As awareness of ADHD in adults grows, more people are discovering how this often-misunderstood condition impacts their daily lives, relationships and careers.
ADHD, or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, is a developmental condition characterized by inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.
Every October is ADHD Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness and providing support for individuals with ADHD.
In the United States, approximately 8.4% of children and 2.5% of adults have ADHD, making it one of the most prevalent mental health conditions. Two-thirds of children will
outgrow ADHD. And, for a third, the symptoms will follow them into adulthood.
“Symptoms for adults will disappear or they will adapt so they are not as symptomatic and it doesn’t impair their adult activities,” says Dr. Marilou Tablang-Jimenez, chair of the department of psychiatry at MedStar Montgomery Medical Center in Olney.
ADHD often runs in families. The genes you inherit from your parents are considered a significant factor in developing the condition, she says.
The hyperactivity and impulsivity for an adult patient takes the form of hyper-focused or unfocused when it comes to a task that requires concentration. “A gamer can stay up all night because they are so into it, but if you ask them to read a page of a book, they don’t have the attention or concentration to do it,” Tablang-Jimenez says.
While a child with ADHD might constantly run and jump all over the place, “you learn as an adult that you cannot do that, or they will ask you to leave the place.”
So, an adult might pace or fidget with their feet or hands. “Or they struggle more with a high level of thinking and difficulty of subject matter,” Tablang-Jimenez says.
A lack of attention to details and impulsivity lead to poor quality of work, she says. As an adult, these problems can get you fired.
Tablang-Jimenez also says adults with ADHD tend to procrastinate because they don’t like the work that they do. They may regularly come in late. Both situations could result in job loss.
ADHD can also ruin relationships. For example, a man who has a relationship flirts with another woman because of his impulsivity. “He goes on to cheat and loses a very special relationship to him,” Tablang-Jimenez says.
The most effective treatment options for ADHD in adults are stimulants — Ritalin and Adderall — and nonstimulant medications — Strattera and Qelbree.
The stimulants work by triggering the release of dopamine, which is what a patient needs to be able to focus and concentrate, Tablang-Jimenez says.
The nonstimulants boosts levels of norepinephrine, a neurotransmitter that regulates attention and mood.
Medication and cognitive behavior therapy combined is considered the best treatment, Tablang-Jimenez says.
Family members and coworkers can best support someone with ADHD by helping them get organized.
Someone with ADHD might have a big project to accomplish that is due in six weeks. “You can help that person break down this large task into smaller parts. By the fifth week, you have 90 percent of the work done. When that person has completed the task, celebrate it,” she says.
“Individuals with ADHD overestimate the difficulty of completing a task or project and underestimate the positive feelings that come with its completion.”
Remove distractions like phones. Create your own schedule regularly and live by that schedule. “Your ability to be more productive improves. You’re able to stay focused and concentrate on what you need to do.”
ADHD is covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act. “So, a psychiatrist can recommend that you receive accommodations from work in the same way that schools provide academic accommodations for your kids.”
Ultimately, understanding ADHD is crucial for fostering compassion, reducing stigma and empowering those affected to seek the support they need to thrive.
