What is ADHD in Adults? ADHD Symptoms Explained

When did ADHD become a diagnosis?

The concept of ADHD was first mentioned by a British paediatrician in 1902, who described it as “an abnormal defect of moral control in children.”

ADHD wasn’t recognised as an official disorder until 1952 when it was introduced to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) (or psychiatry’s bible) as a ‘hyperkinetic reaction of childhood’. Then, in 1980, it was finally agreed that symptoms do persist into adulthood, and its name was updated to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Why is ADHD diagnosis increasing?

Since the 1980s, awareness of ADHD has increased drastically. This meant increased stigma throughout the 2000’s, but with the birth of the internet, people have more access to information, which has supported de-stigmatisation and normalisation of ADHD as a diagnosis.

Unfortunately, this has also meant an increase in misinformation. There are many people of the opinion that an ADHD diagnosis has become ‘trendy’ and people are seeking a diagnosis unnecessarily.

Of course, it could be argued that this is because more people who do have ADHD have more access to information that they might not have previously.

So, what is clear is that answering the question, “Do I have ADHD?” has become confusing and difficult to navigate.

Our team based in Perth offers adult ADHD assessments & diagnosis for individuals looking for answers to why they’re struggling with some or all of the symptoms of ADHD in adults outlined below in this article.

What is ADHD in adults?

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (abbreviated as ADHD) is a developmental disorder that begins in early childhood.

ADHD affects the brain’s executive functioning — the ability to self-regulate and control thoughts, words, actions and emotions.

What are the different types of ADHD in adults?

Inattentive:

• Inattentive means a person is easily distractible or inattentive but isn’t hyperactive or impulsive.

Hyperactive:

• Hyperactive-impulsive means a person has symptoms of impulsivity and hyperactivity.

Combined:

• Combined means a person has a mixture of symptoms including hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity.

Some common signs and symptoms of adult ADHD include:

• Difficulty concentrating
• Carelessness and lack of attention to detail
• Impulsivity or acting before thinking
• Procrastination and difficulty maintaining important goals
• Difficulty motivating self to start or finish tasks
• Poor organisation, planning, and time management skills
• Irritability or anger outbursts
• Interpersonal and academic difficulties

Looking at this list without context, a large proportion of the population – with or without ADHD – may be able to resonate with these adult ADHD symptoms.

For instance, everyone has difficulty concentrating sometimes, or motivating themselves to finish a task. Therefore, it’s important to explore why the symptoms are present, to determine whether or not they can be attributed to ADHD, rather than other factors, such as tiredness, for example.

For adults with ADHD, concentration and attention is only difficult when a task is uninteresting or boring. So, ADHD is not really an ‘attention deficit’ disorder but an attention regulation disorder.

People without ADHD might find that it is more difficult to motivate themselves to complete a boring task, but they can use their willpower to do the task if it supports achievement of a long-term goal.

ADHD is NOT a willpower problem but a chemical imbalance in the brain.

Difficulty regulating attention occurs because ADHD brains have low levels of dopamine and norepinephrine, which are the ‘happy chemicals’ that support motivation, arousal and attentional levels. Because there is a deficit in these chemicals, adults with ADHD tend to engage in behaviours or activities where they do get that release of dopamine. In childhood, this would appear as daydreaming in the classroom, wriggling their bodies, or urgency to finish a task and move on to another one because the child is searching for or waiting for more dopamine-filled activities.

In adulthood, this may look like struggling to study for exams or complete university assignments because the process can be long and ‘boring’ and no ‘reward’ is received until you get your final marks back.

When there is delayed reward, there is no dopamine, meaning there is no motivation or concentration, whereas watching 4 hours of Tik Tok is going to feel like a better option due to the immediate dopamine ‘reward’ received.

This is also why adults with ADHD can be more impulsive and more likely to become addicted to something (alcohol, drugs, food) because the question will always be, “what can I do RIGHT NOW to give me more dopamine?” instead of, “what do I need to do now to support long-term goals?”

