You’ve been given the same advice over and over again. “Just focus,” “don’t daydream,” “get back on track,” “limit the distractions.”
Then, you set the same reminder three times, and still miss it.
You have good intentions when starting these tasks, and then, somehow, within the blink of an eye, you find yourself doing five other things. Sound familiar?
Think about this. Adults have lived with unrecognized ADHD for decades.
Instead of seeking a professional opinion, people tend to dismiss their behaviors as lazy, anxious, or “that’s just how they are.”
What if there is more to the story?
What ADHD Looks Like in the Real World
Most individuals see ADHD as a hyperactive child.
That is just one example and misses a large part of the community.
It includes the majority of adults, women, and people whose symptoms are on the lower end of the hyperactive spectrum.
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects:
- Executive functioning
- Working memory
- Control over emotions
- Focus
It is also highly individualized and manifests in a multitude of different ways.
Commonly Missed Symptoms
- Chronic procrastination can feel like laziness, but it often stems from a lack of dopamine and difficulty starting tasks
- Conversely, hyperfocus episodes can lead to a person losing several hours of time and can lead to difficulty switching tasks to other, potentially more important things
- Dysregulation of emotions can lead to someone feeling a high level of frustration or disappointment, regardless of whether the situation might call for it
- Time blindness can be a result of real neurological issues, which lead to difficulty in seeing how much time has gone by
- Routines can be forgotten, and this can even happen to someone regarding things that they find important
- Racing thoughts can lead to issues with winding down, and can lead to someone feeling like they can’t sleep
- Impulsive action can be taken, and this can lead to impulsive spending or commitments
If you see yourself in much more than just a few of these, then you should likely be paying more attention to them.
Why Many Adults Remain Undiagnosed
People who tend to be high functioning often develop compensatory strategies, and that often leads to things being missed.
They tend to work more than others.
From the outside, it can look like everything’s working. From the inside, it can be a lot of work, and it can be mentally exhausting.
Other Conditions That Overlap
There is a high degree of overlap of ADHD with many other anxiety disorders, major sleep disorders, major depressive disorder, and sleep disorders.
This comorbidity makes it particularly difficult to get a proper diagnosis, and many people end up getting treatment for the secondary condition, while the underlying issues that cause ADHD go completely unresolved.
Inattention symptoms that are more subtle and internal rather than external are particularly found to be underdiagnosed in females.
Reach Out to Guillaume Counseling
If you want to learn more about ADHD and its specific symptoms, get in touch with us at Guillaume Counseling.
We can help you understand what you’re dealing with.
FAQs
Can ADHD develop in adulthood?
ADHD is a developmental condition, i.e., it begins during childhood.
The condition is, however, mostly not detected until one reaches adulthood because the requirements of life of an individual outmatch their coping capacity.
What is the difference between inattentive and hyperactive ADHD?
The inattentive type (which was called ADD) is defined by the inability to maintain attention and organization.
The hyperactive-impulsive type can be defined as being restless and having the habit of interrupting or speaking out of turn.
The integrated presentation category refers to a combination of the two.
Does anxiety cause any symptoms that could be considered to be ADHD?
Yes.
Anxiety disorders, mood, and sleep can all show symptoms that are consistent with those of ADHD.
