In cases where ADHD persists, with the entry into adulthood, the symptoms may vary.
The attention deficit, for example, It remains more or less stable throughout life, manifesting itself at this evolutionary stage with:
- Difficulties in maintaining attention
- Making mistakes due to inattention
- Difficulty in planning and organizing
- Difficulty managing and organizing time
- A tendency to postpone tasks and/or difficulty in finishing them
- Ease of distraction
- They are forgetful and distracted, so they don't know where they left things, for example.
On the contrary, in the hyperactivity, Yes, changes do occur. In the child, the expression is more external (they don’t stop moving, running, etc.), whereas in the adult the expression is more internal, it’s like a feeling of restlessness that makes them feel accelerated, so the person has a low tolerance for rest and difficulty relaxing.
As for the matter in question impulsivity, the adults, They may act without thinking beforehand about the consequences of their actions, they have difficulty adapting to changes and being able to tolerate frustration, and they may also experience changes in their mood. It is true that in some people an improvement can be observed thanks to adults using more reflective thinking.
People with ADHD are very persistent when something motivates them.
Diagnosis during childhood and adolescence is important so that proper treatment can be carried out and the person can be provided with coping techniques, problem-solving techniques, relaxation techniques, self-control techniques, etc.
Those adolescents and adults who have not been diagnosed during childhood or those who have not received proper psychological treatment may present with:
- SCHOOL FAILURE: People with ADHD tend to have lower educational attainment; only 5% manage to access university, regardless of their intelligence. This is the result of inattention, lack of organization, planning, and problems with adaptation and discipline in the school environment.
- MAJOR DIFFICULTIES IN COUPLE RELATIONSHIPS: There are behaviors resulting from ADHD that can affect interpersonal relationships. For example, impulsivity can lead to not thinking about the consequences of actions, to speaking without having first thought about it, and in some cases it can even lead to resorting to lying. These attitudes directly affect the other member of the couple and the trust between them. Problems with planning and organization can also affect the discussion, increasing the reasons for arguments. This does not mean that all the problems a couple may encounter in which one of the partners has ADHD are entirely the partner’s responsibility. Each person has their own strengths and weaknesses, and each person should be aware of where their limitations and virtues lie, accepting them and working on them. At the same time, one must respect and adapt to the partner’s strengths and weaknesses. It is important to create an atmosphere of trust and direct and transparent communication.
- TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS: Lack of attention and impulsivity can affect driving by taking on more risk, driving faster, being more reckless, and therefore increasing the likelihood of traffic accidents and fines.
- GODDEPENDENCE: People with ADHD start using substances at a younger age and the progression towards abuse or dependence is faster than people who do not suffer from ADHD. In the post “BRAIN AND ADHD”, we mentioned that people with ADHD had low levels of dopamine in the frontal lobe. This neurotransmitter is related to the mechanisms of pleasure, motivation and reward systems (among others). When levels are low, people tend to opt for activities that can generate pleasure, motivation and therefore an immediate reward, although in drug use it is at the same time harmful. Caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and cocaine increase dopamine levels in the brain (through different mechanisms), and therefore increasing the sense of pleasure, motivation and reward. Cannabis presents the added problem that its effects are associated with attention, memory, and concentration problems, exacerbating the symptoms of ADHD.
- OTHER PSYCHOLOGICAL SYMPTOMS: As in childhood, the presence of other psychiatric disorders associated with ADHD is common, such as borderline and antisocial personality disorder, major depression, and anxiety. In other cases, other psychiatric symptoms associated with ADHD are present, such as low tolerance to frustration, insecurity, irritability, emotional instability, insomnia, a frequent sense of failure, and a search for sensations.
WE ARE ALL GENIUSES, BUT IF YOU JUDGE A FISH BY ITS ABILITY TO GROW TREES, IT WILL SPEND ITS WHOLE LIFE THINKING IT IS A USELESS BEING.
ALBERT EINSTEIN
Bibliography
Barkley, R. A (2013). Taking control of ADHD in adulthood. Ediciones Octaedro, S.L.
Bosch R, Escudier G, Ramos-Quiroga JA, Castells X, Casas M. Evaluation of attention deficit disorder in adults. In: Tomás J, Casas M. ADHD: Hyperactivity. Movable and restless children. Barcelona: Editorial Laertes; 2004
Ramos-Quiroga JA, Bosch R, Nogueira M, Castells X, Escuder G, Casas M. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in adults. Current Psychiatry Reports. Spanish edition. 2005a; 2
Ramos-Quiroga JA, Bosch R, Castells X, Escuder G, Casas M. TDAH in adults: impulsivity from childhood. In: Ros S., Peris MD., Gracia R, Casas M. Impulsivity. Barcelona: Ars Medica; 2005b