While attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is often viewed as a childhood condition, many adults in the U.S. also struggle with it. In fact, it’s estimated that about over 300 million adults globally have ADHD. ¹

While researchers don’t know what causes ADHD and its prevalence in children, we do know that it can be a debilitating disorder that complicates many of life’s responsibilities. With that said, adults with ADHD need to address these symptoms as soon as possible.

ADHD in Adults

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ADHD can cause you to “have trouble paying attention, controlling impulsive behaviors (may act without thinking about what the result will be, or be overly active.” While it’s most common in children, ADHD can also affect adults. ²

What Causes ADHD in Adults?

Children with ADHD tend to enter adulthood with similar signs and symptoms. It’s unlikely you’ll develop ADHD as an adult without experiencing signs and symptoms as a child. ³ Still, there are instances where an adult with ADHD was never diagnosed as a child.

This may be the case if your behavior wasn’t concerning enough for your parents to contact a medical professional. For example, some children with ADHD are simply overlooked as a “dreamer, goof-off, slacker, troublemaker, or just a bad student.”

Researchers still don’t know exactly what causes ADHD, but believe it’s linked to a combination of genes, environment, and variations in the brain’s wiring. ⁴

Effects of ADHD on Adults

Adult ADHD is complicated and most don’t realize they have a condition until something detrimental happens. For many, ADHD is simply overlooked as a lazy or irresponsible characteristic. ⁵

If you have ADHD, you may also struggle with:

• Financial and Work Problems – Adults with ADHD are prone to experiencing difficulties in both their career and financial stability. Symptoms of ADHD can make it difficult to keep a job, follow rules, meet deadlines, and stick to a strict routine. In turn, this can lead to one feeling underachieved and create financial problems, such as struggling to make bills, developing debt, or participating in impulsive spending. ⁶

• Physical and Mental Health Complications – Due to the symptoms of ADHD (see below), several health problems can appear. While these will vary from individual to individual, some common ones include anxiety, chronic stress and tension, compulsive eating, low self-esteem, and substance abuse. What makes these complications more difficult is the fact that many with ADHD struggle to meet doctor appointments or follow medical instructions.

• Relationship Difficulties – Symptoms of ADHD can make relationships more difficult, whether it be with your friends, family, or significant other. Those who care for you most may grow tired of consistent poor behaviors produced by ADHD. ⁷

The combination of these effects can leave a huge strain on you and leave you feeling:

• Disappointed
• Embarrassed
• Frustrated
• Hopeless
• Loss of confidence

For these reasons, you must seek out professional treatment if you show any signs or symptoms of ADHD.

Symptoms of ADHD in Adults

As with children, ADHD provides a unique set of symptoms for each individual. However, adults with ADHD have a set of symptoms that are different from a child’s. ⁸ To identify if you have ADHD, it’s best to look at the symptoms. Symptoms are divided into the following categories:

Attention Deficit

If you struggle with attention deficit, you have problems with concentration and focus. You may be easily distracted by the slightest sights or sounds and find it difficult to pivot attention to one task. Common attention deficit symptoms in adults include:

• Daydreaming and/or “zoning out” without realizing it
• Difficulty concentrating or paying attention (such as reading or listening to others)
• Easily distracted (especially by activities that are low-priority)
• Growing bored easily
• Having many simultaneous thoughts
• Inability to listen (difficulty with memory)
• Overlooking details (leading to many errors or incompletions)
• Trouble completing a single task

Attention deficit can also lead to problems with hyperfocus. You may become absorbed in distractions, such as video games, television, or a book. In turn, you hyper-focus on low-priority activities to avoid responsibilities.

Disorganization and Forgetfulness

Do you have difficulty staying organized and remembering important information? Does this lead to a life that feels chaotic and often out of your control? Common symptoms of this category include:

• Always late
• Deficient organizational skills (i.e. at home, in the office, at the desk, in the car)
• Difficulty starting and finishing projects
• Forgetting appointments, commitments, deadlines
• Inability to stop procrastinating
• Losing or misplacing things (i.e. wallet, keys, phone, documents)
• Miscalculating the time it will take to complete a task

Emotional Problems

Since ADHD symptoms present life complications, you may also face several emotional difficulties. The most common include:

