Our understanding of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has changed significantly in recent years. Some people receive an accurate ADHD diagnosis in childhood. Yet others struggle with their symptoms well into adulthood before getting the help they need. The same symptoms can manifest differently in children and adults, but people of all ages with ADHD often have trouble focusing, managing schedules, and remembering their obligations. They can be more likely to engage in risky behavior without thinking through the potential consequences.
These symptoms can have negative effects on your quality of life at any age. Recognizing these signs can help you gain clarity and seek appropriate treatment. While there are a wide range of possible ADHD symptoms, here are a few of the most common.
1. Difficulty Focusing
For people with ADHD, staying focused isn’t easy. Even when you’re trying to focus on a subject or hobby you enjoy, you might find your concentration slipping. Children, teenagers, and adults with untreated ADHD often fall behind in classroom settings, or they have to put in far more effort than their classmates to maintain similar grades. While some students will act out in class when they can’t focus, others might simply daydream, and as a result, teachers and parents overlook their symptoms.
If you’re an adult with ADHD, you may feel like you’re always scrambling to keep up at work. You might be embarrassed to ask questions and accidentally “reveal” that you missed something, so you stay quiet and try to play catch up without help.
2. Executive Functioning Challenges
Executive functioning is a major obstacle for people with ADHD. Even when you know exactly what you need to do, when you need to do it, and how you can get it done, you can’t seem to start and finish the task. You might have a habit of starting and giving up on creative projects. These tendencies can cause problems at work, at school, and in your domestic life.
3. Struggles With Time Management
You have an event coming up, and you’ve told yourself over and over again that you’ll be on time. Maybe you’ve even set multiple alarms. Yet as the event creeps up, you assume that you have far more time than you need to prepare, only to end up rushing out the door and being late. People with ADHD often find it hard to assess just how much time a task will actually take, and being frequently late can cause problems in many areas of life.
4. Forgetfulness
Forgetfulness is a very common ADHD symptom. You might forget where you’ve put things, the dates and times of notable commitments, professional or academic deadlines, information your friends have shared with you, and other important information. Sometimes, forgetting details like a friend’s birthday party or a life event they told you about can cause hurt feelings.
5. Impulsivity
Children, teens, and adults with ADHD can be prone to impulsivity. While a child might yell in class or do something dangerous at a playground, an adult might gamble, quit a job spontaneously, or break their lease on a whim. Making impulsive decisions complicates future planning.
6. Relationship Troubles
Relationship problems often occur as a result of other ADHD symptoms. People with ADHD might find it tough to form stable, long-term friendships or romantic relationships. Their impulsivity can interfere with relationships, and forgetting details about people’s lives, overlooking commitments, or being late can also take a toll. Relationship troubles can be a warning sign of ADHD.
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Are you concerned that the frustrating symptoms you’ve been dealing with might be symptoms of ADHD? We encourage you to contact our practice to learn more about our online and in-person ADHD counseling services.
