Do you find yourself thinking, “I can’t concentrate at work,” “Why can’t I focus?” “This is simple. I shouldn’t be struggling with this task.” You’re not alone. Millions of adults of all ages find themselves struggling to type one email for an hour.
All jokes aside, the reason you’re having trouble staying focused may shock you. You could have ADHD.
You might be thinking, “I’m having trouble with focusing, not sitting still!” ADHD looks quite different as an adult. ADHD in children often manifests as hyperactivity, while ADHD in adults often manifests as difficulty maintaining focus.
Before we continue, it is essential to note that it is not ideal to self-diagnose yourself. Speak with your health care provider or therapist about getting tested for ADHD to be sure. You could have another mental health condition affecting your ability to focus. Or on the contrary, you may not have a mental health condition at all; you could be burned out or bored.
Speak with a professional to get a tailored plan to help you. Check out our blog (Insert TOVA testing blog link) on TOVA testing if you want to learn more about getting tested for ADHD.
What is Adult ADHD?
ADHD stands for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Symptoms can include difficulty paying attention, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior. Adult ADHD can lead to rocky relationships, unsatisfactory work or school performance, low self-esteem, and other challenges.
Sadly, many adults with ADHD don’t know they have it — they end up struggling with daily tasks. Adults with ADHD can:
- Struggle to focus
- Prioritize, leading to
- Miss deadlines
- Forget meetings or social plans.
1. You’re late. To Everything. All the Time
“Why am I always late?” If you ask yourself this question a lot, this will feel very familiar. Adults with ADHD, especially undiagnosed ADHD, are often late to everything, all the time without fail. Okay, so not everything and not all the time, but to an adult with ADHD, it can feel like you’re incapable of being early or even on time.
This is because ADHD makes it incredibly difficult to regulate your attention so, you may spend too long doing certain activities. For example, you’re doing your morning routine and washing your face.
You notice a small pimple on your chin. You wonder how it appeared overnight. Then, you start to think about what you did to lead to the pimple the night before.
“Was it something I ate?” you wonder. Suddenly, you’re thinking about food. “What will I eat for breakfast?” Then you get a text notification on your phone. You open your phone for a quick look. Now you find that you have somehow ended up googling “Fast food breakfast near me.”
You remember that you were doing something important but can’t remember what.
You look at the time, and it’s been 37 minutes since you first started washing your face, and you haven’t even rinsed the soap off your face yet.
Sound familiar? This type of scenario is typical for adults with ADHD. It often leads to being late for work, school, appointments, and social commitments.
2. You’re a Chronic Procrastinator.
We have all procrastinated on something at some point in our lives. However, For adults with ADHD, procrastination is not every blue moon; it can be a daily occurrence.
Do you put off tasks until the last minute? Do you put off Paying bills, charging your phone, getting gas, responding to emails? Having ADHD makes it difficult for you to get started on something if there isn’t a sense of urgency.
3. You’re Forgetful
Are you constantly setting your phone down and forgetting where you left it? Do you misplace your keys often? Do you forget what you read after you just finished reading it? These are all commonplace for adults with ADHD.
ADHD has been shown to affect executive functions in the brain. Executive functions include:
- Problem-solving
- Control of emotions
- Starting tasks
- Memory
The impairment of these executive functions contributes to forgetfulness. This can significantly impact your quality of life, especially if you’re undiagnosed.
ADHD Testing near me
Are you or someone you know looking to be tested or treated for ADHD? MYCHN offers ADHD testing and treatment! Visit https://mychn.org/services/bh/ or call (281) 824 – 1480 to learn more.
Bottom Line
It is important not to self-diagnose yourself with ADHD, as we stated earlier. You could have another mental health condition, or you may not have a mental health condition at all. Again, your doctor will have the proper tools to be sure.
In addition, it is essential to note that ADHD shares some symptoms with other mental health conditions, so consult your doctor if you suspect you have ADHD or another health condition.
ADHD may make some aspects of life frustrating or even difficult. Please remember to be kind to yourself. Positive self-talk is a great way to give yourself some grace. Check out our blog on positive self-talk for some tips.
If you have adult ADHD, you are likely bright, creative, and inventive! There are various treatment options available to help you maintain your full potential. Adult ADHD isn’t always a walk in the park, but nothing truly is.
ADHD doesn’t have to put you at a disadvantage.
With treatment (treatment options go beyond medications and have been proven to be effective), people with ADHD can maintain better levels of focus and organization.
