/assets/images/provider/photos/2855325.jpeg)
You often hear about attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in the context of childhood. It makes sense — the average age that people are diagnosed with ADHD is around 7 years old.
Many children grow up learning to navigate their ADHD symptoms with professional support, including, potentially, medication management. Receiving a diagnosis helps children and families find resources, develop strategies, and manage ADHD symptoms in a knowledgeable way.
That said, adult ADHD is also a common topic of conversation in many circles. Some people aren’t diagnosed with ADHD until adulthood, although in hindsight they can recognize that they’ve had symptoms since childhood. Adults can also have a diagnosis of late-onset ADHD.
No matter where you fall in terms of when your symptoms and diagnosis entered your life, managing adult ADHD is a complex task best performed with expert professional support. That’s where our team at Anywhere Wellness comes into the picture.
Through our compassionate psychiatry practice, we provide diagnosis and treatment services for new and existing patients via telehealth from the states of Washington, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, and Utah.
In this blog, we look at the question of developing ADHD in adulthood. With the right information, you can consider whether this might be happening to you or to a loved one.
Developing ADHD in adulthood
Increasingly, research shows that adults who did not have ADHD symptoms during childhood can develop them later on.
Adult ADHD may be a different syndrome from childhood ADHD and may have different causes. Your social environment, nutrition, and a history of brain injuries may be factors in the development of this condition during adulthood.
Adult ADHD can involve symptoms related to persistent inattention or to persistent hyperactivity-impulsivity. For this diagnosis, your symptoms would appear in multiple settings and cause problems for your personal or professional life.
You may struggle to maintain concentration over time or become distracted very easily. You might struggle to remember where you put important objects like keys, or chronically fall behind on deadlines for paperwork.
Or you may be troubled by hyperactivity symptoms — you can’t sit still, relax, or take turns speaking. Persistent problems with employment or relationships may also be connected to undiagnosed or unmanaged adult ADHD.
Diagnosing and treating adult ADHD
Adult ADHD is underdiagnosed to a significant degree. Once you receive your diagnosis, you can better understand the symptoms that have been disrupting your life, as well as how to handle them effectively and constructively.
While there isn’t a definitive cure for ADHD, treatment results in successful outcomes for many. At Anywhere Wellness, we may suggest cognitive behavioral therapy, medication management, or complementary approaches to help you manage your mental health and keep your symptoms under control.
If you’ve had a hard time getting along socially with other people, or if holding down a steady job continues to not work out for you, you could have undiagnosed ADHD. To learn how to manage your inattention, hyperactivity, or impulsivity, you need to understand your neurodivergence and the unique ways your brain functions.
For support with adult ADHD, contact us at Anywhere Wellness online or over the phone and schedule a telehealth evaluation today.