ADHD in Adults: Tips to Help People with Attention Deficit

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a chronic disorder that begins in childhood and, in most cases, lasts until adolescence and adulthood. ADHD occurs on many occasions in adults, but do you know exactly what it is? What is this type of disorder characterized by? how can it be treated?

In this article we are going to answer all these questions in collaboration with Dr. Diana Benhumea Rojas, from Doctoranytime, who also tells us how we can help a person who suffers from attention deficit disorder. Let’s see it!

What is ADHD? 

• According to the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a chronic neurodevelopmental disorder that begins in childhood and in most cases lasts through adolescence and into adulthood. Worldwide statistics refer to the fact that the percentage of the population diagnosed with ADHD is 7.2%, which is manifested to a greater extent in men than in women.
• ADHD is characterized by moderate to severe inattention and in short periods of time, compulsive behaviors, motor restlessness and emotional instability, having a significant impact on the individual’s academic and work performance. Three types are currently recognized: predominantly inattentive, impulsive, and combined.

Characteristics of ADHD in adults

1. Adults with ADHD are observed to have difficulties in executive functions. These functions are what help us achieve our goals, among them are the processes to solve, organize, supervise and evaluate our actions.
2. They may find it difficult to plan, retain, or categorize in their minds the information necessary to follow sequences, solve their problems, and follow instructions; the self-regulation of their behaviors in certain situations, they are more likely to get frustrated in situations that generate stress and are observed with low motivation to achieve their goals.
3. They show difficulty in sustaining their attention and concentration, they are easily distracted, they have a bad management of their time and in the organization of the same, it is difficult for them to finish the daily and extraordinary tasks.
4. In general, the person with a predominance of hyperactivity or that as children this indicator stood out, in the adult stage the impulsivity decreases and increases, which is manifested as an internal and constant restlessness, they get bored easily and are inconsistent and persevering when facing to their tasks.
5. It is common to observe that they constantly change their interests such as in their university career or that they drop out of their studies, that they have difficulties in their jobs and in their social groups. They are affected in their relationships, in fact, there are statistics where they mention that they get divorced more than 2 times, their relationships are of poor quality, they can frequently have extramarital relationships.

How to help a person with ADHD?

• It is observed that the impulsiveness and lack of judgment that they can present frequently reflects that they have a tendency to lie and with little tolerance for frustration. They are at higher risk for a substance use disorder, having alcohol or drug use problems. Therefore, it is important that even if they are adults they may have the right to evaluation and treatment to treat the symptoms of attention deficit disorder, this will ensure a better quality of life, an improvement in their social relationships and therefore their self- esteem and self-concept increases.
• In fact, people diagnosed with ADHD generally see themselves as “impoverished” due to the school and family situations they have faced since childhood, in addition to the treatment for some comorbidities such as anxiety and depression, which are usually symptoms that prevail in adulthood.
• Adults with ADHD throughout their lives automatically generate certain strategies for coping with situations of inattention, impulsiveness and hyperactivity. Some of these strategies have worked for them and others have not, however, it is necessary that she be able to undergo a psychological treatment process such as psychoeducational or cognitive-behavioral and neurological therapy to provide the best tools and information to the patient and her family.
• It is important to support adults with ADHD in coping with situations by following the sequence of identifying the problem of the situation, developing some functional solution alternatives, applying them and evaluating whether the attempted solution and the result is the desired one. Give them options on how they can protect their social relationships, provide them with diaries or notebooks, help them establish their routine, and help them carry out just one task.
• If you are an adult with the aforementioned symptoms, it is recommended that you approach a specialist who can help you improve in all environments or aspects of your life. Remember that making changes and getting out of your comfort zone will really represent a big step forward in your lifestyle and future decisions.