Adult Male ADHD Symptoms
Men can mask ADHD symptoms. This can make it difficult to identify and treat ADHD.
While children display the more obvious symptoms of hyperactivity, adults exhibit it in subtle ways. Difficulty sitting through meetings and movies, fidgeting in your seat, biting your nails, or a constant need to take on new hobbies could all be signs of male adult ADHD symptoms.
1. Inattentiveness
If you're prone to inattention ADHD symptoms, you may not remember important details about meetings or tasks at work. You may find it difficult to stay organized and leave projects unfinished. You may also have difficulty to follow directions and complete tasks. These issues can create issues in all aspects of your life.
You might also find it difficult to maintain focus when you're talking to others. You may be thinking about scenarios or thinking about your hobbies or reliving content from social media in your head when you should be listening to someone else. This can affect your relationships and make you feel as if you are not paying attention.
Another common symptom is the difficulty in managing time. You may procrastinate or miss appointments. You might also be unable to comprehend the time required to complete a specific task. You could even lose things needed for tasks and activities like your keys or wallet.
ADHD in adults symptoms uk to remember that not everyone with ADHD has impulsivity or hyperactive-impulsive symptoms, and those who only have inattentive ADHD symptoms don't necessarily act like children. Those who have predominantly inattentive ADHD symptoms typically have good verbal communication skills, a natural creative flair, and a capacity to see opportunities for solutions that others might miss.
If you think you have adult ADHD, the best first step is to speak to your GP. They can direct you to the most appropriate treatment for you, which could include Community Mental Health Services or specialised Neurodevelopmental Services. It is important to get diagnosed, as If you don't acknowledge and treat your problems, they could worsen over time. It's important to remember that certain people have been wrongly diagnosed with depression or anxiety when the true cause of their issues is ADHD.
2. Interjections
Adults suffering from ADHD typically have poor listening skills, which can cause misunderstandings. They may also miss deadlines because they misunderstand the length of time needed to complete a task, or they might be distracted by other activities and forget to finish the task at hand. People who are not diagnosed with ADHD or ADHD that is not properly managed often have issues with their family members or partners. They may be perceived as undependable or nagging and their inability to keep commitments can lead to conflicts and discord.
Many people suffering from ADHD are prone to dropping interjections into their conversations, even without realising they are doing it. These phrases and words such as "oh, my," or "yippee!" may add the spontaneity of your speech, but can also indicate that you might not be able to hold a conversation very long. You may feel the urge to interrupt if you're feeling overwhelmed by emotions or are unable to remember what you have already said.
Interjections can be referred to as "onomatopoeia" because they mimic the sound of the emotion that they are expressing. However, unlike the other eight parts of speech (nouns and verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions and prefixes) interjections do not have any grammatical relation to the words around them.
People with ADHD tend to be incapable of recognizing the social boundaries of a situation, and often interrupt or intrude. This can be disruptive at work and lead to miss out on opportunities. You could also come across as rude to other people and some may find it hard to believe that you are serious. Adults with ADHD are also more likely to experience addiction to drugs which can be extremely detrimental to their health and well-being.
3. Disorganization
Disorganization is a typical ADHD sign that can lead to difficulties at work and in relationships. Adults suffering from ADHD are often unable to keep track of appointments, remembering social obligations, completing chores, or paying bills on time. This can cause anxiety and a lower self-esteem. According to the National Institute of Mental Health Adults with untreated ADHD are at a higher chance of having marital problems and losing their jobs.
Most often, people with ADHD tend to utilize their impulsivity in order to make up for their lack of organization skills. They may, for example have a higher probability than other people to take notes during meetings or to note reminders on post-it notes. They might also be fidgeting, tapping their feet, doodling or biting their nails to distract themselves from the pressure of a task. This type of behavior may also cause anxiety as the person's brain replays worrying thoughts.
Untreated ADHD can cause symptoms in adults who are not aware of the condition that is causing these symptoms. Genetics and environmental influences, including certain problems with the central nervous system at key developmental stages could increase the likelihood of developing ADHD.
If you are diagnosed with ADHD Adults can improve their productivity at school and work and their relationships with family and friends. Treatment options include medication and peer support groups, individual and group counseling, as well as behavioral coaching.
If you suspect that someone you know has ADHD it is crucial to learn more about the condition and discuss your concerns with a certified health professional. You can aid your loved ones by becoming knowledgeable about the disorder and providing them with resources. Certain adult ADHD peer support groups have separate groups for partners and spouses.
4. Impulsivity
Impulse control is a major issue for people with ADHD. They may blurt out words and behaviors on a sudden whim which can cause embarrassment and harm in personal and professional environments. They can also strain relationships and could have negative consequences in the near future.
Impulsiveness can manifest in a variety of ways in an adult suffering from ADHD and ranges from physical actions without inhibition to non-physically impulsive actions or thoughts. These impulsive actions, which are also known as emotional dyscontrol, can be more damaging than they appear when they're not recognized by the person who is suffering from them.
Adults with ADHD are quick to react to stimuli. For instance, they might reply to a text or email before the other person has completed speaking. They may also have difficulty waiting for their turn to speak to others. Additionally, their urges can be triggered by certain food items or certain events. If these triggers trigger an increase in dopamine in the brain, it's difficult for people suffering from ADHD to resist the urge to act on an impulse.
In the long term, untreated impulsivity can lead to heavy guilt and regret. It could lead to late deadlines at work, disappointing friends and broken relationships. Insane comments and actions can even damage the self-esteem of a few people.
Because of this, a diagnosis of ADHD can be a great relief for those who experience it. However it can be a source of frustration for those around you if you are misunderstood or unfairly judged because of the symptoms they exhibit. For instance, they might feel like they're being called lazy or unwilling to do something when their issues are caused by ADHD. They may be upset that they didn't get referred earlier to the right health care provider for an assessment.
5. Poor Time Management
People suffering from ADHD frequently have difficulty planning ahead. They may be unable to meet deadlines, underestimate the time it takes to finish a task, or procrastinate until the very last minute. This can lead them to miss out on opportunities, have a hard to keep an occupation, and make financial mistakes. This could also impact their physical health as they may miss appointments, or not take medication or have trouble adhering to the diet and fitness regimens.
Hyperactivity is a frequent characteristic of children with ADHD, but many adults don't show it. The symptom may be seen as anxiety, a lack motivation or motivation, constant fidgeting, difficulties in settling down or sitting and a sense of chaos.
It can be difficult for men to keep track of and follow-through on their plans. This can result in people being late to meetings and social occasions or ignoring deadlines. It can also lead to frustration in relationships since partners could feel like they are walking on eggshells.
Men with ADHD can be very enthusiastic about their ideas. This can lead them to start new projects but never finish them. They are also unable to avoid distractions and often begin a project only to put it down and move to the next task on their list.
It's important to recognize these signs and seek help when they're affecting your daily life. You can do this either by taking an adult ADHD test online (click here to take it) or by making a video consultation with one of Circle Medical's clinicians who can determine ADHD and prescribe medication online.