26 Symptoms of Adult ADHD: Can You Relate?

Although each person is unique, there are many common signs of adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The symptoms of adult ADHD listed below aren’t only experienced by those with the diagnosis. The difference between having ADHD or not relates to the extent of the struggles and the ways it interferes with functioning. ADHD can cause significant challenges in relationships, employment, and self-esteem for people who are not adequately treated. ADHD symptoms in adults don’t cause occasional trouble concentrating or careless mistakes…that’s normal life. Attention and focus exist on a spectrum and anyone can experience problems to some degree. Read these 26 signs of adult ADHD to learn more and see if you can relate. read more

Side Effects of ADHD Medication in Adults: Watch For the Crash!

The goal of ADHD treatment with stimulant medications is to find a medication that is both effective and has no (or minimal) side effects. Sometimes it takes a couple of different medication trials before finding the best treatment. Most ADHD medication side effects in adults are minor but one side effect, “crashing”, can be so disruptive the person will have to switch medications or stop altogether.

Wondering if you or a loved one have ADHD? Take this free ADHD symptom test to help you recognize the signs and symptoms of Adult ADHD:  read more

ADHD and Sleep: 6 Things People With ADHD Can Do to Get More Sleep

Sleep is an essential ingredient for a fully functioning, well-performing brain. In particular, it can assist in boosting moods, increasing focus, improving concentration, and helping with general health and well-being. For people with ADHD, lack of sleep can contribute to an increase in the symptoms of ADHD.  Sleep and ADHD often don’t go well together-  difficulties with sleeping are common with ADHD. Get more sleep by using these 6 simple tips. ADHD and sleep problems don’t have to go hand in hand!

Are you concerned that ADHD may impact you or your loved one?  Take this free online test now:

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For a person on an effective ADHD stimulant medication, at times the medicine will seem to not work for a day. When we investigate, we discover that the medicine doesn’t feel like it is working when their sleep cycles are off. They are not getting restorative sleep. The “energy” of the medication goes to helping them wake up without enough left over effect to help them focus and concentrate.

ADHD and sleep problems: Is it a side effect?

Another important point about sleep and ADHD relates to side effects of stimulant medication. One of the side effects of stimulants is lack of sleep. Make sure you are not taking this medicine too late in the day. For most people, as long as it is taken in time, the levels will be low enough by bedtime not to interfere.

 

Here are six tips that can help people with ADHD get a sound night’s sleep. Which ones can you can adopt to improve your sleep?

 

1. Get more sleep by creating a habitual bedtime and wake-up routine

 

For better quality sleep, go to bed and wake up at a consistent time. This will help get your body and mind into a regular routine. Your body’s internal clock helps to regulate the sleep/wake cycles. Per the Sleep Advisor website, humans are natural cravers for consistency and this goes for your sleep schedule also. 

 

Routines can be even more important for those with ADHD. It is easy to get off task. Having a set pattern that is followed nightly can contribute to more consistent rest.

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2. Exercise is great to improve sleep in people with ADHD

 

Exercise isn’t only used to stay in shape, have good health, and overall well-being; it also lends itself to high-quality sleep. For people with ADHD, exercise improves the ability to focus and concentrate during the day. There is no shortage of benefits for exercise!

 

Don’t work out right before you get in bed as this will stimulate the brain and body, making it harder to sleep. Instead, exercise earlier in the day. This will help you drift off more easily at bedtime and will also assist you to stay asleep once you get to sleep.

 

3. ADHD and sleep: Leave hyperfocus activities for the daytime

 

To enjoy a sound sleep, any hyperfocus activities should be kept away from the evening’s activities. Hyperfocusing, as many with ADHD will be aware, can be especially tough to disengage from, leaving a smooth transition into bed unlikely.

 

It’s worth bearing in mind that it isn’t just people with ADHD who can find themselves getting sucked into hyperfocusing instead of going to sleep. This is easy to do with the use of smart devices such as phones, computers, and tablets.

 

Remedy the temptations by eliminating them from your bedroom. That means

no television, no scrolling through social media on your mobile phone, or watching Netflix on your tablet read more

Top Books on Executive Functioning Disorder

The last 2 posts I wrote are geared to empower people to take charge of their executive function skills (or help guide their loved one to do the same). In this post, I will cover my top recommendations for books to increase executive functioning strategies. Books on executive functioning disorder can provide new ideas for how to work more efficiently, effectively and make navigating life easier. This post includes recommendations for executive functioning books targeting 4 different groups: adults, parents, teens, and children.

