforts to uncover the potential factors contributing to the occurrence of treatment-resistant ADHD. Why? Primarily to better assist individuals who invest substantial efforts in self-care, yet still find themselves grappling with the unyielding effects of ADHD. Furthermore, drug treatments have undergone rigorous scrutiny through controlled psychopharmacological studies, while psychological interventions have been subjected to extensive evaluations within evidence-based psychotherapy methodologies. Pinpointing the sources of these challenges could enhance treatment components and potentially facilitate more profound changes.
Possible Underlying Reasons for Persistent ADHD Symptoms:
- Misdiagnosis: Instances where ADHD is inaccurately diagnosed instead of identifying learning disabilities or hearing impairments.
- Limited Response to Treatment: Some individuals may exhibit low responsiveness to medication or talk therapy, coupled with inefficient utilization of additional support resources.
- Patient Misconceptions: A patient’s misconceptions regarding the therapeutic process and the nature of the disorder could impact treatment outcomes.
- Resilient Symptoms: In certain cases, symptoms might persist stubbornly despite receiving appropriate and precise treatment.
Understanding treatment-resistant ADHD is crucial for refining therapeutic approaches and offering targeted assistance to individuals who continue to grapple with the challenges posed by ADHD.
Understanding Executive Dysfunction in Adult ADHD
Executive functions encompass a range of cognitive skills that enable us to effectively complete daily tasks and assignments. These skills include attention, perspective-taking, emotion regulation, organization, planning, prioritization, time management, problem-solving, multitasking, information processing, memory retention for details, initiation and sustainment of tasks, and task monitoring.
Impairments in executive functions can have far-reaching consequences, impacting behavior control in social situations, overall quality of life, self-esteem, and interpersonal relationships.
As of today, the DSM-5 does not classify deficits in these functions as a standalone mental disorder. Instead, they are considered additional symptoms associated with various conditions like Alzheimer’s, dementia, anxiety, autism, Tourette syndrome, schizophrenia, attention deficit disorder, and traumatic head injuries.
However, impairment in executive functions can also result from other factors, including boredom, alcohol and drug use, stress, severe pain, and exposure to distracting environments.
A precise diagnosis of the underlying cause of executive dysfunction, followed by tailored treatments, can alleviate these symptoms. Effective treatments may involve occupational therapy, antidepressant medications, ADHD-specific medications, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Addressing executive dysfunction not only enhances daily functioning but also contributes to improved overall well-being and psychological health.
ADHD in Adults Beyond Age 40
Research on ADHD in adults aged 40 and above remains limited. The disorder is considered chronic and innate, gradually developing within an individual over the years. It’s understood that ADHD typically originates in childhood. Consequently, those receiving diagnoses at a later stage did not acquire ADHD during that period; rather, they’ve been contending with attention and concentration challenges that went undiagnosed since childhood or early adolescence.
Until recently, neurologists tended to refrain from diagnosing ADHD in individuals over 50 who presented cognitive complaints such as memory or attention issues. However, there has been a notable shift in this perspective over the past decade. This change signifies a growing recognition of ADHD’s potential presence in older adults and highlights the evolving understanding of the disorder’s lifespan implications.
Differential Diagnosis
Given that ADHD is considered a reasonably treatable condition, one of the most effective methods for distinguishing between ADHD and neurological disorders commonly found in older adults is by assessing the combined impact of medication therapy and CBT.
Interestingly, a Dutch study that examined the effects of Ritalin drug treatment in individuals aged 60 and above revealed that after a year, over 70% of the participants reported a significant improvement and enhanced control over the cognitive functions they had initially complained about. This underscores the point that it’s never too late!
Numerous adults have successfully undergone treatment, even those who were never previously diagnosed with ADHD.
Should You Share Your ADHD Diagnosis and How?
Despite ADHD being classified as a psychiatric disorder, there is a growing acceptance of it in recent years. Many celebrities openly discuss their struggles with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. For instance:
- Michael Phelps — Olympic swimmer.
- Justin Timberlake — Singer and actor.
- Will Smith — Actor.
- Emma Watson — Actress.
- Richard Branson — Entrepreneur.
- Jim Carrey — Actor and comedian.
- Solange Knowles — Singer and songwriter.
- Howie Mandel — Comedian and television host.
- Simone Biles — Olympic gymnast.
- Adam Levine — Musician and lead singer of Maroon 5.
Interestingly, ADHD has been prevalent in adults even in the distant past, including among gifted individuals. A new study analyzing the personalities of Renaissance-era figures suggests that Leonardo da Vinci may have suffered from attention deficit disorder and possibly dyslexia. While diagnosing historical figures is a complex matter, there’s evidence to support these claims. Today, Da Vinci could have benefited from therapy, both conversational and medicinal.
With the rising rate of ADHD diagnoses among adults, there’s a more empathetic and encouraging societal attitude towards those affected. This may stem from adults finally understanding the roots of difficulties they’ve faced throughout their lives, including learning, work, and relationships. Additionally, research highlights the positive aspects of the disorder, such as enhanced creativity, divergent thinking, and leadership skills.
So, the question arises: Should you share your ADHD diagnosis? While sharing information about the diagnosis and treatment is unlikely to lead to rejection, it’s essential to remember that medical information is subject to confidentiality. ADHD is not a severe disorder or a contagious illness, and there’s no need to hide it. Sharing can be both possible and beneficial at the right time and in the right manner. Consider carefully whom you share with and how. If those close to you struggle to comprehend ADHD’s implications, direct them to reputable sources for more information, such as online resources, books, and community sites.
Hyperfocus in ADHD
The term “attention deficit disorder” might lead one to believe that individuals with ADHD struggle to concentrate or pay attention to anything. However, this is not entirely accurate, as ADHD pertains to difficulties in regulating attention rather than a complete absence of it.
