If you have issues following instructions, staying focused, staying still, keeping track of important documents, or remembering tasks, you may blame your behavior on a lack of discipline, laziness, or moral failings. However, these issues could all be signs of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It could be that your brain is working against you.
Up until recently, ADHD was considered to be a disorder that went away during adulthood. However, research has found that adults with ADHD simply learn to mask their symptoms or eventually have their symptoms manifest themselves differently
In the brain of patients suffering from ADHD, there’s a deficiency of norepinephrine. This neurotransmitter, along with dopamine, impacts the brain’s reward system.
If you suspect you may have ADHD, read on. Below, we asked our expert, Dr. Jacob Leivent to share the most common signs of ADHD in adults.
Poor planning
Those with ADHD are likely to have impaired function in their frontal lobe in areas related to planning and execution.
Adults with ADHD tend to have poor planning skills because their reward system doesn’t function properly. As a result, they can’t plan for and anticipate rewards like someone who is neurotypical. Often, people with ADHD don’t feel the reward of finishing a task as neurotypicals do.
Distracted vs. hyper-focused
There’s a common myth floating around that people with ADHD can’t focus. They can, but their ability to regulate focus is dysregulated.
They can experience hyperfixation on hobbies, new business plans, and even TV shows, and these hyperfixations usually are more rewarding than boring everyday tasks. Because people suffering from ADHD often have low dopamine levels, they tend to chase activities that are more rewarding in the short term, such as video games or social media.
Often, because the hyper fixation becomes dull after a while, ADHD sufferers chase a new dopamine high. Someone with ADHD may often change hobbies and plans, and they may have difficulty staying interested in one subject for extended periods.
Problems with prioritizing
The dysregulated attention span of an ADHD sufferer, coupled with poor emotional regulation, makes it difficult for them to create a hierarchy of tasks. They have difficulty distinguishing between what must be done right now and what can wait.
Impulsivity and mood swings
If you suffer from ADHD, you may have a harder time dealing with stressful situations, as your nervous system can’t properly self-soothe. This tends to lead to impulsive behaviors.
You may get frustrated more easily than others and have difficulty toning down your emotional responses.
Learn more about ADHD
ADHD is complex, and it manifests itself differently depending on your particular co-morbidities and personality type. If you describe yourself as forgetful, disorganized, erratic, and unable to regulate your focus and emotions, contact us to schedule an appointment for an assessment.
ADHD can be treated both with medications to enable your brain to make better use of neurotransmitters and with psychotherapy to help you learn coping techniques that make your life easier.