Are you concerned that ADHD may impact you or your loved one?  Take this free online test now:

 

Make sure to review the last posts full of definitions and helpful suggestions to get you started:

 

Executive Functioning Skills: Do You Have Them?

The Ultimate Guide: 15 Tips to Improve Executive Functioning Disorder

Recommendations for executive functioning books:

Books to help with executive functioning strategies for ADULTS:

It is not too late to develop new habits and work through what gets you stuck. These books will help you with new ideas for organizing and working through the challenges of executive dysfunction as an adult. The constant demands of life aren’t going to go away but don’t have to feel forever challenging.

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A year of reminder prompts delivered monthly to your inbox.

I created a series of monthly email reminders so you don’t forget and lose sight of your goals. Get a year of prompts delivered monthly to your inbox. For FREE!

 

These prompts will serve as a reminder to check-in and give you questions to walk through to assess your progress. Think of this as a built-in safety net to help you stop and reset if you need to.

 

To sign up for the monthly reminder prompts fill in your email here and they will be sent to you once each month.

PARENTS: How to help your child with executive functioning disorder….and stay sane

Parenting a child with executive functioning challenges can be incredibly frustrating at times. Everything takes longer to get done. That new jacket you bought them? Water bottle? Lunchbox? Yup, they are lost.

 

As parents, we get tired of repeating the same things over and over again. Nagging doesn’t feel good for us or our children. It isn’t a helpful way to guide them. These books will provide new ways of thinking and conceptualizing your children’s strengths and weaknesses. It is much easier to be patient if we understand our child isn’t just willfully refusing to pick up the toys in their room.

 

Executive skills weaknesses can lead to low self-esteem and a “better not to try than fail” attitude. The skills learned in these books can begin turning that around. Let’s help our children shift the focus from the negative to the positive and help them take advantage of all the wonderful things about themselves.

 

Kids with executive dysfunction struggle with many basic tasks in life. These books will give you concrete tools and ideas to help strengthen executive skills. The added bonus will be to hopefully reduce stress levels in the house.

 

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TEENS: Learning new executive function skills

The teen years are a critical time to learn executive function skills in order to get organized. The demands in school increase and students are now expected to juggle assignments and deadlines on their own.

 

Teens need to manage backpacks filled with multiple binders, remember expectations from different teachers, bring the right books home to complete the right homework, AND on top of it they have to actually turn in their assignments! AHHHH- this can feel so overwhelming to a teen with an executive functioning disorder.

 

Teens can start to feel quite stressed and become worried about their ability to manage the demands of college. High school is a great time to work on and develop the study habits that can carry them into college and increase their chance to feel successful with what they set out to do.

 

I highly recommend these books as great resources for teens with executive functioning disorder to learn effective time management skills, create the optimal study environment, and improve study skills overall. Get practicing!

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Books on executive functioning for CHILDREN: read more

The Ultimate Guide: 15 Tips to Improve Executive Function Disorder

Are you someone that struggles to stay organized? Has trouble following projects through to completion or even getting started? Is chronically late and forgets things that need to be done? Challenges with executive functions can wreak havoc but there are tools that can help compensate. Read my first post in this series for detail about executive functioning skills and executive dysfunction symptoms. This 2nd post covers options for executive function disorder treatment…or at least tips to create workarounds that can make life easier.

Are you concerned that ADHD may impact you or your loved one?  Take this free online test now:

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It is never too late to be what you might have been.

– George Eliot

With executive function disorder it’s a challenge to start using tools:

Planning and organization can be overwhelming so it can feel unpleasant to try to use tools. This is not something that “comes naturally” to people who have deficits in their executive functioning skills.

 

Many people with deficits in executive functions are uninterested in spending time organizing and planning.  They may already feel behind or under pressure, so sitting down and planning out steps can seem like a waste of time.

 

However, even if they hate it I think most would admit that they could use some help and that the deficits in executive functioning skills are causing stress in their life.

 

If getting things done feels like a never-ending struggle and you wonder how to ever catch up I encourage you to read on and see if you can try ONE tool to start with.

Tips and tools to help with executive dysfunction symptoms:

1. Use checklists:

Checklists are the most basic of organizing techniques and possibly the most helpful. People with executive function disorder have a poor working memory which makes it hard to remember tasks.

