It’s easy to assume that everyone is sinking into quicksand as they navigate another busy day. You may have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder if this feeling is accompanied by extreme disorganization, inattention, and overwhelm.
Approximately 10 million adults in the United States (and over 365 million worldwide) have ADHD – and because symptoms can differ in adults, realizing you might have ADHD is often a slow process. Overlooking these signs can cause significant stress in your life and health.
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Neuropsychologist Dede O’Shea said that adults seeking a diagnosis often show subtle signs rather than being completely disabled. Inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity – the hallmark symptoms of ADHD – aren’t as noticeable in adulthood. This is likely because adults with no ADHD diagnosis have had a lifetime to compensate. Look out for these sneaky signs:
Extreme Procrastination
The ADHD brain is always looking for dopamine-boosting activities. When people with ADHD avoid routine tasks, the negative feeling is more extreme – and so is the avoidance.
Hyper focusing For Hours
A low level of dopamine in the brain causes difficulty switching gears. Dopamine is released at a greater rate when you are engrossed in a task. It is similar to being in the zone, except that you feel trapped. Hyper-focusing on a task is often confused as being overzealous and selfish.
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Spending Impulsively
In addition to making poor financial decisions, ADHD adults are likely to avoid paying bills, make impulse purchases, and lose track of due dates. Basal ganglia deficits may contribute to how you evaluate emotions, motivations, goals, and risks.
Several aspects of the brain work together for learning and forming habits, as well as planning and executing tasks (such as saving). Dr Zishan Khan, a psychiatrist with Mindpath Health, said the basal ganglia of people with ADHD seem to short-circuit when it comes to processing signals.