The symptoms of adult ADHD change according to the different lifestyles and preferences that come with adult living. Relationships, employment and everyday tasks can all be affected in a number of ways, positively and negatively.
The three major symptoms of ADHD (as related to adulthood) are impulsivity, hyperactivity, and distractibility, as outlined below.
Impulsivity means the ADHD adult has a hard time controlling their immediate reactions. Some ways in which this could be a problem include addictions to gambling, shopping, substance abuse, etc., and a difficulty in controlling verbal outbursts, i.e. saying the first thing that comes to mind, nice or not!
Hyperactivity is a very well-known symptom of ADHD, and can mean that a person is restless, has trouble sitting still and often fidgets. They are capable of fitting a lot more into a day than the average person because of their constant desire to be doing something, often going and going until they physically cannot do anymore!
Distractibility also affects many aspects of adult life. Individuals may have problems in keeping the mind focused on a specific task, i.e. difficulty concentrating on a conversation and being easily bored. They can be very spontaneous, jumping from one thing to another at the drop of a hat.
Adults with ADHD may find it difficult to organize and plan ahead (appointments and deadlines may be forgotten), and many struggle to hold down the traditional 9 to 5 job. Instead, they will be very suited to a work at home job or some thing with flexible hours. Parents with ADHD may also find it hard to provide a structured life for their non-ADHD children who do better in a more predictable environment.
There are so many positive aspects to ADHD, but these are sometimes overlooked by mainstream society. Creativity is obvious in many ADHD affected adults, and having a satisfying outlet for this creativity is all important. This may be anything from playing an instrument to extreme sports. In fact, people with ADHD are often very quick minded and intelligent. They can become very successful when they find something they are passionate about, sometimes able to put in a lot more energy than the rest of us!
Problems generally occur when they cannot find something to hold their interest, which in turn can lead to the issues mentioned above i.e. substance abuse, and even depression if they feel unable to fit in to traditional structured life.
Adult ADHD does not have to be a hindrance to leading a great life! Although there are some struggles and difficulties for these individuals, we as a society need to accommodate more to those who live in a more unstructured, but passionate, way..