 

Keep track of what needs to be done with a list instead of holding it in your head. Making a list can feel insurmountable for some people with executive dysfunction symptoms so they may attempt to just remember everything that needs to be done. Except for the most gifted of us, this is a recipe for dropping the ball and forgetting responsibilities.

 

In your list, try to define the steps that are necessary in order to complete a task. This can make it less overwhelming to start tackling the item.

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2. Pick 5 top things to get done each day

Can you write down the 5 top things that need to happen today? Get a blank piece of paper and write your 5 must-do tasks on the top half and bonus tasks on the bottom. Fold the paper in half so you only see the bonus tasks after you finish the top half.

Made-for-you planners to write your top 5 tasks on:

If you are a visual person and want to organize everything on one page check out these daily or weekly planners. I love these planners! They create an already laid out structure that can make getting started easier. For some people, looking at a blank piece of paper will be enough to stop them from organizing.

 

Each planner has tear-off pages for an overview of to-do’s. See which planner fits for your needs better. I like the weekly one that includes both work and home life to-do’s and has additional boxes for self-care and gratitude. I like that I can jot down my 5 must-do things ahead of time, especially if I know something is coming up later in the week that I don’t want to forget.

 

These planners will help you work on your to-do lists, what is needed for each day of the week, and work on life balancing. Don’t get weekly planners if you get overwhelmed looking at more than one day at a time and instead try the blank paper idea I mentioned above or the daily tear-off planner. DO get the weekly planner if seeing the whole week laid out is helpful.: [amazon_link asins=’B0189G4M7I,B00UM47Y08,B0189G3AYE’ template=’ProductGrid’ store=’drmelissawelb-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’d587874a-bd8c-11e8-80b1-89ee020616e6′]

3. Do what you are dreading first

Is there a particular task you are dreading? Do that first! Tackling a task that is causing you angst will free you up to focus on other tasks that you aren’t worried about. Don’t keep transferring that task to a new day. If the dreaded task sits around on your list it may cause you to avoid even looking at the list. Dreaded tasks can be progress stoppers!

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4. Don’t overdo the lists!

Some people overdo it and make long lists which then serve to overwhelm them instead of reducing stress. If a list is so cumbersome that it inspires repulsion it is not going to have the effect that we are going for.

5. Write down daily routines

Checklists aren’t just for projects but can help with daily routines. Spend less time trying to recreate what has to be done each day. It can be helpful to make a list of the morning routine or bedtime rituals. Or steps to take when you are about to leave work for the day. Think about where you waste energy trying to remember things (or where you find yourself forgetting steps) and start with a list for that.

6. Use apps to automate your lists and routines read more

Executive Functioning Skills: Do You Have Them?

Calling it executive functioning makes these skills sound fancy, complicated, and only for the most sophisticated among us. But really executive functions are automatic skills that run in the background and are in charge of helping life run smoothly. They help us in almost all we do every day.  Regardless of how bright a person is, struggles with executive functioning (called executive dysfunction) will make it difficult to stay on top of tasks. Executive function deficits are often seen in ADHD, learning disabilities, and depression.

Are you concerned that ADHD may impact you or your loved one?  Take this free online test now:

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Executive functions are mental skills that help us regulate ourselves and accomplish what we set out to do: to set goals and then plan out how to accomplish the goal by prioritizing tasks. At the same time, we need to remember what to do, manage our time, motivate to get started, not lose our belongings, and sustain the effort to finish what we start. Executive functioning skills are essential for smooth management of life.

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Using executive functions to get out of the house each day:

Picture a task as “simple” as waking up and getting out of the house each day. Many of us don’t even think twice about what goes into this because much of what we do is automatic and habitual. But these steps actually require high-level executive functions for planning and organization.

 

We need to have a sense of how much time we have until we leave, remember what we need to get done, ration that time so we can accomplish the steps needed (brush teeth, shower, get dressed, eat breakfast, make lunch, gather belongings needed for the day), self-monitor our progress and make adjustments on the fly.

 

Imagine being an adult with executive dysfunction and add on children to the mix. In addition to planning and organizing your own day, you need to do the same for your kids to get them out the door on time. And because kids are…. kids they often do things that throw a monkey-wrench into the best-planned routines.

Executive functioning: Our personal guide

Executive functions are our personal guide, always working in the background to keep us on track. It is like having an invisible executive administrative assistant that silently guides us throughout our day helping life to run smoothly.

