It's time to give Adult ADHD the attention it needs
ADHD is something that we regularly hear about. However when you hear the acronym ADHD it is likely that you will think about children having it. This is not an unfair presumption, however it is thought that around 60% of those who deal with it as a child continue having problems into adulthood.
The fact that adults also live with ADHD is an issue widely ignored. There are various reasons why this may be the case. In the past experts believed that ADHD was something that children grew out of. However more recently it has been recognized that ADHD can continue into adulthood.
As this is all pretty new in terms of acceptance, it does mean that there are a lot of adults out there who have gone undiagnosed. They may not even be aware that their behavior is actually part of a medical condition. Considering that a proportion of the population is living with it and not even being aware of it, it is not surprising therefore that it can be overlooked.
The question is, how does it vary from the ADHD we see in children? Unlike other disorders that begin in adulthood ADHD is something that starts in childhood and never goes away. Things that affect people as children will continue affecting them as adults, but unfortunately as an adult the consequences can be much greater.
Adults living with ADHD will find that hyperactivity is not the same problem that it was in childhood. Though that sense of restlessness is likely to continue and you will also find yourself fidgeting a lot. It may mean that you have trouble relaxing, which may lead to you feeling anxious for a large proportion of the time.
In adulthood your actions that are caused by your ADHD can often be overlooked as awkward behavior. Because people are unaware of what you are living with they may put down any troubles at work or in relationships that you have, with other disorders but not ADHD.
As it has only recently been recognized as an issue, it is possible that you could have persuaded yourself that this is just the way you are and it is not down to medical problems. You probably have learned to deal with the various issues for yourself, unaware that you can get help with them.
There are various treatments available to you, which can be done alongside taking medication, such as behavioral therapy and psychotherapy.
If you feel you may be living with undiagnosed ADHD it is really important that you consult your doctor. In the case that you are living with some of the problems caused by ADHD, you may feel embarrassed and confused by your behavior. Researchers based in New York say that ADHD affects about eight million adults in the US. So, you should not think that you are alone in dealing with this.
There are various support groups available for ADHD sufferers and the more it is recognized, the more help there will be available for other sufferers. It is essential that people begin to talk openly about the topic, so it is no longer overlooked and receives the time necessary so there are changes to attitudes on the issue.
Back To Articles