Adult ADHD symptoms can be poor listening, poor time management, difficulty with organization, trouble following through on tasks, low frustration tolerance and impulsivity. Those can lead to difficulties with your job, family, friendships and romantic relationships. Getting an accurate diagnosis, and real treatment, can change all of that.
Signs of ADHD in adults
- Chronic lateness or underestimating how long things take
- Starting projects with energy and struggling to finish them
- Zoning out in meetings or conversations, then feeling embarrassed
- Bills, forms and emails that pile up despite good intentions
- Restlessness, needing to be busy, or difficulty relaxing
- Impulsive spending, speaking or decisions you later regret
- Low frustration tolerance and quick irritability
- A long history of being told you're “not living up to your potential”
Why so many adults are diagnosed late
ADHD starts in childhood, but it isn't always obvious then, especially in girls and in kids who are quiet, bright or well-supported. Inattentive ADHD rarely disrupts a classroom, so it gets missed. Structure at home and school can mask symptoms until adulthood removes that scaffolding.
For women, symptoms can intensify in perimenopause as estrogen shifts. If focus and memory changed noticeably in your 40s, it's worth exploring both possibilities, which is a combination I specialize in.
What an adult ADHD evaluation includes
- A detailed history of your symptoms now and in childhood, since ADHD must begin before adulthood
- Validated adult ADHD rating scales, and when possible, input from a partner or family member
- Screening for anxiety, depression, sleep problems and hormonal changes, which can look like ADHD or travel with it
- A review of your medical history and current medications to choose treatment safely
Treatment that fits adult life
Treatment for ADHD typically involves medication, education, skills training and counseling. We'll choose between stimulant and non-stimulant options based on your health, your history and your preferences, then adjust carefully.
Because I combine medication management with talk therapy in a single appointment, we also work on the practical side: systems for time and tasks, the frustration and shame that build up after years of struggling, and communication with the people you love. Improvements in self-esteem, relationships and work can be expected.
This can be life-changing, especially for adults who were not diagnosed as children.
Denise Owen-FabriciusMSN, APN, PMHNP-BC
