Adult ADHD Risks and When to Consider Getting Treatment
Commonly known as a childhood disorder, adult ADHD actually affects a good number of adults as well. Adult ADHD, or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, interferes with a person’s ability to plan, organize and manage the affairs of everyday life.
According to the American Psychological Association, over half of the children diagnosed with ADHD carry symptoms of the disorder into adulthood with 80 to 90 percent of those affected living with some level of impairment. Adult ADHD symptoms can greatly compromise a person’s ability to manage daily life affairs as well as cause considerable problems within his or her relationships.
When left untreated, adult ADHD risks become more problematic over time. Understanding how this condition can impair your overall functional capacity marks the first step towards getting needed treatment help.
Adult ADHD Components
The components of ADHD lie within the name of the disorder: attention-deficit and hyperactivity. People affected by adult ADHD have problems with focusing their attentions on tasks, such as listening to what someone else is saying or following through on a task or project. The hyperactivity component has to do with an ongoing restlessness or agitation that makes it difficult for them to stay with any one activity for so long.
Adults with ADHD have a difficult time meeting productivity requirements at work.
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, different people exhibit different degrees of dysfunction in terms of attention-deficit versus hyperactivity with some having difficulty attending to tasks while others may struggle more with the need for ongoing change and/or movement.
Adult ADHD Risks
Employment Issues
Adult ADHD symptoms can wreak havoc within a person’s work life, making it extremely difficult to fulfill the expectations of a job role in terms of meeting workload requirements, showing up to work on time as well as a tendency towards making errors along the way. According to the British American Journal, adult ADHD symptoms also interfere with a person’s interpersonal relationships on the job as far as communicating and getting along with coworkers goes.
Relationship Difficulties
Close relationships, such as in a marriage or intimate partnership, require a certain degree of flow and simpatico when it comes to running a household and sharing a life together goes. Within the context of a relationship, adult ADHD breeds the same level of chaos and confusion as it does within the life of the ADHD individual, according to the U. S. Food & Drug Administration. Consequently, relationships where one or both people struggle with adult ADHD tend to leave both partners feeling unfulfilled, underappreciated and lonely.
Substance Abuse & Mental Health Problems
Considering the feelings of frustration someone with ADHD experiences in most every area of his or her life, the potential for falling into substance abuse as a means for relieving some of the confusion this disorder brings runs high, according to the Mayo Clinic. Over time, the life difficulties brought on by adult ADHD symptoms also increase the likelihood of developing other forms of psychological dysfunction, such as mood disorders, personality disorders and anxiety disorders.
https://www.disorders.org/adult-attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder/adult-adhd-symptoms/
Treatment Considerations
Adult ADHD suffers have difficulty holding down a job and maintaining meaningful relationships, two major life areas that can greatly impact one’s quality of life. Without needed treatment help, a person may well continue to experience ongoing decline in his or her overall functional capacity, both mentally and emotionally.
If you or someone you know struggles with adult ADHD and have questions about its effects or are considering getting treatment help, please feel free to call our toll-free helpline at 888-647-0051 (Who Answers?) to speak with one of our phone counselors.
