How to Manage Adult ADHD

Call Alter Behavioral Health for Help in California

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is usually diagnosed in children when symptoms appear. However, mental health symptoms may be mild and overlooked in some children. These individuals may go undiagnosed until adulthood. Like childhood ADHD, adult ADHD requires management to reduce symptoms and effectively cope with the disorder. Left untreated, adult ADHD can drastically impact a person’s work, schooling, and home life. 

At Alter Behavioral Health, we treat ADHD in adults. Our mental health treatment centers in California are accredited and staffed by experienced and caring clinicians. We have the expertise to provide the best treatment and care for patients with adult ADHD. By employing various treatment approaches and prescribing medication when needed, our clinicians can treat each aspect of the disorder, helping clients improve their well-being and effectively manage their condition.

Adult ADHD can be managed but can impede a person’s life if left undiagnosed and untreated. At Alter Behavioral Health, we can diagnose mental health conditions like ADHD. If you experience hyperactivity, restlessness, mood swings, and other symptoms that negatively impact your life, visit us to discuss them. We can thoroughly evaluate to determine what condition you may be suffering from. If you have a mental health disorder, we can develop a customized ADHD treatment plan that addresses your needs. With treatment, you can manage ADHD. 

ADHD affects 4.4% of adults in the U.S. ADHD is usually diagnosed in childhood and often persists into adulthood. Although statistics vary, the number of children who continue to experience ADHD symptoms in adults is about 30%. Increasing numbers of adults are also being diagnosed with ADHD today.

Although symptoms like hyperactivity often decrease as children age, adults with ADHD may still experience many of the same symptoms as kids with ADHD, including hyperactivity. Broadly speaking, children and adults share many of the same ADHD symptoms, but the condition can impact kids’ and adults’ lives differently. Also, diagnosed adults may find it more difficult to deal with symptoms if their condition has gone untreated. Children diagnosed with the condition often receive therapy and medication that helps them manage their condition; consequently, many can cope more easily by reaching adulthood. 

What Is Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder?

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder is a neurological disorder that affects the brain. Often referred to as a neurobehavioral disorder, ADHD is most frequently diagnosed in children, where the disorder may or may not follow them into adulthood. Some people are not diagnosed until they are adults. Their condition often went undiagnosed when they were children, even though some symptoms may have been present. 

To diagnose an adult with ADHD, clinicians must recognize five of the symptoms associated with the disorder. In children, diagnostic criteria require six symptoms to diagnose ADHD. In adulthood, common symptoms in children like hyperactivity may appear as symptoms of restlessness. Clinicians will also check to ensure that the symptoms are not associated with another mental illness before diagnosing.

16 Adult ADHD Symptoms 

Typically, ADHD is diagnosed in children, but sometimes symptoms go unrecognized until the condition is diagnosed during adulthood. In such cases, the condition is referred to as ADHD, but it is ultimately the same. However, symptoms can differ for adults and manifest in unstable relationships or poor work performance. Adults who have ADHD often experience symptoms of the disorder that include:

1. Impulsive behavior
2. Poor organizational skills
3. Poor time management skills
4. Difficulty multitasking
5. Mood swings
6. Difficulty coping with stress
7. Restlessness
8. Easily frustrated by people and tasks
9. Difficulty concentrating
10. Difficulty planning
11. Trouble with relationships
12. Inattentiveness
13. Failing to complete tasks
14. Forgetfulness
15. Hyperactivity
16. Excessive talking

Some of the symptoms mimic those found in children. On the other hand, adults are more prone to misuse substances to self-medicate and relieve symptoms. ADHD in adults can impact their personal and professional lives. The neurological condition affects more than 4% of adults today. Although most people with the disorder receive a diagnosis in childhood, increasingly more people are being diagnosed in adulthood. 

