How to Know If You Have ADHD

Many people have ADHD without even realizing it, until the symptoms interfere with their coping skills. Fortunately, there are treatment options to help you manage the symptoms and reduce the impact of them on your life.

Symptoms of ADHD typically appear during childhood and continue throughout life. If you have ADHD, it’s important to get a diagnosis from a doctor or other trained healthcare provider so you can receive the right care.

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms, including how long they have been occurring and whether they are affecting your life. Then, they may administer a series of tests to assess your symptoms and determine if you have ADHD.

You might notice that your attention is off kilter or that you’re losing track of something. This might occur in the context of your day-to-day activities, or it might be a sign of a deeper problem, such as depression or anxiety.

If you’re not able to focus on what’s in front of you, this can be frustrating and lead to distractions and poor performance. For example, if you’re working on a project that requires lots of concentration, you might miss a few things or take longer than usual to complete it.

When you’re unable to focus for any extended period of time, this can cause problems at work, in school, and with friends or family members. For example, you might forget to show up for a meeting or you might spend too much time on your computer instead of doing your homework.

Inattention is one of the most common signs of ADHD. You might find it hard to pay attention to a book or movie, or you might not notice when your friend’s dog hasn’t come in from the yard yet.

Hyperactivity is another symptom of ADHD, and it can be especially noticeable in children. You might find yourself jumping around in a room or wearing someone else out with your constant activity.

Impulsivity is another common symptom of ADHD, and it can be difficult to avoid impulsive actions. For example, you might feel the need to interrupt others in conversations or to yell or scream when your feelings are hurt.

If you’ve been diagnosed with ADHD, it’s important to seek treatment early so you can live a happier and healthier life. Treatments can include medication, therapy, and counseling.

You might be able to participate in clinical trials to learn more about treatment. These studies are often conducted by researchers at NIMH and other organizations to discover new therapies for a range of conditions.

Some of these trials involve patients with ADHD and healthy volunteers to help find treatments that are effective for both. If you’re considering joining a clinical trial, talk to your doctor about the potential benefits and risks of participating in a research study.

Relapse Prevention

If you have ADHD, it’s important that you learn to recognize your symptoms and the factors that contribute to relapses. You can then take steps to prevent a relapse from happening. You can also work on building a support network of friends and family.