“I was in my early thirties when I stumbled upon my diagnosis of Adult ADHD. I decided to seek counseling because of some increasing anxiety that was making it difficult to sleep at night. The lack of sleep was also affecting my job because the exhaustion made it difficult to focus on tasks and stay productive to meet deadlines. My counselor helped me to realize that I had quite a few other symptoms of undiagnosed ADHD. Looking back now, I realized that I had a lifetime of struggles with motivation and procrastination. Forgetfulness, brain fog, and being easily distracted were such a common theme in my life, that I really didn’t think much about it. I’m thankful that my counselor was able to show me that I am not broken, this is just the way my brain works. She showed me strategies on how to cope with my symptoms so I can be a better version of myself.”
This is just one of the countless anonymous testimonies that adult ADHD patients have shared in online forums and discussion groups. Does this sound familiar to you? If so, you are not alone. Many adults are discovering that they are one of millions of the worldwide population living with adult ADHD.
What Is Adult ADHD?
ADHD stands for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. It’s a brain development condition that starts in childhood and often continues into adulthood. The condition can cause people to have trouble with focusing/maintaining attention, hyperactivity, and impulse control. The term “adult ADHD” is simply used to distinguish between childhood diagnoses of ADHD and adults living with ADHD.
Symptoms Of Adult ADHD To Track
Adult ADHD symptoms can be very similar to childhood ADHD symptoms. For children, they often struggle with social skills and school performance. For adults, it can impact relationships, work performance, and mental health.
The severity levels of adult ADHD can be classified as mild, moderate, or severe. Keep track of your symptoms to discuss with your health provider.
You may have difficulties in making decisions and focusing your attention on tasks. This can slow down your productivity and make you feel like you are taking longer than usual to complete a task that you set out to do. For many patients living with ADHD, they can feel overwhelmed and often procrastinate. You may make more errors due to inattention and distractions.
The hyperactivity symptoms can include fidgeting or restlessness. You may have trouble sitting still for long periods. It can also cause difficulties with social boundaries or restraint in conversations, which can impact relationships. You may find yourself talking excessively, interrupting others who are talking, or finishing their sentences. This is why it can impact relationships with others.
How To Cope With Symptoms Of Adult ADHD
The good news is that adult ADHD is treatable! Depending on your severity level, your healthcare provider may prescribe treatments or a combination of treatments such as medications and psychotherapy. Your health provider will use compassionate care therapy to help you prioritize your health and well-being.
You can learn adaptation strategies that will help you manage your symptoms. Some suggestions would be:
- Exercise – This helps reduce symptoms of hyperactivity, allowing you to get your energy out.
- Sleep – Turn off screens at least one hour before bedtime. Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep.
- Stress Management – Listen to calming music or try breathing exercises.
- Time Management – Make a list of daily tasks and set timers on your phone to do focused work and take brain breaks.
- Organization – Use smartphone apps, notebooks, or planners to organize your appointments and work.
- Eliminate unnecessary distractions – Your smartphone can be a distraction with all of its notifications and alerts. You can change your phone settings to turn them off. Many smartphones have a “do not disturb” setting that you can turn on when you need to focus on work.
Find the support and compassionate care you want with Becoming Behavioral Health & Wellness. We offer convenient online counseling appointments to help you handle life’s chaos and focus on your well-being. We also offer plant-based wellness options such as herbs, supplements, and essential oils to use either alongside or instead of psychotropic medications. To learn more, check out our website or schedule a call today!