Causes of ADHD in Adults

The causes of ADHD in adults are the same causes of ADHD in children; however, the exact causes of the disorder continue to puzzle researchers. There is a genetic component to the disorder. Researchers have found that ADHD can occur in families. Environmental factors are also likely to play a role in the development of the condition. Medical research also suggests that central nervous system development problems during pregnancy can also lead to the disorder. According to the Centers for Disease Control, ADHD is associated with premature birth and low birth weight. A brain injury can also cause ADHD.

It’s important to note that other factors like immunizations or food allergies do not cause ADHD. The condition is often spotted in children with other conditions like learning disabilities. In the U.S., ADHD affects about 9% of children between the ages of 2-17. Other conditions, such as another mental illness or epilepsy, can also impact the development of ADHD. One of the reasons that more adults are being diagnosed with ADHD is because much more is known about the disorder, making it easier for clinicians to make an accurate diagnosis. 

10 Reasons Why Adults with Untreated ADHD Should Get Help

Both children and adults can benefit from treatment if they have ADHD. Left untreated in adults, symptoms can be difficult to manage and negatively impact a person’s most important relationships, like their marriage, job, or schooling. Untreated ADHD can lead to more pronounced symptoms that severely impact an individual’s life–and the lives of loved ones. If you have ADHD or suspect that your symptoms point to the disorder, you should seek treatment at a high-quality mental health clinic like Alter Behavioral Health. Some key reasons why adults with untreated ADHD should get help are:

1. The disorder can lead to poor work performance due to symptoms like inattentiveness, disorganization, and difficulties with time management.
2. The disorder can result in impulsive behaviors that hurt a person’s job, relationships, or legal standing.
3. Untreated impulsivity can lead to reckless behaviors like substance abuse, overspending, and gambling or risky behaviors like having unprotected sex. 
4. Untreated ADHD can undermine relationships because of symptoms like a hot temper or frequent mood shifts. 
5. Untreated ADHD can result in difficulty relaxing; adults with the condition often feel restless. 
6. People with untreated ADHD are often forgetful and may struggle with losing things like keys or important documents. 
7. The untreated disorder can negatively impact communication; adults may struggle to listen or stay on topic during conversations. 
8. Nervousness and fidgeting are also common problems for adults with untreated ADHD. 
9. Treatment can decrease ADHD symptoms.
10. Treatment can help adults manage their ADHD.

Treatment for ADHD in Adults

Treatment for ADHD in Irvine and any other of our locations in California, in adults is often multifaceted. At Alter Behavioral Health, our clinicians individualize treatment. In many cases, adults with ADHD can benefit from psychotherapy, which helps them to identify problematic behaviors and develop strategies for effectively managing them. According to research, psychotherapy like cognitive behavioral therapy, can help patients improve their time management skills, control impulsive behavior, and improve interpersonal relationships with family, friends, and colleagues. Therapy like CBT can help patients improve their performance at work or school. This ADHD treatment can also help patients build their self-esteem and complete tasks.

People with ADHD can also benefit from medication. As the condition can trigger a hot temper or mood swings, taking an antidepressant, for instance, can help stabilize mood so that temper and mood swings are more easily managed. While taking medication for ADHD, people often feel less agitated and restless. 

People with ADHD who have experienced marital problems or strained family relationships can benefit from family therapy or psychotherapy. These forms of therapy help patients and families learn about the disorder in greater detail and how symptoms can cause relationship problems. In family therapy, for instance, patients and family members can benefit from learning strategies for healing their problems and managing the condition going forward. 

Call Alter Behavioral Health for Help With Managing ADHD

If you have ADHD and need help managing the condition, contact Alter Behavioral Health. Our clinicians can provide treatment based on medically supported therapies and practices. We continue to stay current with the best treatment practices for ADHD. Because we specialize in adult ADHD treatment, we are on top of the latest and best treatments for the disorder. Call Alter Behavioral Health at 866-647-2716 to schedule an appointment and consult our mental health specialists about your symptoms. We can help you manage them for the long term so that you can enjoy improved well-being.