What does adult ADD feel like?
Susan, an administrative assistant and mother, feels overwhelmed with her responsibilities at work and home. At work, she finds it nearly impossible to focus her thoughts. Her desk is a mess; her papers and projects lie about in total disorganization. She constantly fidgets and taps her foot when she is sitting at her desk. Often, she misses deadlines because she finds it difficult to complete her assignments. She is constantly losing important pieces of information and she has been reprimanded by her boss about her performance. At home, Susan has trouble keeping up with the needs of her husband and children. She finds it difficult to remember the dates and times of her children's activities. She forgets to complete simple tasks like paying the electric bill or picking up the laundry. She is constantly losing her keys and her purse. Her family feels that she never listens to them because she often appears so unfocused. Her behavior has caused her family to feel distant from her.
Susan has Adult Attention Deficit Disorder or (Adult ADD). Adult ADD symptoms are similar, but not exactly the same, to those seen in children. When exhibited in children, symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder include inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. In adults, the element of hyperactivity often diminishes and is replaced by restlessness or fidgeting. Until the 1970s, it was believed that Attention Deficit Disorder was strictly a childhood disorder, and that children outgrew it in adolescence. Only gradually was it realized that while the hyperactivity component may disappear, the attention and impulsive aspects can persist into adulthood. By understanding what ADD is, one can understand how to begin treating it.
The symptoms of Adult ADD interfere with success at work, home, and in social settings. Many adults do not realize that they have Adult ADD until their own child is diagnosed with the disorder. Often, adults realize that what they are experiencing is a pattern of problems they have faced since childhood. They are relieved that there is a name for the frustration they have been feeling all of their lives, and that there are therapies and treatments designed to help them cope with Attention Deficit Disorder.
Patrick, a real estate agent, often feels restless. His mind is always racing with thoughts of the business he needs to take care of. He is constantly on the go, and he feels incapable of relaxation. He juggles several projects at once, though he rarely has the focus to complete tasks on time. He finds it difficult to sit still. At his desk, he constantly taps his pencil and shakes his leg. As a child, he was called hyperactive, and he had difficulty concentrating in school.
Patrick has adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Adult ADHD possesses many of the same characteristics as adult ADD (difficulty concentrating, disorganization, and impulsivity) with the addition of hyperactivity. Adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder often have a compulsion to stay busy and on the go. They may find that they can't seem to relax or slow down their thoughts. They may also have difficulty sleeping.
Like adults who have been diagnosed with adult ADD, those diagnosed with adult ADHD often experience a sense of relief that what they have been experiencing has a name and treatment plan. The recent compilation of adult ADHD information can provide individuals with the data they need to begin a treatment plan and begin feeling better.
ADD/ADHD Symptom Reference
Often, adults have symptoms of both ADD and ADHD. By examining Attention Deficit Disorder Symptoms, it becomes easier to identify if a treatment plan may be necessary.
ADD Symptoms and/or ADHD symptoms:
fidgeting with hands or feet difficulty remaining seated being easily distracted by extraneous stimuli difficulty awaiting turn in games or group activities blurting out answers before questions are completed difficulty in following instructions difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities shifting from one incomplete task to another talking excessively interrupting or intruding on others not listening to what is being said forgetting things necessary for tasks or activities engaging in physically dangerous activities without considering possible consequences The ADD symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder and ADHD are further broken into three specific categories, each with a specific clinical presentation that can better describe behavior.
Types of ADD / ADHD These ADD symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder and ADHD categories are Inattentive Type (classic Attention Deficit Disorder), Hyperactive/Impulsive Type (classic Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder) and Combined Type (a combination of inattentive and hyperactive).
Inattention ADD symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder: fails to give close attention to details makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, work, or other activities has difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or activities becomes easily distracted by irrelevant sights, sounds and extraneous stimuli does not seem to listen when spoken to directly does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish schoolwork, chores, or duties in the workplace has difficulty organizing tasks and activities avoids tasks, such as schoolwork or homework, which require sustained mental effort loses things necessary for tasks or activities, like school assignments, pencils, books, or tools is forgetful in daily activities rarely follows instructions carefully and completely People with ADD symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder who are inattentive display difficulty keeping their mind on any one thing. They may get bored easily and move from one task to the next, without any completion. Organizing and completing a task proves troublesome, though they may give undivided and effortless attention to activities and topics they enjoy. People with ADD symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder often find that focusing deliberate, conscious attention to learning something new is extremely difficult.
Hyperactivity/Impulsive ADHD symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder: fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat runs about excessively in situations in where it is inappropriate has difficulty acting quietly in leisure activities is often "on the go" or often acts as if "driven by a motor" talks excessively blurts out answers before hearing the entire question interrupts or intrudes on others feels and acts restless
Is ADD a real disorder?
Most people experience distraction, restlessness, and impulsiveness at one time or another. Because of this, there is controversy as to whether ADD is an actual disorder at all. What distinguishes those with ADD from those who do not have the disorder is the frequency and intensity of these symptoms, as well as the negative impact on one's life.
Studies have shown that the physiology of those with ADD differs from that of those who do not have the disorder . The area of the brain that controls impulsiveness is smaller in those affected with ADD. PET scans reveal that boys with ADD have much higher levels of blood flow in their brains than their non-ADD peers when tasks involving thinking were being performed, and lower blood flow the rest of the time. Researchers found that children with ADD had considerably lower levels of key fatty acids, such as omega-3, in their bloodstream. This lack of fatty acids has been linked with memory loss, temper tantrums, sleep disturbances, hyperactivity, and learning difficulties.
Many more studies are being conducted every day to help diagnose, treat, and ultimately cure ADD. If a child is unsuccessful in school, they will not be able to meet the demands of education as they get older. In turn, they will not be able to achieve the goals that he or she sets for themselves in the job market. This, coupled with a lack of impulse control, can lead to very real problems for those suffering from ADD as well as society as a whole. Adults with ADD often find it difficult to maintain employment or long-term relationships. They find themselves feeling deprived of a "normal" life. ADD is a very real issue, and to begin treating the disorder, one must first understand it.
About the author:
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With Much Love, Arthur Buchanan
President/CEO Out of Darkness & Into the Light 43 Oakwood Ave. Suite 1012 Huron Ohio, 44839 www.out-of-darkness.com 567-219-0994 (cell)
Written by: Arthur Buchanan
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