 

Imagine if we hire a business manager that has no experience or skills? Obviously, our business will struggle for a while. Lots of tasks will fall through the cracks while they are learning skills.

 

If our guide is struggling we will notice difficulty in our daily management of tasks.

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Each executive function skill helps us:

  • Plan
  • Organize
  • Set goals
  • Prioritize
  • Make Decisions
  • Remember things
  • Keep track of our belongings
  • Control emotions
  • Shift from one task to another
  • Manage time
  • Control impulsivity
  • Learn from past mistakes
  • Monitor and self-regulate
  • Sustain effort
  • Finish a task

What can happen with executive dysfunction?

Since so many of our day to day tasks use our executive functioning skills it isn’t hard to imagine the struggles that can happen when there are challenges in this area. Many of the automatic parts of life become effortful. Getting through daily tasks can feel monumental.

Executive function deficits can cause:

  • Increased disorganization
  • Taking a long time to complete simple tasks
  • Getting easily overwhelmed
  • Regularly losing or forgetting items
  • Difficulty with maintaining a clean working space, room, desk
  • Frequently late due to disorganization and poor time management
  • Difficulty shifting from one task to the next
  • Problems with prioritizing needs and wants
  • Emotional dysregulation causing easy frustration or anger
  • Struggles with organizing thoughts enough to write, follow and solve multi-step problems,
  • Challenges with completing assignments and handing in homework

Can executive function change over time?

A child with executive functioning challenges hasn’t reached full capacity yet. In their teenage years, as their brain develops (specifically their frontal lobe), their executive functioning abilities will develop more.

 

This is important because it means a child who has ADHD and executive function deficits may find they struggle less as they age since they can gain increased executive functioning. They may then be able to compensate for some of the challenges that come with ADHD.

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If someone doesn’t fully grow out of executive function deficits there are ways to develop “workarounds”. Plans can be put in place to help compensate and assist if one’s natural skills need some work.

So what do you do if your executive function skills need support?

There are tools that can be used to help accommodate challenges. Many tasks can be automated so they don’t need to be remembered. Delegating other tasks can free a person up to focus on the parts of life they must be directly involved with.

 

For example, some people struggle with remembering to pay bills.  It can be worth the money to hire someone to manage this task. The cost will be offset by the lack of late fees, high-interest charges, and penalties the person previously had to pay.

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The next post in this series on executive functioning is about 15 skills and strategies to help compensate for executive dysfunction. People with executive function deficits can overcome their challenges! They are not resigned to chronic disorganization and being late. Life for people with executive dysfunction can feel a bit more smooth by making slow and steady changes and instituting helpful support systems.

 

What has helped you stay organized and overcome executive functioning challenges? Share your tips so others can benefit!

Executive functioning book recommendations: read more

14 Benefits of ADHD

When determining if someone meets criteria for ADHD we focus on what a person is struggling with and what isn’t working for them. For people with ADHD, the symptoms are significant and interfere with their ability to function. The symptoms of ADHD don’t generally enhance self-esteem or make someone feel on top of the world. Oftentimes, people with ADHD suffer from self-esteem issues; repeatedly feeling like a failure or feeling shame for struggling with seemingly simple tasks. Self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy can follow. So how is it possible that there are benefits of ADHD? I know you may be skeptical, but there ARE positive traits of ADHD! Let me tell you about 14 ADHD benefits.

Are you concerned that ADHD may impact you or your loved one?  Take this free online test now:

 

Keep in mind, the diagnosis of ADHD doesn’t happen when people have trouble concentrating or make careless mistakes….sometimes. No, we all do that! ADHD greatly impacts many facets of life: school, friendships, relationships, jobs. It is not just an occasional “off” day. ADHD is a developmental brain disorder as real as dyslexia and autism.

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The strengths of people with ADHD:

Once diagnosed with ADHD, the focus can shift from what isn’t working and onto enhancing strengths and harnessing positive solutions. The key is leveraging these strengths to overcome challenges. The positive traits of ADHD can help balance out some of the challenges.

What positive traits of ADHD do you have?

Identifying your strengths is the first step to being able to enhance them. What are your strengths? Hopefully reading this list will help give you more ideas.

