When attention is an adult issue: what is adult ADHD?
Alex Lim, a psychotherapist at Stillness for the Heart, explains why Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder may go undetected, how ADHD shows up later in life, and what to do if you suspect you may be an adult struggling with attention-deficit difficulties.
In recent years, there has been a surge of adults seeking therapy, suspecting they may have Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) - (once known as Attention-Deficit Disorder or ADD). This growing trend can be attributed to an increased awareness about attention-related struggles, amid shorter attention spans in the age of rapid information exchange and technological advancements. Moreover, there has been greater recognition and education that ADHD may not be exclusive to children and young persons alone.
Alex Lim, psychotherapist at Stillness for the Heart, believes that going for therapy is also more acceptable in today's society.
“In each generation, we see a positive shift towards a greater willingness to look inward and explore what’s not working in their lives.”
Many neurodivergent individuals dismiss the possibility of having ADHD from an early age due to the common association of ADHD children to hyperactivity traits, most noticeably as individuals struggling to sit still in school classrooms. On the contrary, ADHD encompasses a broad spectrum of symptoms, with individuals with inattentive-type ADHD often flying under the radar, leaving them undiagnosed and unsupported.
Signs and symptoms of ADHD in adults
According to ADDA, here are some common traits of ADHD that may show up for adult individuals:
Difficulties with focus
Misplacing of items
Always running late
Risky behaviours
Difficulties listening
Inability to prioritise
Relationship troubles
Nervous energy
Memory issues
Easily angered
The list is not exhaustive, and you can check out a more comprehensive description of symptoms available here.
When cracks begin to show
"Two categories of people often fall through the cracks: individuals who perform well academically, and girls. Those who excel in school tend to go undiagnosed, and they may continue to perform well until a certain point before the struggle becomes more evident, perhaps in tertiary or university, or even at the workplace. We also have girls, more commonly associated with inattentive-type deficit issues instead of hyperactivity. They may be overlooked when compared to a visibly hyperactive child," says Alex.
As children, we pick up skills to help us learn and scaffold our ability to understand and apply the knowledge. Overtime, the concepts grow increasingly complex and advanced, and study-specific skills - which can include time management, self-discipline, goal planning, and the breakdown of tasks, just to name a few - become more essential not just in academic but also vocational settings.
"Individuals with ADHD, however, might not have learnt these skills and relied instead on their intelligence. Maybe they could memorise well, or had a photographic memory. They pick up concepts very quickly, or they could just study the night before and do well for the exam."
Unfortunately, many may reach a point where they realise that relying on the same coping strategies does not work anymore. It may be at the university or even later on at the workplace, where task requirements differ or require more discipline or self-initiation. Some with undiagnosed ADHD may see themselves struggling to meet the demands of vocational expectations, miss out on important administrative deadlines, or find it a challenge to balance socialisation and work completion.
The trade-offs to being different
Many adults with undiagnosed ADHD carry burdens and poor beliefs about themselves. Low self-esteem, self-blaming, or hopelessness can be common. This comes from years of seeing the world in a different lens and attempting to cope with the same demands, yet feeling unequipped and persistently blamed for it.
"Growing up, some neurodivergent individuals feel very isolated and outcasted because they realise the way they interpret or view the world is different from the majority. For example, they could be interested in things that are outside of popular culture and spend hours thinking or talking about their interests, only to be dismissed or even made fun of."
Some individuals with ADHD may speak about difficulties about socialisation, be it the challenge of understanding social cues or a forced mastery of social norms, both stemming from feeling different and efforts to cope with it.
"They either learn to fit in or overcompensate by standing out and being unapologetic about it," adds Alex.
Thankfully, due to the increased awareness and a better understanding of ADHD, more adults today are recognising that their lifelong struggles with organisation, time management, and self-regulation may be more than traits that others typically attribute as personal shortcomings.
There is help available for adult ADHD
Diagnosing ADHD in adults is not a straightforward process. Unlike children, adults have developed coping mechanisms over the years, making it harder to identify symptoms. Additionally, adult ADHD may also co-exist with other mental health difficulties, such as depression, anxiety, or substance abuse, which can mask or mimic symptoms.
There is currently no single medical examination that can definitively determine if there is ADHD for adults, according to the Attention Deficit Disorder Association. This is because the official diagnostic manual (known as the DSM-5) includes assessment of ADHD for individuals up to 18 years of age. However, getting a diagnosis is still possible.
Psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, or psychotherapists specialising in working with ADHD will conduct a comprehensive exam of present-day symptoms and assess how they affect different aspects of one's life. Using the DSM-V as a guide, they may also request for school records or parent/teacher accounts to assess the prevalence of ADHD symptoms in childhood.
Alex shares that the need for a diagnosis differs from individual to individual.
“I recommend getting a diagnosis if medication is required. For some, diagnosis also provides some certainty, and it helps to validate some of the struggles they have been facing all their lives.”
Apart from medication, therapy is also helpful for individuals struggling with attention deficit issues. By working with an experienced counsellor or therapist, many adults living with ADHD can learn how to better cope and start to thrive in life. (Stay tuned for our next article on therapy for individuals struggling with ADHD.)
For more information on adult ADHD, you can visit the ADDA website or take a short online test here if you suspect you may be an adult struggling with attention deficit issues.
If you would like to speak to someone about your struggles with attention-related issues, feel free to reach out to our team of psychotherapists here at Stillness for the Heart to find out more.
