From Childhood to Adulthood: Navigating ADHD at Every Stage of Life
Posted by Improving Lives Counseling Services, Inc. | Children and Adolescent Counseling
Children will be children, or kids will be kids, is an adage parents often use to excuse their child’s misbehavior in school, in church, in the neighborhood, on the playground, and when shopping or dining out. No parent wants to feel judged, or be told they are bad parents, nor do they want to admit that their child may have a mental health or developmental disorder. Parents strive to protect their children from stigmatization, fearing labels like “stupid,” “inane,” or “slow.”
Stigmas are a major concern and while there are many different kinds of stigmas, mental health stigma is one of the most common – leading to failed diagnosis, poor treatment, and impaired mental health. The counselors, therapists, and clinicians at Improving Lives Counseling Services work to reduce this stigma by normalizing conversations around mental health, accurately diagnosing conditions, and developing treatment plans that meet the specific needs of each patient.
REBUFFED DIAGNOSES
Parents, guardians, and caregivers are living in a fast-paced, technically centered environment. Home life can be chaotic, schedules can be difficult to adhere to, and report cards and homework assignments can be signed-off on with little or no conversation or feedback: “What’s this, bring this grade up, I’m sure you can do it, now hurry and change, we’ve got to go.” Even the stay-at-home mom or dad is competing with television, cellphones, and the internet. Today’s children are more tuned in to adult conversations and societal banter. They want to please, protect, and avoid upsetting their parents. They often fail to say what’s really going on or describe the challenges they are facing.
A child may identify themselves with someone on TV or online who has symptoms of ADHD and reach out for help – not realizing due to the stigma, parents and/or family members may refuse to take their self-diagnosis seriously. Parents may blame the child saying they are just badly behaved, shy or, lazy. They may say the child is spoiled or will grow out of the problem. “This is why teachers are often the first ones to recognize or suspect ADHD in children; ADHD symptoms typically affect school performance or disrupt the rest of the class.”
ADHD – SUBTYPES
ADHD, or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects a person’s ability to focus. Children and adolescents may have difficulties paying attention, they may be hyper, fidgety, and may act impulsively. “However, children who meet diagnostic criteria for ADHD, differ in that their symptoms of hyperactivity, impulsivity, and/or inattention are noticeably greater than expected for their age or developmental level.”
- ADHD, Predominantly Inattentive Presentation is a recently defined neurobehavioral disorder that is characterized primarily by inattentive concentration or a deficit of sustained attention, such as procrastination, hesitation, and forgetfulness. Symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity are usually absent or minimal.
- ADHD, Predominantly Hyperactive-impulsive Presentation is a type of ADHD for which the main symptoms are nearly constant movement and/or trouble controlling behavior. Children are acting out, not listening, failing to follow directions, talking at the wrong time, or talking too much.
- ADHD Combined presentation (both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms) is when a person persistently presents with symptoms of both inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity. A person’s behavior may indicate this subtype if they meet sufficient criteria for both the inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive subtypes.
ADHD SYMPTOMS
ADHD is characterized by a range of common symptoms typically categorized into inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity. These symptoms include, but are not limited to:
Inattention
- Problems focusing on tasks or activities
- Making careless mistakes on schoolwork
- Difficulty organizing or cleaning their room
- Forgetting or losing items needed for school or extracurricular activities
- Easily distracted by people or things that might catch their eye
- Have trouble sitting still / listening
- Daydreaming
Hyperactivity / Impulsivity
- Constant fidgeting
- Can’t sit still in classroom environments
- Fail to respond to parental guidance or instruction
- Excessively talking
- Inability to engage or play with others – coloring, doing puzzles, arts and crafts
- Interrupting or introducing on others’ conversations
- Difficulty waiting one’s turn – snatching items from the hands of others
- Restlessness
- Running in inappropriate situations
- Acting or responding without thinking
ADHD IN ADULTS
Many adults with ADHD go undiagnosed and the condition can impact men and women differently. In adults, symptoms of ADHD often coexist with cognitive deficits, exercise dependency, emotional disorders, behavioral disorders, compulsive gambling, or substance abuse.
Women are more likely to report chronic stress, feelings of being overwhelmed, anxiety, and periods of depression. Men may struggle with emotional regulation, experience mood swings, and find it challenging to complete tasks. Many adults are workaholics who face burnout, while others may have difficulty maintaining employment due to jumping from project to project, struggling to complete assignments, and meet deadlines.
Impulsivity and inattention in adults can lead to misunderstandings, conflicts, and difficulties in sustaining relationships. Adults may experience marital problems and challenges relating to family members, especially children, adolescents, and teens. Studies have shown adults participating in promiscuity or criminal activities display symptoms of ADHD. Additionally, adults with ADHD often struggle with low self-esteem and feelings of inadequacy.
ADHD symptoms of inattention in adults
- Making careless mistakes
- An inability to focus
- Poor listening skills
- Failure to follow directions
- Inability to stay organized
- Misplacing items
- Being easily distracted
- Begin forgetful
ADHD symptoms of hyperactivity/impulsivity in adults
- Fidgety
- Restlessness
- Being unusually quiet
- Being talkative
- Interrupting
- Not waiting their turn
- Intruding on others
ADHD – CAUSE
The exact cause of ADHD isn’t fully understood, but it’s believed to involve a combination of factors. “Twin studies have demonstrated that ADHD in children and adolescents are largely under genetic influences with the remaining variance explained by child-specific experiences.” ADHD tends to run in families and, in most cases, it’s thought the genes inherited from parents are significant in developing the condition. Research shows that parents and siblings of someone with ADHD are more likely to have ADHD themselves.
Reported instances of ADHD are much higher on the east coast of the United States and statistics show 2% to 16% of U.S. school children have ADHD. Some of the higher rates are in southern states with 12% to 15% reported cases. Oklahoma reports 11% to 13.9% of ADHD in children. Triggers for ADHD include:
- Stress
- Poor sleep
- Diet
- Overstimulation
- Technology
- Poor Health
- Major life changes
- Substance abuse
- Frustration / excitement
ADHD TREATMENT
No two clients are the same; their race, culture, age, size, family history, diet, physical well-being, lifestyle, and environment are all considered when developing an ADHD treatment plan. Behavioral therapy and Psychotherapy provide a means to better monitor behavior. Family sessions and group therapy improve communication, conflict resolution, and problem-solving skills. Couples’ therapy helps partners understand ADHD, significantly enhancing relationships.
The licensed counselors, therapists, and clinicians at Improving Lives Counseling Services utilize a combination of referring for medication, psychotherapy, and lifestyle changes to help manage symptoms. If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of ADHD — whether a child, adolescent, teen, adult, or senior — please reach out. We offer both in-person and online mental health care sessions. Early diagnosis can answer many questions and, in some cases, save a life. Call us to learn more.