14 ADHD benefits:

1. Resilience:

Overcoming challenges takes resilience and perseveration and people with ADHD have had plenty of practice pushing past setbacks and picking themselves up when they fall. Pain is unpleasant but can lead to great things like mental resilience. Resilience is a key trait for mental well-being and is one of the major ADHD benefits.

2. Creative:

Out-of-the-box thinkers that have increased idea generation; people with ADHD can come up with creative solutions that others may not see. They can bring energy and new approaches to their projects, and be a continual source of new ideas, methods, and strategies.

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3. Perceptive:

Lack of focus can mean there is more chance to be aware of changes in your surroundings that others may miss. People without ADHD may filter out what is going on around them assuming it is not important and inadvertently miss information that is relevant. A person with ADHD may be the first to pick up on these subtle shifts.

4. Adaptive:

People with ADHD are used to trying something and having to change directions to find a different way to make it work; adopting new strategies when other strategies aren’t working. Most schools don’t play to the strengths of a person with ADHD so they have had to be adaptive and creative with learning from a young age. Adaptability is one of the major benefits of ADHD.

5. Express emotion:

Emotions tend to be strong and straightforward. This tendency to share how one is feeling can help process feelings quickly and move forward. Sure, sometimes a person with ADHD may have to do some damage control if an emotion is blurted out in a way that isn’t “interpersonally effective”. But at least the information is put out there to work with and process.

6. Impulsivity:

Yes, impulsivity can be a challenge but it can also be an asset and one of the positive traits of ADHD. People with ADHD tend to look at potential gains rather than getting paralyzed weighing pros/cons. They can be more willing to take risks. Quick reactions can lead to positive actions.

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7. Funny, humorous:

Using humor is a great tool to cope with difficult situations. People with ADHD have gotten plenty of practice with this and can be feisty, funny, quick thinkers.

8. Empathic and compassionate:

Having experienced challenges in life can lead to a greater understanding of other’s challenges. This breeds kindness towards others, warmth, empathy, and a sense of humility.

9. Multitasking: read more

Kids with ADHD: A 10-year-old’s experience

I am 10 years old and I am diagnosed with ADHD. Let me tell you about kids with ADHD, ADHD symptoms in kids, and what medication for ADHD is like to take. ADHD medication for children can be helpful. It's OK to be diagnosed with ADHD- let me tell you why!

I Have ADHD

Lots of people in this world have ADHD. For one, I have it. I am 10 years old and I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was 8. I am in 4th grade now. In 3rd grade, I started to take medication for ADHD. Kids with ADHD are everywhere!

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When I was first diagnosed with ADHD I was nervous because I didn’t understand what it meant. Now I know it is just the way my brain works and I need a little extra help to be able to focus and make good decisions.

ADHD symptoms in kids: What I do

I tend to interrupt people, grab stuff from people, and poke them. My teachers would yell at me in school for not listening and for distracting my classmates by talking to them during class. This gets me in trouble all the time! On the weekend, I am always hitting my sisters and fooling around with them (but not in a good way). Sometimes I start fights with them. I can’t hold it back!

ADHD medication for children: I take it!

I take medication to stay focused in school and not talk a lot in math. I take medication in the morning and after lunch too. It’s ok to take medication for ADHD. It helps a lot of people to stay focused and not talk when we are not supposed to.

 

Medication for ADHD helps me to be able to think and concentrate. For me, ADHD made it hard to pay attention in math, reading, and to stay on task.

Kids with ADHD: I used to think I didn’t know how to read

I used to think I didn’t know how to read, but really, I was reading too fast. I wasn’t paying attention to the book because I was skipping too many words. When the teacher asked a question I didn’t know the answer because I couldn’t understand what I was reading. I just didn’t get it.

 

In 2nd grade, I had extra reading help to make me a stronger reader. I thought it was a little embarrassing for me to be the only one in my class that needed reading help. I went to a different classroom with a reading teacher. He was nice and funny and taught me to be a stronger reader! It was fun!

 

When I was getting help from the reading teacher, he had a special ruler that only let me see the words I was reading. This helped me focus on what I was reading and I would not skip lines.

Here is the ruler I used to help me. Maybe this ruler can help you read better too! [amazon_link asins=’B00CQATF08′ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’drmelissawelb-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’434675cf-1f17-11e8-913c-61d70b69ad06′]

If I don’t have my ruler with me I still use my finger to keep on track when I am reading a chapter book.

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I’m actually a good reader!

