Staying focused, organized, and prioritizing tasks effectively are common struggles in adult life. But while these challenges can sometimes be a result of busy modern life demands, other times they might be pointing to an ADHD diagnosis.
Some adults with ADHD were diagnosed in childhood and continue to experience these symptoms during adulthood, while others may have lived with the condition for years without ever getting a proper assessment or diagnosis.
Some of the difficulties behind receiving an ADHD diagnosis as an adult have to do with the fact that symptoms may present differently than they do in childhood. For example, hyperactivity may appear as restlessness and an inability to relax, while impulsivity is often reflected in poor decision-making or high-risk behaviors (1).
Does any of this sound familiar? Let’s take a look at some common signs of ADHD in adulthood.
Work and Academic Life
Adults with ADHD often struggle with executive functioning tasks such as time management, planning, organization, and overall task monitoring and execution. Since all these are essential skills to succeed in professional and academic settings, adults with ADHD tend to receive poor performance evaluations and experience job loss more often than their non ADHD peers.
Adults with ADHD often notice that they are underperforming and not meeting the standards. This discrepancy between their deliverables and the expected output, along with the frustration triggered by it, is often associated with higher levels of stress and anxiety in work or academic settings, higher dropout rates, and a greater need to request sick leave days compared to workers and students without ADHD (1) (2) (3).
Relationships and Social Life
The ability to build and maintain healthy relationships with our family, friends, and/or partner is essential for a good quality of life. Yet, many adults with ADHD find this to be especially challenging, often experiencing feelings of loneliness, a sense of not belonging, difficulties with social skills, and overall interpersonal conflicts (1) (4).
ADHD related behaviors tend to lead to social rejection or negative reactions from others (e.g stigma or discrimination), reducing the opportunities to build and experience meaningful connections. As a way to avoid rejection, many adults with ADHD report adopting masking strategies to hide or compensate for their symptoms and try to fit in. This overcompensation often creates a shift from one extreme of the symptom in childhood, such as impulsivity, to the opposite extreme in adulthood, such as an extreme difficulty making decisions (4).
Within family life, parents with ADHD are often perceived as less involved, inconsistent, or more reactive compared to those without the condition. These parents also tend to struggle with tasks that involve monitoring or acknowledging their child's behavior, triggering feelings of guilt or frustration, ultimately leading to significant discomfort and suffering (1).
Health and Lifestyle
Adults with ADHD often struggle with poor sleep quality and a higher risk of developing substance use disorders. Other risky behaviors, such as being involved in unsafe sexual practices, reckless driving, or criminal activity, and problematic internet use are also more common in adults with ADHD, likely as a result of the impulsivity and the emotional regulation difficulties that are typical of the disorder (1) (5) (6).
If any of these traits reflect ongoing difficulties in your life, we encourage you to reach out to a specialist for proper evaluation and support.
Whether you're here to focus better, calm your mind, or just feel a little more in control, we’re here to support you. One game at a time.
