What are common emotions and behaviors of adults with ADHD?

Adults with ADHD commonly experience various emotions and behaviors that can affect their daily life, work, and relationships. These include impulsivity, hyperactivity, and inattention, which are the hallmark symptoms of ADHD. Impulsivity can lead to taking risks, speaking without thinking, and interrupting others. Hyperactivity may manifest as restlessness, fidgeting, and being easily distracted. Inattention may lead to forgetfulness, distractibility, and difficulty with organization and completing tasks.

In addition to these core symptoms, adults with ADHD may also experience other challenges, such as chronic lateness, procrastination, poor time management, low frustration tolerance, and difficulty managing anger. They may struggle with mood swings, have trouble maintaining healthy relationships, and experience low self-esteem due to a lifetime of disappointment and failures.

It is important to note that not all individuals with ADHD will exhibit the same symptoms, and symptoms can vary in severity and frequency depending on the situation. 

After a comprehensive evaluation, your provider may determine your symptoms are rooted in a disorder other than ADHD. The good news is that whatever your symptoms, your provider will help you gain relief from your symptoms and help you return to a productive and fulfilling life.

Symptoms of inattention

• Often makes careless mistakes and lacks attention to details. Example: messy, disorganized work.
• Often has difficulty paying attention to tasks. Example: difficulty staying focused during meetings, lengthy readings, or conversations.
• Often seems to not listen when spoken to directly. Example: mind seems somewhere else, even in the absence of obvious distraction.
• Often fails to follow through on instructions, chores, or appointments. Example: starts tasks, but quickly loses focus and is easily sidetracked.
• Often easily distracted. Example: often thinking of unrelated thoughts
• Often has difficulty organizing tasks and activities. Example: difficulty prioritizing; fails to meet deadlines; poor time management.
• Often avoids, dislikes, or is reluctant to participate in tasks requiring sustained mental effort. Example: avoids work, school, or home tasks (procrastinates) in favor of activities with immediate rewards. Often loses things Example: loses or misplaces things like keys, glasses, wallets, and cell phones
• Often forgetful in daily activities. Example: forgets regular activities like paying bills on-time, returning phone calls, keeping appointments, and running errands

Symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity

• Often fidgets with or taps hands and feet or squirms in seat. Example: may also need to hold or fiddle with an object.
• Often leaves seat when remaining seated is expected. Example: frequently leaves their workspace to complete “other” tasks.
• Often unable to participate in leisurely activities quietly. Example: family tension due to constant activity.
• Often acts as if “on the go” or “driven by a motor”. Example: uncomfortable being still for extended time at restaurants or meetings.
• Often talks excessively. Example: wants to “say it” or risk forgetting a thought.
• Often blurts out an answer before a question has been fully asked. Example: completes people’s sentences; cannot wait for turn in conversation.
• Often has difficulty waiting his or her turn. Example: trouble waiting in lines or waiting rooms.
• Often interrupts or intrudes on others. Examples: intrudes on conversations, games, or activities; may start using other people’s things without asking or getting permission.

How ADHD may appear in different settings

Symptoms must be present in two or more settings for a diagnosis of ADHD to be made.

Home

• Forgets regular activities like paying bills on-time, returning phone calls, keeping appointments, and running errands
• Loses or misplaces things like keys, glasses, wallets, and cell phones
• Avoids tasks (procrastinates) in favor of activities with immediate rewards such as watching TV or surfing the internet

Work or school

• Trouble getting organized, i.e. trouble prioritizing or getting started; often missing deadlines; poor time management skills; often late to appointments
• Trouble sitting still with frequent need to leave meetings or classes
• Fails to pay close attention to details or makes careless mistakes

Social

• Often failing to follow through with commitments
• Difficulty staying on topic during discussions
• Avoiding social activities in favor of staying home
• Changing personal relationships frequently
• Frequently interrupting conversations or speaking without thinking of the consequences

ADHD symptoms may appear differently in adulthood

ADHD can be a lifelong condition yet symptoms in adults may be less noticeable than those in children (ages 6-17), though they are just as important to identify. For example, symptoms of hyperactivity in children, such as climbing or running excessively, may appear in adults as a feeling of restlessness.