Symptom 1: Challenges in Organisation and Management Getting familiar with what these symptoms are is a critical first step in assessing whether you may be living with this disorder, and knowing when to reach out for professional support. With treatment, symptoms of ADHD can be greatly improved, leading to a better overall quality of life. Currently, researchers believe that around 75% of adults who have ADHD do not know that they have it. While most of us are aware of what attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is, it is so commonly understood as a childhood disorder that we forget it is also present in adults, albeit with different symptoms. No matter what you try though, there always seems to be a gap between what you feel like your potential is, and what you are actually able to achieve. People around you have likely chalked it up to your character, or told you to get more sleep or learn how to better manage your schedule. You might have trouble maintaining relationships despite your best efforts. You have trouble focusing at work, are fatigued, and can’t seem to ever be on time. You probably have been aware for a long time that something just doesn’t feel quite right in your life. Knowing the symptoms can help you know if this may be behind some of the challenges you are facing. While ADHD is a commonly diagnosed mental health disorder with many options for treatment, it can be overlooked in adults. Benefits of Going to Rehab Abroad in Thailand.If a person experiences a lack of concentration, they may see something online that indicates they may have ADHD, and then they can mould themselves to fit that narrative. Medicalization of modern culture: The accessibility of information is high in modern society, and because of that, normal life problems that people experience are often over-medicalized.Since stimulant drugs can help focus and attention in those without ADHD, some people may be seeking out these drugs purposefully to help increase performance at work or in life. Seeking out stimulants under false pretences: The societal demands placed on young adults today, especially women, are heavy.Failure to acknowledge the shortcomings of these tools could lead to overdiagnosis. Too much reliance on screening tools: Screening is a great way to tell if someone needs a proper assessment, but these tools often have a high false-positive rate.

Failing to consider childhood onset: According to the study, “one cannot have adult ADHD without first having childhood ADHD.” This vital piece of the puzzle is often missed when diagnosing adult ADHD and could help determine if a person is experiencing a true ADHD disorder or simply symptoms of it that could be present in many other conditions or situations.Failure to consider differential diagnoses: More than one mental health disorder can cause inattention, one of the common symptoms of inattentive type ADHD.

Flawed diagnostic criteria in the DSM-5: The diagnostic criteria for ADHD in adults is broad, which causes challenges when accurately diagnosing an adult with ADHD.One study published in The Canadian Journal of Psychiatryįound that adults may be prescribed ADHD medications without warrant for a few reasons, including: Research surrounding the overdiagnosis of ADHD is rare, but

Perhaps you need to simplify your life before you decide you have ADHD.” Also, remember that modern life is complicated. “Adult ADHD is real and of great life importance, but quite rare and easily overdiagnosed,” he said, as quoted by Psychology Today “Beware the charlatans and fringe practitioners making a new assault to capture the drug market. When looking at the DSM-5 for diagnosis, young women with more subtle signs of ADHD often These less obvious symptoms in young women are likely to be mistaken for character traits as opposed to signs of a mental health disorder. The diagnosis is the same, but the way it presents differs drastically.īetween boys and girls often differs as well, with young males being more likely to experience ADHD impulsive/hyperactive and young females experiencing ADHD inattentive/distractible. For example, a young boy who has ADHD may be hyperactive and a young girl will be more inattentive. This means that when girls experience symptoms, their way of coping is not as visible to others. Their symptoms, whereas young boys externalize. Young girls are less likely to be diagnosedīecause their symptoms are not as obvious.Īccording to research, young girls with ADHD are more likely to internalize Her theory is reiterated in scientific research that proves “I believe that there’s a lot of people out there that have been struggling since they were children and have never been officially diagnosed, evaluated, or tested.”

Adhd infographic adults