Now that I take medication it helps me focus better on the words in the book. I realized I am actually a good reader! I pay more attention to the book I am reading and can mostly remember what is going on in the book. My focus is a lot better even though I still mess up time to time on some of the words or add in extra words that aren’t there.

 

I even like reading now and before I hated it. I read at night before bed because it helps me to settle down. My favorite books are comic books. I love reading them! These are my favorite series: [amazon_link asins=’1338045644,0545766389,0545326990,1612623964′ template=’ProductCarousel’ store=’drmelissawelb-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’ba7b5fef-22e6-11e8-baa1-b135a517d7db’]

If you are diagnosed with ADHD:

If you are diagnosed with ADHD DON’T WORRY!!! Getting treatment will help you like it did for me. Lots of people have ADHD. You are not the only one who has it!

 

Looking for ADHD resources or to read more about ADHD?

Check out these posts:

The Top 10 Books About ADHD by Dr. Melissa Welby

4 Myths About ADHD in Adults by Dr. Melissa Welby

Behavioral Medications and Kids: What you need to know by Dr. Nerissa Bauer

Final Thoughts on ADHD Medications by Dr. Kristen Stuppy

To get the 5 BEST Apps for ADHD, enter your info below!

 

4 Myths About ADHD in Adults

ADHD myths can get in the way of people seeking treatment. Adult ADHD can cause significant challenges in relationships, employment, and self-esteem for people who are not adequately treated. Don't fall for the myths about ADHD. ADHD is a genetically inherited disorder.

ADHD myths can get in the way of people seeking treatment and contribute to the stigma against people with ADHD. According to the National Institutes of Health, approximately 4.4% of US adults have ADHD although less than 11% receive treatment. Myths and stigma play a role in the huge discrepancy between the number of people with ADHD and the number with ADHD that receive treatment. Adult ADHD can cause significant challenges in relationships, employment, and self-esteem for people who are not adequately treated.

Are you concerned that ADHD may impact you or your loved one?  Take this free online test now:

Conventional wisdom used to say the majority of people with childhood ADHD will outgrow it. However, the truth is that up to 85% of children with ADHD continue to experience significant symptoms into adulthood. Hyperactive and impulsive behaviors may decrease with age; but restlessness, distractibility, and inattention often continue into adulthood.

Adult ADHD Myth #1: Most adults grow out of ADHD

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Executive functioning (the ability to plan, get organized, and manage time) is often impaired in adults with ADHD who frequently struggle with prioritizing and managing daily activities. Executive functioning deficits can significantly impair academic and career success.

ADDitude magazine describes executive functioning deficits in adult ADHD as:

“When a person’s executive functions fail, he has trouble analyzing, planning, organizing, scheduling, and completing tasks. People with EFD commonly lack the ability to handle frustration, start and finish tasks, recall and follow multi-step directions, stay on track, self monitor, and balance priorities. Fixing the area of deficit is key to fixing academic or occupational difficulties. Common signs and symptoms of EFD in adults include:

 

  • Forgetting to complete tasks
  • Inability to keep track of personal items like keys and cell phones
  • Trouble following conversations
  • Losing train of thought
  • Difficulty remembering steps in a multi-step processes
  • Inability to remember names
  • Often late
  • Problems breaking big projects into steps
  • Trouble meeting deadlines
  • Unable to multitask
  • Difficulty remembering abbreviations and acronyms”.

Individuals with ADHD can develop coping and organizing strategies that help manage and control symptoms. Some people are able to compensate for their ADHD by using coping strategies and don’t need medication. Others need medication in order to be organized enough to use the strategies that will help them.

 

Get a year of reminder prompts delivered monthly to your inbox.

I created a series of monthly email reminders so you don’t forget and lose sight of your goals. Get a year of prompts delivered monthly to your inbox. For FREE! These prompts will serve as a reminder to check-in and give you questions to walk through to assess your progress. Think of this as a built-in safety net to help you stop and reset if you need to.

 

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Adult ADHD Myth #2: Adult ADHD isn’t a big deal. Get over it!

Many adults with ADHD struggle in work and relationships. ADHD can cause significant dysfunction in peoples live’s. This dysfunction can be minimized with treatment.

