Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD is commonly thought as a disorder that affects children. However, as per the American Psychiatric Association, 5% of adults in the United States have ADHD.
This chronic condition can lead to difficulties in work, relationships, and everyday life. Unfortunately, a large number of adults with ADHD goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Here are some surprising signs of ADHD in grown-ups that you should know.
1. Chronic Procrastination
While everybody procrastinates, chronic procrastination can be a sign of ADHD. This is because the ability to prioritize tasks and manage time is lower in individuals with ADHD.
They may struggle to begin necessary or less preferred tasks and leave them until the last minute.
2. Poor Emotional Control
Adults with ADHD may show poor emotional control and impulsivity. They may struggle with managing negative emotions such as sadness or anger, making them feel more intense.
They may have difficulty in controlling their temper or blurting out things impulsively. This can potentially lead to relationship problems or other conflicts in the workplace.
3. Trouble with Decision Making
People with ADHD may struggle with decision making. They may have a hard time evaluating options, assessing risks, and concluding on a decision while juggling different demands and considerations.
They may also be indecisive, hesitant, and let others make the decisions instead.
4. Difficulty in Organizing and Tidying Up
ADHD can make it challenging to organize and tidy up space. The individual with ADHD may clutter items and papers or have difficulty following through with cleaning and organizing.
This can result in a messy space that is hard to navigate and increases stress and anxiety.
5. Trouble Focusing on Boring or Repetitive Tasks
Individuals with ADHD may find it hard to stay focused on tasks that are tedious, uninteresting, or monotonous. They may also struggle to filter out distractions, making it harder to complete complex or time-consuming tasks.
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6. Constantly Starting and Stopping Side Projects
People with ADHD may have brilliant ideas and often start several projects simultaneously, without finishing any of them. They may jump from one task to another, leaving everything half-done or incomplete.
As a result, they may miss deadlines or be unable to deliver work as expected.
7. Risk-Taking Behavior
ADHD can also make individuals more prone to risk-taking behavior. They may seek adventures, jump into decisions impulsively, or engage in high-risk leisure activities. This behavior can potentially lead to physical, emotional, and financial harm.
8. Trouble Staying Motivated and Engaged in Monotonous Work
Individuals with ADHD may have trouble staying motivated, focused, and engaged in tasks that require sustained effort, especially if it is uninteresting. This can impact their capacity to complete education and sustain work over time.
They may struggle to complete tasks with a long-term perspective, resulting in difficulty achieving potential in their chosen career field.
9. Chronic Lateness
People with ADHD may struggle to manage their time efficiently leading to chronic lateness. They may underestimate the time required for a task and, therefore, show up late to appointments, work meetings, social events, or anything else.
This can cause significant stress and strain in their personal, professional, and social lives.
10. Low Self-Esteem
Finally, adults with ADHD may struggle with low self-esteem. They may be highly self-critical and perceive their difficulties as personal failures rather than the nature of ADHD.
They may struggle to accept their limitations, be ashamed of their struggles, and feel demotivated, resulting in suboptimal performance, even in tasks within their capacity.
There are many other unspoken or unexpected challenges that adults with ADHD face. It is important to recognize their struggles, empathize with them, and provide appropriate support and treatment.
If you relate to any of the above details, reach out to a mental health professional to get the help and support you need.
