| Issue #1 - March 30, 2007 |
Inspirations by Emily J Weitz
Adult ADHD
Have you ever found yourself unable to focus on projects, exhibiting
unpredictable behavior, or making irrational decisions? We all get frazzled
sometimes, but when you feel that you are unable to restore order to
your life, you may have a medical condition that can be treated. ADHD
(Attentional Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is a relatively common
condition that affects between 3 and 5% of children. But what is less
known is that many of these children (up to 70%) continue to suffer
from ADHD into adulthood. This is especially true if their ADHD was
never diagnosed.
Today, the diagnosis of ADHD in children is widespread. In fact, many
argue that it is vastly overdiagnosed, and too many young children are
on medications and may become dependent. It is true that more children
today are diagnosed with ADHD than ever before and many of these kids
are thus diagnosed because they’ve been causing problems in school
that may be related to other triggers, like problems at home or other
illnesses.
Conversely, however, ADHD is vastly underdiagnosed in adults. When left
untreated, ADHD can persist into adulthood and many parents only discover
that they have all the symptoms of ADHD when they are researching the
condition for their children.
ADHD has three principal symptoms: inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.
The symptoms manifest themselves differently in adults than they do
in children. For example, children with hyperactivity may run around
like crazy and have a difficult time sitting in a seat. Adults are more
likely to be restless and have a hard time relaxing. Adults with ADHD
often say their biggest problem is organization and the ability to prioritize.
They may have issues with deadlines, missing social engagements and
missing meetings.
Adults who suffer from impulsive tendencies associated with ADHD may
have intense mood swings, impatience, troubled relationships and difficulty
controlling remarks.
Women often tend to suffer from ADHD silently. They may try to self-medicate
by abusing drugs or alcohol. Often, they feel ashamed, have low self-esteem
and find it difficult to make social connections.
Research on girls and women with ADHD has lagged behind research on
boys with ADHD. Part of this is due to the fact that their symptoms
are usually quieter. While a little boy with a hyperactive disorder
may cause a teacher to report his behavior, a little girl staring into
space may slip through the cracks. Girls with ADHD are at risk for early
smoking, teen pregnancy, depression, and low self-esteem. Later in life,
ADHD may cause problems like failed marriages, financial crises or inability
to hold down a job.
If you think you may have the symptoms of ADHD, you should talk to your
doctor. There are various methods of treatment that are not limited
to medication. In fact, for both adults and children alike, medication
alone is not the most effective treatment. Medication should be supplemented
by therapy, so that the patient can talk about how he or she is feeling,
how the medication is affecting them and how their condition is influencing
their lives. Therapy can help children and adults explore their negative
behavior patterns and empower them to take control over managing their
own symptoms.
Adults with ADHD can exhibit unpredictable and difficult behavior. If
you find that angry outbursts or irrational decisions are straining
your relationship, therapy can help you monitor your own behavior.
If you have experienced these symptoms, there are also things you can
do to empower yourself at home and at work. Acknowledge the fact that
organization may be difficult for you, and make up for this by choosing
a career that capitalizes on your strengths. Avoid mundane jobs that
will bore you. You need to be highly stimulated to work at your best.
Also, try to multi-task. Often, adults with ADHD do best when they are
doing several things at once. That way, if something starts to feel
repetitious, you can switch to something else and then return to your
first project later.
If you can work privately, that will probably be the best way for you
to maintain focus. If this is not possible, invest in a good pair of
headphones to block out distractions while you focus on the task at
hand. Make to-do lists and get a planner so you can keep track of obligations
and deadlines.
Untreated adult ADHD can deeply affect your personality, but when you
take ownership of your condition, it is completely manageable. Talk
to your doctor if you’ve noticed these symptoms. You can absolutely
take control of your life.
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