Adults and ADD

Adults are expected to be able to hold down a job and be responsible for themselves. An adult who has undiagnosed attention deficit disorder may be looked at as being irresponsible and impulsive but actually has a brain disorder that makes it more difficult to function the way adults are expected to. Just as there is hope and treatment for children with this disorder, there is treatment for adults also. The first step is recognizing that the symptoms you are experiencing are due to attention deficit disorder.

Many adults can trace their symptoms back to childhood. Those adults who are currently 40 to 50 years old can remember having trouble in school and maybe even having behavioral issues. At the time these behaviors were overlooked or dealt with by frequent punishment and bad grades but not much else was done about it. Today these same behaviors are recognized as being indicators of attention deficit disorder.

If you were not diagnosed as a child and now as an adult you are struggling in different areas of your life you can get yourself on track. A psychiatrist can help you by evaluating your symptoms and then cognitive behavioral therapy can help you to take control of your life and learn the skills you need to get on track.

Adults with ADD often are disorganized. Constantly living in a state of chaos can make it harder to hold down a job, function in your daily life and it can also affect your personal relationships. A good behavior therapist can teach you how to become more organized and structured in your home and office. Structure and discipline is one of the keys in helping children how to deal with their ADD and in adults it is important as well.

Often adults will also have hyperactivity symptoms such as being easily bored, easily irritated and feeling restless. Sometimes these feelings lead to impulsive behavior that can often threaten work and personal relationships. The consequences of not being able to control these symptoms can cause an adult ADD sufferer to lose jobs frequently and not be able to maintain healthy relationships.

The impulsivity of ADD can make relating to others in a social situation become a chore. Simple things like being able to take part in a conversation or making decisions can be a struggle. The disorder makes it more difficult to keep from mentally wandering and can cause frequent mood swings which can make the person difficult to get along with.

An adult can learn to cope with all these symptoms by being consistent with therapy and re-learning how to perform tasks. Sometimes medication can help because often an adult with ADD will have a mental illness such as anxiety or depression along with the disorder. If an adult accepts their diagnosis and learns the coping skills they can better function in the world and manage their life.

http://helpguide.org/mental/adhd_add_adult_symptoms.htm