Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affected around an estimated 15.5 million adult Americans as of 2023, and the actual numbers could be higher. Many adults remain undiagnosed.
Learning to live with ADHD as an adult can be challenging but isn’t impossible.
Board-certified psychiatrist Dr. Ifeanyi Olele of Genesis Psychiatric Solutions diagnoses and creates customized treatment plans for men and women with ADHD, helping them manage their condition and live happy, balanced lives. Here’s what Dr. Olele wants you to know.
ADHD was misunderstood for many decades, but is now thought to be genetic in nature, and on the same spectrum as other neurodivergent conditions such as autism. Most people show symptoms as early as age 3, but many (especially girls) are not diagnosed until adulthood.
There is no way to cure ADHD, and some researchers say there’s no need for a cure. Instead, there’s a need for more awareness, understanding, and changes in a world that is often unfriendly to people who are neurodivergent.
There are medications available to help manage ADHD symptoms, and you can learn strategies to help you live more comfortably as an adult with ADHD.
While ADHD symptoms in childhood can be harder to miss, especially in boys, they are easier to overlook in adults and often are written off as poor organizational skills or lack of discipline. You could have ADHD if you::
While these symptoms can make for a rocky childhood, the responsibilities and societal expectations of adulthood can prove even more challenging.
As an adult, you need to be able to do certain things effectively such as:
Strategies that can help you accomplish things more easily include:
Routine can help you get on a better schedule. For example, if you’re constantly late for work, make a list of everything you need to do before you leave for work and how long each thing should take.
Add some buffer, and try to do things the same way every day for a week. Eventually, you may be able to sleep in a little later.
Do you frequently misplace your phone, keys, or sunglasses? Have a special place to keep these items, like a small table by the front door. Add a lightweight but clunky tag to your key ring to make it inconvenient to carry through the house, then drop everything off as you come in the front door.
If you’re having trouble getting things done in a timely manner every day (for example, days go by without a shower, or laundry starts piling up) create a chart and award yourself a sticker for each task you complete each day.
Give yourself a small motivational treat when you hit a certain number of stickers, like a special coffee or a half hour alone to read or watch a show.
Small tricks like these can make day-to-day life easier at work, at school, and at home. If you know or suspect that you have adult ADHD and want to know more, call our office closest to you or request a consultation online. We’re located in Fairfax and Alexandria, Virginia, and in Washington, DC.