In adults with ADHD, performing tasks involving basic executive functions can become more manageable and even monotonous compared to children. Therefore, sustained attention and attentional control functions take on a heightened importance in adults with ADHD.
Adults with ADHD often face challenges in maintaining focus during lengthy lectures or while reading extensive texts. This difficulty often results in their minds wandering during such activities.
What is hyperfocusing?
Jenara Nerenberg explores this intriguing aspect that has received relatively less attention in ADHD research. Norwegian researchers delved into the characteristics of workaholics and discovered a link between workaholism and high levels of depression, anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), along with anxiety.
Interestingly, adults with ADHD exhibit a tendency to hyperfocus, which involves prolonged concentration on a task to the point of becoming deeply immersed in it. In essence, ADHD’s definition reflects a misallocation of attention rather than a total lack of it. Individuals with ADHD tend to oscillate between periods of low and high attention, sometimes reaching such heightened focus that other information struggles to enter their awareness.
Sensory Processing Difficulty in Adults with ADHD
Only recently have researchers begun to establish a connection between ADHD and sensory processing disorder in adults.
Sensory processing disorder is a neurological condition that becomes evident through the impaired ability to effectively process external stimuli from the environment, resulting in behavioral reactions and learning challenges. While sensory sensitivity disorder has long been recognized as a characteristic of ADHD in children and teenagers, as well as a common symptom in autism, its prevalence and features among adults grappling with ADHD have yet to be extensively studied (Shimizu, 2014).
So, what sets sensory hypersensitivity apart from sensory processing disorder? The distinction lies not in quality but in quantity:
When sensory hypersensitivity is intense enough to hinder executive functions, attention, and concentration, it will be categorized as sensory processing disorder.
The positive news is that strategies exist to manage sensory processing disorder and alleviate the associated stress and anxiety.
Vigilance is crucial in identifying and documenting situations and stimuli that trigger sensory sensitivity. Whether it’s certain sounds, fabrics, synthetic materials, odors, or even the irritation caused by people rubbing their pants, recognizing these triggers empowers individuals to avoid them in the future. This awareness also helps individuals realize that the sensory discomfort isn’t an unexpected bout of anxiety; it has identifiable origins.
For instance, if bustling crowds and human noise are challenging, planning ahead and selecting quieter locations within a group setting can be beneficial. Individuals sensitive to rough fabrics can pre-emptively wear soft cotton undershirts beneath sweaters. These straightforward solutions have the potential to significantly enhance comfort and minimize unnecessary stress and distress.
Consequences of Childhood ADHD on Adult ADHD
The diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), as mentioned, is commonly made during elementary school years, when meeting academic demands becomes a challenge for those with the condition (Kieling, 2010).
While the intensity of symptoms tends to decrease with age, many individuals diagnosed with ADHD in childhood continue to experience the adverse effects of these symptoms into adulthood.
Researchers from the University of King’s College London, England, sought to understand the differentiating factors between individuals who persistently exhibit ADHD symptoms into adulthood and those who do not.
In response to this inquiry, the researchers conducted a study involving 116 participants diagnosed with ADHD during their childhood. They were assessed twice — once in childhood and again about six and a half years later during adolescence or early adulthood. The study findings revealed that nearly 80% of the participants continued to display ADHD symptoms during adolescence and early adulthood.
Among the various factors analyzed, the most noteworthy predictors for the persistence of ADHD into later stages of life, along with a broader impact on overall functioning, were the socio-economic status of parents, the intelligence quotient (IQ), and particularly the executive intelligence quotient (PIQ) of the participants.
Navigating Adult ADHD During the Coronavirus Pandemic
The era of the Coronavirus pandemic has had varying effects on adults dealing with ADHD. For some, the transition to remote work and online learning, facilitated by platforms like Zoom, has proven beneficial. This shift allowed for tasks to be tackled at one’s own pace, with reduced external pressure and the freedom to take breaks without constant supervision.
Conversely, there are concerns that the lack of external structure inherent in this new way of working may exacerbate attention-related challenges, worsen organizational difficulties, and lead to increased procrastination and reduced productivity.
So, what strategies can be employed?
For those who find the crisis particularly challenging and struggle to maintain focus without the structure of a traditional schedule, it is recommended to create a personal daily agenda. This includes compiling a to-do list the night before, which can act as a guiding compass for prioritizing tasks the next day. Essential components should include designated meal times, work intervals, and rest breaks.
It’s crucial to be as specific as possible: Rather than jotting down “work time” within a 9 to 11 timeframe, consider listing individual tasks. This approach provides a clear roadmap for your activities, even if you’re unable to complete everything on the list. Some individuals find it beneficial to tackle demanding or less engaging tasks prior to rewarding themselves with an enjoyable activity, such as a satisfying meal or a call with a friend — a form of small-scale self-reinforcement for task completion.
For those grappling with heightened anxiety due to the pandemic, it’s essential to note that medications commonly prescribed for ADHD, such as Adderall, Vivians, or Ritalin, may exacerbate anxiety.
Hence, individuals diagnosed with ADHD who are experiencing increased worry or anxiety are advised to connect with a therapist. Discussing these concerns can lead to guidance on appropriate strategies and potential adjustments to treatment plans.
Video Recommendation
It is highly recommend that you watch this excellent documentary film about ADHD in adults.
You can find this insightful content on the YouTube channel “Only Human”:
Photo credit: Images in this article sourced from Unsplash.
Amizur Nachshoni | Teacher Ami
ADHD
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http://edition.cnn.com/2016/07/15/health/adult-adhd-hyperfocus/index.html
https://www.tipulpsychology.co.il/therapy/adults/adhd-adults.html
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