Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder develops during childhood, usually before the age of 6. To qualify for this diagnosis, you must have experienced symptoms of ADHD during childhood. Some children and adolescents don't get properly diagnosed or don't receive effective treatment. Even if you do receive effective treatment, symptoms can persist into adulthood. This disorder can create issues for adults at work and in social situations. If you have adult ADHD, you can get treatment including medication, individual counseling and family therapy to live a more normal life.
Step 1
Make a list of your main issues at work. If you wrote down things such as trouble concentrating on projects, difficulty paying attention during meetings, making careless mistakes, issues following directions and trouble staying organized, you might suffer from adult ADHD reports the mental health information website Helpguide.org. People who struggle with ADHD have relationship issues with their coworkers, often run late and forget important dates and appointments.
Step 2
Write down other difficulties that you have in social situations, with friends and family members and at home. If you included things such as acting recklessly, anger issues and trouble coping with stress, you could qualify for a diagnosis of ADHD, reports MayoClinic.com.
Step 3
Take three days during the work week to make notes on your mood and behavior each hour. Adults who struggle with boredom, irritability, mood swings, restlessness and low self-esteem sometimes suffer from ADHD. After the three-day period, look over your notes and see if you've been experiencing those things.
Step 4
Show a couple of trusted family members or friends a list of ADHD symptoms and ask them if you display those symptoms. Adults with ADHD often upset friends and family members by forgetting anniversaries and birthdays, constantly interrupting conversations and a lack of follow through on responsibilities. For instance, an adult with this disorder might forget to leave work on time to see his daughter's ballet performance, take out the trash and call his wife to let her know that he's running late.
Step 5
Seek the help of a mental health professional if you meet some of the above criteria. The only people qualified to diagnosis ADHD and other mental health disorders are doctors and mental health professionals such as social workers and psychologists.
Tips and Warnings
- The National Resource Center on ADHD reports that ADHD can range from mild to severe, and each person's symptoms differ. You don't have to experience all of the symptoms of the disorder to get diagnosed with ADHD.
- Some adults with ADHD who haven't received effective treatment self-medicate with alcohol and drugs, and they often don't realize that they suffer from a mental health disorder until they get treatment.