This also means that, contrastingly, when a task is interesting, adults with ADHD can ‘hyperfocus’. This can be a strength when it comes to engaging in learning and being passionate about a task or concept, but a weakness when it comes to commitment and time management.

What are the Symptoms of ADHD in Adults?

Adult ADHD Symptoms can Include:

• Difficulty completing mundane daily work tasks or meeting important deadlines
• Becoming easily distracted by activities or stimuli that other people ignore or don’t view as important
• Having overwhelming simultaneous thoughts
• Interrupting others due to urgency to externalise thoughts
• Blurting out thoughts that are rude or inappropriate without thinking
• Difficulty paying attention when reading or listening to others
• Daydreaming or “zoning out”, even during important meetings or conversation
• Poor attention to detail resulting in mistakes or incomplete work
• Getting bored easily and searching out new stimulating experiences like new hobbies or urges to re-locate
• Difficulty motivating self to complete important tasks, thereby falling behind in life
• Excessive multi-tasking, meaning tasks are completed poorly or to a standard inconsistent with true capabilities
• Difficulty organising self and maintaining commitments and goals

How do ADHD symptoms in adults impact their lives?

If you have ADHD and experience some of the above-mentioned adult ADHD symptoms or behaviours, you will be well aware how debilitating life can feel. ADHD can affect all facets of life, including:

Work and Studies

Looming deadlines, self-doubt and external performance pressure create the perfect storm for procrastination and prioritisation of tasks that are more enjoyable but less important. It becomes incredibly difficult to find the motivation to start something that you already feel you will fail at.

Previous experiences of ADHD-related academic difficulties can make you feel like there’s no hope for success. According to research, university students with ADHD are 49% more likely not to graduate than those without. This can make career prospects challenging and can mean working in a profession that you are not passionate about because it feels like there isn’t any other option.

Health

ADHD symptoms in adults can influence and exacerbate the development of physical and mental health problems. For instance, adults with ADHD are three times more likely to develop a substance abuse disorder, and 5-10 times more likely to develop alcohol addiction.

Due to life complications prevalence of anxiety, depression and binge eating disorders is also higher than in non-ADHD populations, with suicide rates also being 5 times higher in ADHD populations. New research is also exploring the connection between ADHD and hypermobility, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, hormonal dysregulation and thus chronic pain with higher incidents in people with ADHD.

Finances

Due to difficulties managing time, keeping commitments, finishing university studies and completing work efficiently, people with ADHD may experience job loss and financial distress.

According to research, 30% of people with ADHD will have chronic unemployment issues and 24% collect long-term disability monetary support. This is made worse by impulsivity issues related to impulsive spending, shopping addictions and money spent on unhelpful coping strategies such as drugs and alcohol.

Relationship problems

If living with ADHD is hard for an individual, then living with someone with ADHD is also going to be hard. It can be exhausting supporting someone with ADHD because they can be forgetful and have difficulties maintaining household responsibilities, leaving it to their partner to manage.

People with ADHD also have difficulties regulating emotions which can lead to anger outbursts and impulsive behaviours that are offensive which means adults with ADHD don’t always maintain relationships. People with ADHD might struggle socially for the same reasons resulting in increased feelings of being isolated and different from others.

What support is available to me if I have an ADHD diagnosis?

Having a diagnosis of ADHD can feel overwhelming and impossible to manage, however it may only feel that way because you haven’t been taught how to manage your symptoms effectively.

As ADHD has a strong genetic component, it is likely that one or both of your parents also have ADHD which may mean you grew up in a household where no one knew how to manage the symptoms, and therefore it hasn’t been taught.

Evidence suggests that a combination of psychology and stimulant medication works best to manage adult ADHD symptoms.

If you believe you have ADHD, you are not alone, and there is a lot that can be done to help you achieve your life goals.

Reach out to Headway Psychology on (08) 9226 4489 or via email at referrals@headwaypsych.com.au for more information on a diagnostic assessment for adult ADHD and/or to commence therapy to manage your adult ADHD symptoms.

You can also contact your GP for a referral to a psychiatrist to discuss the best medication options for you.