Adult ADHD

I often get questions about ADHD. These questions come from two directions. Parents who are concerned that their children are exhibiting signs of ADHD, and adults who are concerned that they may be.

ADHD is not something that is cured or outgrown, but it is something that can be successfully managed. Like in children, Adult ADHD stands for attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, a syndrome characterized by an impaired ability to regulate activity level (hyperactivity), attend to tasks (inattention), and inhibit behavior (impulsivity). ADHD is thought to be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain that affects the parts controlling attention, concentration and impulsivity. (Adultadhd.com)

ADHD may affect how one learns but does not actually affect intelligence. Individuals with ADHD are often very quick minded and intelligent. The key to being successful for individuals with ADHD often lies in the individual’s ability to assess their strengths and use them to their advantage, and to assess their areas of struggle and tap into strategies to support these struggles.

So, what does ADHD look like in adults?

Predominantly Inattentive: The predominantly inattentive type is an adult that is often seen as very dreamy and often not paying attention but just in their own world. Overall, they have difficulty keeping their mind focused which affects their concentration in conversation and when executing tasks. These individuals often are easily bored. Which sometimes has them constantly looking for attention.

Predominantly Hyperactive: The predominantly hyperactive type is the adult that just always seems on the go. They never seem to stop. Individuals in this category are often restless and have trouble sitting still. On the upside, they are often capable to fit more into a day than the average person because of their need to be constantly doing something.

Predominantly Impulsive: Individuals that are predominantly impulsive often have a hard time controlling their immediate reactions. This can lead to difficulties controlling verbal outbursts and problems with addictions to gambling, shopping, substance abuse etc.

Individuals that have ADHD can have difficulty filtering information. This makes it very easy to get distracted, to be impulsive and act before they consider situations properly and often not knowing when to stop. As you can imagine, these symptoms can have an effect on an individual starting a new job or continuing their studies or even raising a family.

So how can one successfully deal with ADHD as an adult? Firstly, ADHD is a medically diagnosed disorder and it’s a good idea to consult your physician. Share your suspicions and get some feedback on whether medical intervention would be beneficial. Next, reflect on your recognizing areas of strength and areas of concern. Start by writing a list. Having this list will give guidance on areas that need to be tackled.

Here are my top 6 helpful tips for Adults with ADHD.

1. Develop Structures: Creates systems that will help you be successful. Give everything it’s place. Use a planner or organizational app to help you keep track of your appointments and to do lists. Create filing systems for important information. Make lists of things that you want to stay on top of. Color code if that is helpful for you.
2. Be Mindful of Time: Most adults seem to walk around with multiple devices other than their watches that tell time. Whether it’s your watch, phone, tablet or whatever, use one of these devices as a timer and to set reminders. Also, give yourself a little extra time for tasks that you know you often need extra time for. Be realistic.
3. Prioritize. Whether it be at the beginning of the day when writing out a to do list, or when thinking of the projects that you want to work on. Clearly prioritize and make it visual.
4. Budgeting and Bill Payments: If you forget to pay your bills, become an online banker. Move towards automatic payments. Use systems to help you stay on top of your money management.
5. Be Mindful of Distractions: Keep your workplace as distraction free as possible. Turn off non-essential notifications on your devices and set times for apps that you want to surf such as social media.
6. Take Care of Your Mind, Body and Soul. Take some time to evaluate the amount of sleep you are getting, your exercise and your diet. Look as well at your spiritual practice. Put routines in place that help you follow through on the ways you keep a healthy mind, body and soul.

For more information, or to inquire about ADHD Coaching for Adults, connect with Yolande. yolande@learnanndleadltd.com

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