A Focus On Adults: 10 Things You Didn’t Know About ADHD | Children's & Teens Health slideshows | Family Health center

What Causes ADHD?

You may know that Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is classified as a psychiatric disorder. Any specific cause of this disorder has not been found yet, but researchers have shown that that ADHD is caused by environmental as well as genetic (inherited) factors. The brain releases some chemicals known as neurotransmitters. It is believed that genetic and environmental factors inhibit the release of these chemicals in the areas of the brain that control attention, leading to development of ADHD. Some studies link ADHD to prenatal exposure to alcohol and cigarettes. Women who smoke and drink alcohol during pregnancy are more likely to have a child with ADHD.

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Are You Often Late For Work Or An Important Event? You Could Have ADHD

ADHD is a psychiatric disorder that interferes with a person’s daily life. Signs and symptoms of ADHD in adults are quite different from ADHD symptoms in children. One of the signs of ADHD in adults is often being late for work or important events. Adults do usually realize that their tardiness undermines their goals and disturbs their life, but they just can’t seem to get over it. Not only do they tend to run late, patients suffering from ADHD have poor organizational skills as well. They are remarkably careless and their lack of attention to details is likely to create chaos in their routine life.

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www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder/Pages/Symptoms.aspx

Can’T Drive Properly? Adhd May Have Developed

Difficulty keeping your mind on the task at hand is one of the hallmarks of ADHD, and the same might be the case while driving. Dangerous, isn’t it? People suffering from ADHD are more likely to speed. They have accidents very often and most of these guys lose their driver’s license. This is because these people have extreme impatience and a quick temper. They get irritated by almost everything around them which makes it hard for them to concentrate on the road. It has been found that people with ADHD love taking risks in activities without caring about personal safety.

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Can't Pay Attention — Easy Distraction

Adults with ADHD don’t have the ability to concentrate on a specific task they are performing. They find it very difficult to prioritize, start, and finish tasks that are assigned to them. They tend to be easily distracted, and are restless and disorganized. Such people are so irritated by the things around them that they can’t concentrate on even simple tasks such as reading. These people also find it difficult to work in a team. It is hard for them to know their role in a team or in an office. The inability to follow through on tasks, stay focused, and work in a team can derail their ambitions, relationships and careers.

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A Terrible Temper

The worst thing that happens to an adult with ADHD is losing control. These people have problems with self-control because it is very hard for them tolerate any word or anything that is against them. They may get angry about very little things such as losing a pen. They have difficulty controlling their anger. Because people with ADHD are short tempered, they tend to be rude and often use harsh words. Such people show impulsive behavior and usually have insulting thoughts. They have the habit of interrupting others and have difficulty keeping quiet and speaking out of turn.

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Is It ADHD Or Something Else?

After going through the signs and symptoms of ADHD I am quite sure that most of the readers will be comparing these symptoms to themselves and they may come to a result that they are suffering from ADHD. No, it is not the case. Don’t jump to the conclusion that you have ADHD if you have trouble focusing or concentrating and are often restless. Symptoms of ADHD are the symptoms that are commonly found in many CNS or psychiatric disorders. If you have any symptoms that relate to ADHD, see your doctor for advice.

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Hyperfocus — They Do What They Like

As stated earlier, adults with ADHD find it difficult to concentrate on a given task and get it done. But the scenario is totally opposite in case of things or activities that interest such people. They focus intently on something that they find interesting or something they enjoy too much such as a video game, chatting, or browsing the internet. They have a strong ability to hyperfocus and can continue that task for several hours. It must be kept in mind that adults with ADHD do not do such things intentionally. They do try to focus on tasks given to them but these tasks bore them and make them lose concentration.

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Get Your Illness Diagnosed Properly

Most people don’t learn that they have ADHD until they seek medical help for another problem or illness such as depression or anxiety. Discussing troubles at work, problems in relationships, or poor habits often reveals that you are at risk of ADHD. ADHD is not the kind of disorder that is acute or that can develop within hours or days. It is a chronic disorder that presents during childhood. To confirm the diagnosis, ADHD must have presented somehow during childhood even if it was never diagnosed properly. Talking with parents and relatives, or old report cards can help document childhood problems such as hyperactivity and poor focus.

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Complications: ADHD Leads To Other Psychiatric Disorders

ADHD is a psychiatric illness and is not that harmful for the individual until it starts to show complications. This illness is very frustrating in itself for the patient but at the same time it starts to show its complications in many adults such as anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or panic attacks. Adults with ADHD struggle to live a normal life but ADHD along with complications makes it very difficult for these people to lead an undisturbed life. Such people are more likely to abuse drugs or smoke. It is possible to limit these problems by seeking proper treatment before the development of complications.

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Get Rid Of ADHD And See A Doctor

There is no specific treatment or medications for ADHD. Psychotherapy or medications may alleviate the symptoms and limit the symptoms to less of a problem in daily life. A combination of both psychotherapy and medications is found to be more effective than any other treatment. The medications used for treating ADHD are stimulants. Giving stimulants to a hyperactive person may sound ironic but it works. These stimulants enhance the patient’s concentration by correcting the imbalance of the neurotransmitters. Doctors may also prescribe antidepressants to stabilize the patient's mood. Nor epinephrine re-uptake inhibitors also help in the treatment of ADHD and its complications.