Currently serving 15.5 million American adults diagnosed with ADHDthere is growing attention to warning signs of the condition.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is a “developmental disorder characterized by persistent symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity,” as defined by the National Institutes of Health.
“ADHD is often misunderstood as simply being overly distracted or hyperactive — in reality, it is a neurological condition that affects focus, emotional regulation, time management and impulse control,” says Lisa Anderson, a licensed clinical social worker and clinical director at Brooks Healing Center in Tennessee, told Fox News Digital.
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More than half of adults suffer from it attention deficit hyperactivity disorder didn’t learn they had the condition until adulthood, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
According to data from the CDC, approximately 15.5 million American adults are currently diagnosed with ADHD. (iStock)
Fox News Digital spoke with multiple mental health experts who identified the most common signs and symptoms of ADHD in adults.
1. Impulsive behavior
Adults with ADHD have difficulty controlling impulsivity, according to Zoë Kahn, a licensed psychotherapist and ADHD therapist in Pasadena, California.
“This can look like blurting out answers in a classroom, interrupting a conversation and struggling to think about the long-term consequences of choices,” she told Fox News Digital.
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Impulsiveness can also lead to making quick decisions without considering long-term consequences, Anderson added.
“It can also manifest itself in subtle ways, such as spending too much money on impulse purchases or having difficulty waiting your turn in group discussions,” she said.
2. Difficulty concentrating or staying on task
Procrastination and difficulty completing tasks are common symptoms of ADHD, Anderson noted.
“You may struggle to start tasks, even when they are critical, or give up on them halfway through,” she said. “You can jump between tasks without completing anything or focus on smaller, less urgent tasks while leaving the larger, more critical tasks untouched.”
“It is an ongoing challenge that affects work, relationships and daily responsibilities.”
It’s not about laziness, Anderson noted, but about feeling overwhelmed by what needs to be done.
“ADHD-related daydreaming is persistent and often disruptive, especially when it happens during crucial tasks or conversations,” she said.
Procrastination and difficulty completing tasks are common symptoms of ADHD, experts say. (iStock)
“This isn’t just about zoning out every now and then during a long meeting – it’s an ongoing challenge that impacts work, relationships and daily responsibilities.”
3. Time management problems
People with ADHD may have difficulty managing their schedules, often underestimating how long it will take to complete a project or reach a destination.
“Deadlines can creep up on you, or you may feel constantly behind on tasks no matter how early you start,” Anderson told Fox News Digital.
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“This can create a constant cycle of stress and underachievement, leaving you frustrated with yourself.”
4. Mental fatigue
Mental fatigue and burnout are widespread among people with ADHD, according to Anderson.
“The ADHD brain often works in overdrive, juggling competing thoughts and having trouble staying on track,” she said.
“ADHD-related daydreaming is persistent and often disruptive, especially when it happens during crucial tasks or conversations.” (iStock)
“This constant effort to stay focused and organized can leave you feeling exhausted, even after relatively short periods of productivity.”
5. Forgetfulness
Another sign of ADHD in adults is general disorganization, Kahn said, which can lead to an inability to complete tasks, meet important deadlines, pay bills on time or keep appointments.
“The ADHD brain often works in overdrive, juggling competing thoughts and having trouble staying on track.”
They may also lose important items, such as car keys.
“Adults with ADHD have difficulty finding and maintaining focus, which can look like not paying attention during a conversation, missing important details, being easily distracted in certain situations, or even focusing on the wrong details,” added Kahn added.
6. Inability to sit still
People with ADHD often find themselves fidgeting and generally feeling restless, according to Dr. Michelle Dees, a board-certified psychiatrist at the Luxury Psychiatry Clinic in Chicago.
People with ADHD may lose important items, such as car keys. (iStock)
“In adults, this can manifest as inner turmoil or incomplete calm,” she told Fox News Digital.
Anderson echoed and noted this common symptom in childrenit often takes the form of physical hyperactivity.
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“It often turns into internal restlessness in adults, where you feel like you can’t fully relax or sit still without feeling nervous,” she said. “This constant feeling of being ‘on edge’ can become tiring over time.”
7. Relationship problems
“Many adults with ADHD have difficulty maintaining relationships with others because of inappropriate social behaviors, such as interrupting frequently, losing interest in conversations, difficulty paying attention and forgetfulness,” Kahn noted.
“You may forget to call friends back or forget obligations to others, which can cause problems your relationships.”
Emotional sensitivity often accompanies ADHD, which can manifest as mood swings, irritability, or increased reactions to minor frustrations. (iStock)
According to Anderson, emotional sensitivity is often associated with ADHD. This can manifest as mood swingsirritability or increased responses to minor frustrations.
“Many people with ADHD describe feeling that their emotions are more intense and harder to control than those of others around them,” she added.
When should you seek help?
If you have experienced several of the above symptoms and they are interfering with your daily life, experts recommend seeking help.
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“ADHD is not a bug or something to be ashamed of; it’s just a different way of processing information and interacting with the world,” says Anderson.
The first step is to talk to a health care professional who specializes in ADHD, such as a psychologist, psychiatrist or even your primary care doctor, she suggested.
“They can provide a good evaluation and help you explore treatment options, including therapy, medication, or… lifestyle adjustmentsAnderson noted.
Possible solutions include mindfulness exercises and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which can help people with ADHD improve their organization, time management and emotion regulation, the same source said.
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“For many people, medication is also an essential part of managing ADHD because it can help balance brain chemistry and improve focus,” Anderson added.
Brooke Bardin, a licensed clinical social worker and director of Clinical Quality Assurance in Los Angeles, pointed out that ADHD can sometimes be confused with other conditions.
It’s important to be evaluated by a psychiatrist or mental health doctor if you experience multiple ADHD symptoms, experts advise. (iStock)
“ADHD has overlapping symptoms with other disorders and is often comorbid with other diagnoses,” she told Fox News Digital.
Somewhere between 40% and 70% of people autism spectrum disorder According to Bardin, they also have ADHD.
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It can also occur in combination with learning disorders, anxiety disorders and mood disorders.
“This makes it important to be assessed by a psychiatrist or mental health doctorBardin advised.
“ADHD is not a defect or something to be ashamed of; it’s just a different way of processing information and interacting with the world.”
As you look for the right support and strategies, Anderson emphasizes the importance of being kind to yourself.
“ADHD is not a disability; it is a unique way of experiencing the world, and with the right tools you can learn to leverage its strengths and meet its challenges.”
