Myths About Attention Deficit Disorder in Adults

Attention Deficit Disorder in Adults

Attention deficit disorder, also known as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, affects millions of people. Adults with the disorder have difficulty paying attention to details, staying on task, and developing relationships. This can be a frustrating disorder for those who suffer from it because many people with the disorder don’t recognize that they have it. In fact, some people who think they have ADHD don’t have it at all.

attention deficit disorder

The most common symptoms of attention deficit disorder in adults are hyperactivity, lack of focus, and distractibility. These symptoms typically appear during childhood and stay throughout an adult’s life. However, there are other symptoms that may occur later in adulthood or even childhood. In addition, adult symptoms often mirror those that were present during childhood. These include difficulty paying attention, difficulty focusing, problems initiating and completing responses, poor decision making, and difficulty remembering things.

Adults with attention deficit disorder can benefit from a number of different methods for attention deficit disorder in adults including therapy, diet, lifestyle changes, and time management. For instance, therapy can help the patient recognize how their behaviors are affecting their lives and how these behaviors are interfering with their careers and relationships. Once the patient is able to understand how their behaviors are affecting their lives, they can then work towards ways to change their habits. Additionally, therapy can teach patients techniques for time management such as setting appointments, sticking to a busy routine, staying on task, and minimizing distractions.

Another common myth about attention deficit disorder in adults is that individuals who constantly do things like watching TV, exercising, eating, playing video games, etc. are unable to focus. While it is true that not everyone with ADHD has the ability to sit down and really focus on a task for more than a few seconds, these activities do not interfere with day-to-day activities and most people do plenty of multi-tasking. In fact, many people find that their ADD is actually a compliment to their skills and abilities rather than a handicap.

Also frequently believed, is that people with attention deficit disorder in adults will never be able to perform their daily tasks normally because their symptoms are either inattentive or hyperactive. While some symptoms may be present, many individuals who do have ADD actually have a combination of both traits. In other words, one symptom may be much more inattentive than hyperactivity. Also, while there is a difference between symptoms that occur inattention and hyperactivity, they are two separate disorders and often are not synonymous.

The third myth is that individuals with attention deficit disorder in adults do not experience any social relationships or do not get along with others. This is simply untrue. People who have ADD actually do interact with others in a number of ways including having regular social encounters and developing relationships. If someone has symptoms of ADD, however, they may feel that they are not good enough parents, teachers, or friends to develop good relationships. Because of this, many individuals with ADD are often shy and/or have a lack of social skills and may feel uncomfortable around others because of this.

Another common myth is that those with attention deficit disorder in adults are lazy and unmotivated. Again, this is simply not true. Many adults with ADD are very organized people and actually benefit from having a strong routine. In fact, they often find it more beneficial to stay home and complete school work on their own because of the increased level of self-work they receive.

As you can see, there are myths out there about attention deficit disorder in adults and the reality is that many people actually do suffer from this disorder. Anyone suffering from this disorder should seek treatment to try to gain control of their life and their health. If you do have this disorder, there are many things you can do to help yourself and your situation.

Cascia Talbert is a Catholic mother of five special needs kids. In 2018 she published the book, "Taking Care of Your Family's Health and Well-Being, Saints to Turn to and the Catholic Faith," available anywhere books are sold. She is also a professional flutist and an Avon Independent Sales Representative. You can learn more about Cascia on the following websites, cjsfunandgames.com and avoncrystallake.com. She lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband, children and Baby, the playful black kitty.

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