When people think of ADHD they tend to think of a young boy bouncing off the walls, unable to sit still in class or pay attention to their parents. In reality, research suggests a significant number of people are never diagnosed with ADHD. ADHD presents differently in boys than in girls, and it’s best understood as a spectrum of behaviors with variable intensities.

Diagnosing ADHD in adults is more difficult than spotting it in children. After going undiagnosed as children, many adults have already developed coping mechanisms and strategies to help manage their symptoms—but while they may have it under control, that doesn’t mean that it isn’t a struggle.

Symptoms of ADHD in Adults

Adults and children with ADHD have similar symptoms, although they sometimes manifest quite differently. Symptoms are often harder to detect in adults, as they unconsciously develop a variety of coping mechanisms to compensate for their condition. Frequently, they do so without even knowing the root cause of these issues is their undiagnosed ADHD.

Common symptoms include:

• Lack of Time Management Skills

• Difficulty Staying on Tasks to Completion

• Tendency to Complete Tasks at Last Minute

• Restlessness & Disrupted Sleep Patterns

• Tendency Toward Impulsive Decisions

• Absent-Mindedness \ Misplacing Objects

• Easily Distressed by Deadlines and Tasks

While people tend to think of ADHD as an inability to focus, more often it is an inability to control where one’s focus lies. People with ADHD are often quite capable of hyperfocusing on topics and activities that catch their attention. As a result, people with ADHD are often quite knowledgeable on specific topics, or tend to lose track of time while playing video games, reading books, or binging tv shows that appeal to them.

Getting a Diagnosis

Many adults with ADHD go undiagnosed because they have developed coping mechanisms and masking techniques that allow them to function in ways that make their symptoms less obvious to others. When evaluating whether or not an adult may have ADHD, here are some of the following factors that should be considered:

• Current Symptoms

• Impact on Daily Life

• Duration of Symptoms

• Other Medical History

While there is no formal test for diagnosing ADHD in adults, a diagnosis is typically performed by either a psychiatrist or healthcare professional and is based on the individual’s symptoms, reported experience, and other relevant history.

Treatment Options

Some of the most essential skills for adults with ADHD to master are related to improving their lifestyle:

• Set Daily Goals & Tasks

• Create Schedules & Routines

• Healthy Diet & Exercise

People with ADHD often have trouble sticking to routines and completing tasks that do not activate their ability to focus. High pressure tasks and activities, such as sports, video games, and stressful work environments may be easier for adults with ADHD to focus on, while relaxing tasks focused on self-care may seem boring in comparison.

Carving out time for basic self-care and managing household chores is critical. It may seem silly at a glance that adults with ADHD may need to schedule minor daily tasks, but as a part of self-care it’s important. Those tasks may be quite mundane, including:

• Remembering to brush their teeth.

• Setting aside time to do the dishes.

• Creating set places to leave keys.

• Scheduling extra time to get ready.

• Frequent reminders of deadlines.

Getting Support

If you think you may be an adult whose ADHD went undiagnosed, a therapist can help you learn tools and strategies that will help you succeed. In addition, they can help you evaluate the severity of your symptoms and determine if medication is necessary. Reach out today if you think this might describe you.