Wondering if you have ADHD? 8 common symptoms and how to deal with them

If you’ve been on the Internet lately, you may have noticed more posts about ADHD in adults. Understandably, you might wonder if you belong to the group of people who didn’t know they had ADHD at all. In honor of Mental Iness Awareness Week, I’ll break down what ADHD is and what its common symptoms are. I’ll even give a few self-care tips.

What is ADHD?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a common mental disorder that occurs in children and can persist into adulthood. It is characterized by a persistent pattern of inattention and impulsiveness, which hinders a person’s ability to function. ADHD can lead to poor school or work performance, low self-esteem or unstable relationships.

When ADHD comes to mind, most people imagine a restless child who talks non-stop and has a lot of energy. While that’s not entirely wrong, it doesn’t paint the full picture. For adults, the symptoms of ADHD can be more subtle – as subtle as many people remain undiagnosed.

8 common symptoms of ADHD

Impulsive behavior

Impulsiveness is one core feature of ADHDaccording to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. If you have ADHD, you may be impulsive and act without regard to the outcome. You may not be making the best decisions financially. Sometimes you buy things impulsively or make irresponsible financial decisions, such as spending your retirement savings or taking on debt.

ADHD impulsivity doesn’t just stop at finances. You may be impulsive in your communications with others, for example by talking too much or blurting out everything that comes to mind. You may also be impulsive in your life — quit your job or go on a spending spree.

Problems setting priorities and organizing things

Staying organized can be difficult for anyone, but people with ADHD will have a harder time keeping track of things and completing them logically. That’s because ADHD is associated with weakened function of the prefrontal cortexor the part of the brain that controls behavior, emotion, attention, and organization.

Someone with ADHD may jump from task to task because he or she is excited about those things, not because it is a logical sequence. It’s not just a personality trait; a 2018 study found that children with ADHD had this deficits in their working memory. We use our short-term memory to retain information. If compromised, it can be difficult to make a plan and implement it.

Read more: 8 to-do list apps to help you get organized

Difficulty managing time

Another extremely common symptom of ADHD is difficulty managing time. You may often be late for things or have trouble sticking to your schedule. Keep in mind that time management varies from person to person. It’s not always being late or not showing up, but it can be more subtle, such as putting off tasks and working to tight deadlines. You may also be so forgetful on a regular basis that it causes workflow disruptions or damages relationships.

Read more: Working from home with ADD: try these apps to stay on top of things

Concentration problems

Concentration problems are one of the best-known ADHD symptoms, thanks to… reduced function of the prefrontal cortex. According to the DSM-5, a declining attention span is a core symptom of ADHD.

Anything can distract your attention from the task at hand: noises, people talking, or daydreaming. This lack of focus can cause you to miss important details, lose parts of conversations, and have difficulty completing tasks.

Hyperfocus on tasks

When it comes to ADHD, people mainly associate characteristics that hinder functioning. However, there are adaptive features of ADHD that are strengths. Some people experience hyperfocus with ADHD. Hyperfocus does not occur in just any task. It usually happens when the person is enthusiastic about his work. Think of it as the difference between writing a paper and playing video games.

Researchers suggest that hyperfocus arises from the difficulty of switching between tasks.

Restless feeling

Being restless and restless is what most people associate with ADHD. For good reason, it’s one of the most common ways parents identify ADHD in their children. Restlessness is more evident in children, who are constantly moving or talking, but it still occurs in adults; it just looks different. Adults with ADHD symptoms present more subtly than children — shaking hands or feet or frequently getting up from their chair to do something else.

Read more: 6 Best Fidget Toys for Anxiety

Difficulty controlling your emotions

Emotional sensitivity and problems controlling emotions are more signs of ADHD. Rejection-sensitive dysphoria is common adults with ADHD. RSD is extreme emotional sensitivity that occurs when a person fears being criticized or rejected by someone else.

Another aspect of emotional control and ADHD can be a short temper. Someone with ADHD may become extremely irritated, but quickly get rid of it. ADHD is possible co-occur with mood disorders like depressionbipolar and tension.

Complicated relationships

The common ADHD symptoms – emotional sensitivity, restlessness and difficulty staying focused – can strain relationships in professional, personal and romantic settings. Emotional partners and friends of someone with ADHD may feel like they are not getting enough attention, especially if there are instances where anniversaries or birthdays are forgotten. Common symptoms, such as talking over people and becoming bored or restless, can make long-term relationships more difficult.

It is important that your partner understands what it is like to live with ADHD and that you work on solutions together. Open communication can help you be prepared for bumps in the road and make finding a solution or compromise easier.

Self-help tips to manage ADHD symptoms

If ADHD symptoms sound familiar, it may be worth taking an ADHD test to confirm this. ADHD testing are handled quickly and often online. After you take the test, you should speak with a doctor to determine your next step.

There are treatment options for ADHD — cognitive behavioral therapy and medication are the most popular. Medication for ADHD cannot stand alone. It should be used in combination with counseling to ensure that children and adults develop the necessary skills to manage their ADHD.

You can use these tips to manage your ADHD symptoms on a daily basis:

• Use technology to stay organized: Hold a list of tasks and mark them as you move through it. If you have it on your phone, you can access it easily. Using these tricks on your phone to stay organized can help reduce the stress of being late or missing important things.
• Set alarms on your phone: Remembering different appointments and due dates can be difficult with ADHD. Using technology to stay organized can make it easier. Alarms and calendar reminders can significantly impact your ability to stay focused on your task and meet deadlines.
• Make minor changes: Making drastic changes all at once can be overwhelming. If you have trouble taking on larger projects or completing tasks, breaking them down into smaller chunks can make them more manageable and help you feel accomplished.
• Take good care of yourself: By focusing on yourself and your needs, you can ensure that you are ready to take on challenges. Make sure you get enough sleep, eat well, and take steps to manage stress when possible.

For more tips on mental health, visit the website perfect color to paint your bedroom and what food to be happy.