• Difficulty staying motivated
• Easily stressed out
• Irritability (most often, short and explosive temper)
• Low self-esteem
• Sense of insecurity and underachievement
• Sensitive to criticism

Hyperactivity

ADHD is often associated with an overabundance of energy. This is known as hyperactivity and can be prevalent in adults. Common hyperactive symptoms include:

• Difficulty remaining still (constantly fidgeting)
• Growing bored easily (always in need of excitement)
• Participating in more activities than one can handle
• Participating in risky activities (i.e. drug use, unprotected sexual activity)
• Restlessness (agitation, racing thoughts)
• Talking excessively

It’s less common for adults with ADHD to experience hyperactivity. For this reason, ADHD may be misdiagnosed in adults.

Impulsivity

You may experience impulsive behavior that makes it difficult to complete tasks and develop meaningful relationships. Common symptoms of impulsivity include:

• Difficulty conducting oneself in a socially appropriate way
• Frequently interrupting people and talking over them
• Inability to control oneself (i.e. addictive tendencies)
• Mentioning thoughts without thinking that are rude and/or inappropriate
• Reckless and spontaneous behavior with no regard for consequences

When to Look for Help

If you’ve identified multiple symptoms, then it’s ideal for you to consult a mental health professional. Under the right treatment, adults with ADHD can gain control over their lives again.

Treatment plans for ADHD will look different for everyone. For some, a traditional routine of medication and therapies (i.e. behavioral coaching, individual therapy, self-help groups, etc.) is ideal. However, others may find alternative medicines and lifestyle changes more optimal.

Final Word

If you struggle with ADHD, we guarantee you can overcome it with the right mindset. Once you identify and treat symptoms, your daily life will be less complicated.

This isn’t an easy path to take. However, you should look at it in a positive light. Yes, ADHD makes you think and behave differently than those around you. Still, there’s no reason you shouldn’t use these differences to promote positive aspects of your character.

References

¹ Song P, Zha M, Yang Q, Zhang Y, Li X, Rudan I. The prevalence of adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder: A global systematic review and meta-analysis. J Glob Health. 2021 Feb 11;11:04009. doi: 10.7189/jogh.11.04009. PMID: 33692893; PMCID: PMC7916320.

² Magnus W, Nazir S, Anilkumar AC, Shaban K. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. 2023 Aug 8. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan–. PMID: 28722868.

³ Di Lorenzo R, Balducci J, Poppi C, Arcolin E, Cutino A, Ferri P, D’Amico R, Filippini T. Children and adolescents with ADHD followed up to adulthood: a systematic review of long-term outcomes. Acta Neuropsychiatr. 2021 Dec;33(6):283-298. doi: 10.1017/neu.2021.23. Epub 2021 Aug 13. PMID: 34384511.

⁴ Faraone SV, Larsson H. Genetics of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Mol Psychiatry. 2019 Apr;24(4):562-575. doi: 10.1038/s41380-018-0070-0. Epub 2018 Jun 11. PMID: 29892054; PMCID: PMC6477889.

⁵ Sciutto MJ. ADHD knowledge, misconceptions, and treatment acceptability. J Atten Disord. 2015 Feb;19(2):91-8. doi: 10.1177/1087054713493316. Epub 2013 Jul 26. PMID: 23893531.

⁶ Altszuler AR, Page TF, Gnagy EM, Coxe S, Arrieta A, Molina BS, Pelham WE Jr. Financial Dependence of Young Adults with Childhood ADHD. J Abnorm Child Psychol. 2016 Aug;44(6):1217-29. doi: 10.1007/s10802-015-0093-9. PMID: 26542688; PMCID: PMC4887412.

⁷ Moyá J, Stringaris AK, Asherson P, Sandberg S, Taylor E. The impact of persisting hyperactivity on social relationships: a community-based, controlled 20-year follow-up study. J Atten Disord. 2014 Jan;18(1):52-60. doi: 10.1177/1087054712436876. Epub 2012 Mar 21. PMID: 22441888; PMCID: PMC3867339.

⁸ Wolraich ML, Chan E, Froehlich T, Lynch RL, Bax A, Redwine ST, Ihyembe D, Hagan JF Jr. ADHD Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines: A Historical Perspective. Pediatrics. 2019 Oct;144(4):e20191682. doi: 10.1542/peds.2019-1682. PMID: 31570649.