Everyone gets restless and distracted at times. In most people, these feelings easily pass, and they can handle their activities of daily living within a short time afterward. However, in some people, the feelings persist and affect their lives to varying extents. ADHD {attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder} is the issue in most cases.
ADHD is a mental health disease encompassing a combination of persistent issues like difficulty in paying attention, impulsive behavior, and hyperactivity. Though often diagnosed in school-going kids, the condition’s symptoms persist in about two-thirds of ADHD into adulthood.
In a few cases, doctors and parents will miss the diagnosis of ADHD in childhood. This means a few patients are diagnosed with ADHD as adults. Irrespective of the timing of your ADHD test and diagnosis, adult ADHD is quite challenging.
Adults with ADHD experience trouble multitasking, poor planning, excessive activity, poor time management skills, and frequent mood swings. Some also struggle with hot tempers, impulsiveness, low tolerance for frustration, disorganization, and difficulty completing tasks.
These symptoms and others associated with ADHD can be adequately managed with psychotherapy, behavioral therapy, and medications. Nonetheless, the condition affects an adult’s life to a larger extent than a child’s. Though not considered so serious in the past, below are the reasons adult ADHD became a serious issue.
Patients battle low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression
There is considerable psychological stress associated with the symptoms of adult ADHD. When a patient struggles with hot tempers and frequent mood swings, fewer people will want to be around him/her. This predisposes an ADHD patient to depression, low self-esteem, and various forms of anxiety.
Furthermore, the difficulty in handling tasks and impulsiveness associated with ADHD make someone an unideal employee. When you can hardly work to fend for yourself, depression and low self-esteem will often set in. As such, most adults battling ADHD usually suffer from other mental health issues concurrently.
The condition’s symptoms make getting into and maintaining relationships hard
Owing to the symptoms associated with adult ADHD, few people will understandably be willing to have a relationship with someone suffering from the condition. Other than finding it a challenge to get into a relationship, ADHD patients have trouble holding onto one.
In a 2016 study, the partners of people with ADHD reported lower marital satisfaction and intimacy than those of those in relationships with people without ADHD. With these effects, it is challenging to maintain friendly and romantic relationships.
Moreover, people with ADHD often suffer from anxiety. This can be manifested as relationship anxiety, where they become too clingy, believing they cannot satisfy their spouses because of their condition. Usually, this makes a relationship exhausting for both parties involved leading to its breakdown.
ADHD increases the risk of job instability
Difficulty concentrating and hyperactivity generally make it hard for people with ADHD to graduate from high school or college. Without a diploma, getting a job is challenging. Moreover, these symptoms make it hard for people with ADHD to hold a job or limit their job options.
The job instability associated with adult ADHD means that patients are less likely to be fully independent because of their financial constraints. This worsens their depression and low self-esteem. Adults with ADHD who manage to hold jobs have fewer successes at the workplace, leading to their decreased morale.
The condition increases the risk of negative parent-child relationships
The symptoms of ADHD, especially the difficulty in controlling impulses, can lead to the deterioration of relationships between parents and children. It also places kids at risk of emotional and physical abuse by their parents.
Furthermore, ADHD increases the risk of relationship breakdowns placing the risk in the middle of custody battles. These negatively affect the child and often cause strained parent-child relationships.
The strained relationships might also follow neglect because of the increased incidences of drug and alcohol abuse among ADHD patients. A study also found the patients at higher risk of nicotine addiction compared to the general population. This is probably because they are looking for ways to cope with their symptoms and the effects of ADHD.
Patients with ADHD have increased mortality rates
Sometimes, the symptoms of ADHD affect a person’s life to the extent of driving him/her to suicide. The impulsiveness also places most patients at risk of self-harm. Moreover, the effects of drug and alcohol addiction increase the mortality rates in those with ADHD because of their associated medical conditions.
A 2015 study concluded that mortality rates in people with ADHD were even higher in those diagnosed as adults compared to those diagnosed as kids. This might be because kids might have more time to adjust to the symptoms of their condition and live more fulfilled lives than those who get an ADHD diagnosis in adulthood.
With the above consequences, you now understand why adult ADHD is a serious medical condition. If you experience any of its symptoms, you should first get a definitive diagnosis from a doctor. He/she might conduct blood tests, physical exams, and psychological tests after listening to your medical history to ascertain the diagnosis.
Once diagnosed with adult ADHD and started on therapy, stick to the medications and other treatments as directed. It would also help if you limit distractions and plan your time so that you boost the chances of completing tasks. Exercise to burn off any excess energy you might have and keep your body in good shape is also recommended for managing adult ADHD symptoms.