People with Adult ADHD can struggle with:

  • Paying their bills on time,
  • Procrastination of tasks that aren’t engaging,
  • Talking over people,
  • Not being a good listener,
  • Being forgetful,
  • Impulsivity,
  • Poor self-esteem resulting from a lifetime of feeling they can’t measure up or that they are “stupid”,
  • Frequent feelings of shame and frustration,
  • Emotional volatility and defensiveness,
  • Chronic underachievement,
  • Insecurity and depression.

 

The divorce rate with ADHD is higher than in the general population. The tendency for the partner with ADHD to become distracted is a constant source of conflict in relationships. Studies have shown a high level of distress in 60% of marriages where one spouse has ADHD. Adults with ADHD are twice as likely to get divorced.

 

As an aside: there is a great book written about the effect of ADHD on a marriage. This book not only explains what happens when a spouse has ADHD but also gives helpful tools necessary for the relationship to thrive. Here is an excerpt and explanation from the author of this book. [amazon_link asins=’B005MRBEAG’ template=’ProductAd’ store=’drmelissawelb-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’66f2d060-0f1c-11e8-ace1-f17cd05e279e’]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This article talks about ADHD’s effect on parenting. A parent with ADHD may have challenges with self-regulation, motivation, and various cognitive processes. This can lead to issues where the parent has difficulty modeling effective behavioral control and emotional responsiveness to their children.

Adult ADHD Myth #3: ADHD is over-diagnosed

Many adults with ADHD never received the diagnosis as children. In the past, ADHD wasn’t identified unless people were disruptive enough to necessitate an evaluation. Parents, whose children get diagnosed with ADHD, often then recognize the signs in themselves.

 

The inattentive type of ADD is likely underdiagnosed. Often people with the inattentive form of ADD escape identification. They are generally not disruptive or hyperactive. Because they don’t call attention to themselves people may not notice they are underperforming. Also, if they are academically gifted, they may be able to get away with their disorganization and lack of executive functioning skills while in school. Sometimes ADHD isn’t identified until the person is struggling to get their work done in college, in their career, or having conflicts in their relationship.

 

People often think of ADHD as a male problem. This can lead to females with ADHD not being noticed. Females with ADHD are almost 2x as likely to have the inattentive form which makes it easier to miss.

 

ADHD Myth #4:  ADHD isn’t real read more

Top 10 books about ADHD

 

I’m frequently asked about what books I recommended on different mental health topics so I decided to compile a list of these books on my website. In this post, I will highlight my recommendations for the best ADHD books. There are many great ADHD books written but these are some of my favorites. These books about ADHD will benefit parents trying to help their children understand the diagnosis, couples struggling in their relationship because of the effects of ADHD, and adults with ADHD wanting to learn about executive dysfunction and be more aware of the ways ADHD has affected their lives.

My top recommendations for books on ADHD:

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The 2 best ADHD books to help your relationship:

ADHD can be tough on a relationship. These two ADHD books are a good place to start for more understanding about its effects and helpful solutions. These books about ADHD are helpful both for the person with ADHD and their partner. If your relationship is strained as a result of a partner’s ADHD read these books for practical advice on how to rebuild and reconnect:

 

1. The ADHD Effect on Marriage: Understand and Rebuild Your Relationship in Six Steps,

2. Is it You, Me or Adult ADD? [amazon_link asins=’1886941971,0981548709′ template=’ProductGrid’ store=’drmelissawelb-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’8603a35b-cf09-11e7-aab9-0d7091fdf58a’]

The effects of growing up with ADHD:

 

Growing up with ADHD can impact self-esteem and feelings about one’s competency and self-worth. It wasn’t until recently that adult ADHD was more widely recognized as a real disorder. In the past, only kids with hyperactive and disruptive ADHD symptoms were recognized and treated. This has left generations of adults with little understanding of why things were harder for them. This ADHD book is for you:

 

3. You mean I’m not Lazy, Stupid, or Crazy?! [amazon_link asins=’0743264487′ template=’ProductGrid’ store=’drmelissawelb-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’9e38b07d-cf09-11e7-a785-cd7c6d8344c6′]

ADHD book full of resources:

This book is a classic and was ahead of its time in introducing the topic of ADHD to millions of people. It is a great resource to help understand ADHD, coping strategies, myths, and treatment options:

 

4. Driven to Distraction [amazon_link asins=’0307743152′ template=’ProductGrid’ store=’drmelissawelb-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’b8706b71-cf09-11e7-9f96-259daaff3646′]

The best ADHD books to overcome executive dysfunction:

Executive functioning read more