When a child has ADHD, the symptoms they display can vary from mild to severe, and they can be difficult to manage. As a result, having a child with ADHD can put a lot of stress on families, leading to relationship problems, increased conflict, and even higher rates of divorce and depression.
At home, the attention deficit symptoms of ADHD can mean that it is hard to keep on top of household organization. Chores can feel tedious, complex or boring, personal appointments can be missed, relaxing can be difficult and staying focused or motivated can be a problem.
How ADHD Affects Kids. ADHD causes kids to be more inattentive, hyperactive, and impulsive than is normal for their age. ADHD makes it harder for kids to develop the skills that control attention, behavior, emotions, and activity. As a result, they often act in ways that are hard for parents manage.
ADHD can make you forgetful and distracted. You're also likely to have trouble with time management because of your problems with focus. All of these symptoms can lead to missed due dates for work, school, and personal projects.
Because ADHD causes underlying problems with inhibition, self-regulation, and conscientiousness, leaving the condition untreated or insufficiently treated will cause most patients to fail in their efforts to live healthier lives.
People with ADHD live in a permanent present and have a hard time learning from the past or looking into the future to see the inescapable consequences of their actions. “Acting without thinking” is the definition of impulsivity, and one of the reasons that individuals with ADHD have trouble learning from experience.
It's a feeling of not being able to control your thoughts and actions no matter how much you want to. We lose our sense of concentration while thinking of other things that go through our ADHD brain. That's what it feels like, complex and full of challenges.
Adults (and even children) with ADHD are familiar with procrastination. These people have gotten used to putting off important assignments until the very last minute. Procrastinating ends with a stress-driven burst of energy, which is commonly not the healthiest way to operate.
Sensory overload can trigger meltdowns easily, especially when we cannot do something about it. When we are faced with intense or too much external stimuli, breakdowns can be hard to avoid.
Kids with ADHD can show signs in any or all these areas: Inattentive. Kids who are inattentive (easily distracted) have trouble focusing their attention, concentrating, and staying on task. They may not listen well to directions, may miss important details, and may not finish what they start.
Parents with ADHD may have trouble managing their emotional reactions when their children misbehave. And it's sometimes harder for them to pay attention to their kids' positive behaviors, which should be acknowledged and praised. Treatment can help with these issues as well.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can make it seem impossible to keep a tidy house. As a result, ADHDers might have messy and unorganized homes and find that the usual tips and tricks don't work for them.
Tolerating boring and unstructured situations at home can also be hard for kids with ADHD, and might lead to the kind of disruptive attention-seeking behaviors you're describing.
Treatment. Standard treatments for ADHD in adults typically involve medication, education, skills training and psychological counseling. A combination of these is often the most effective treatment.
For many individuals, ADHD impairments are made worse by their struggles with excessive anxiety, persistent depression, compulsive behaviors, difficulties with mood regulation, learning disorders, or other psychiatric disorders that may be transient, recurrent, or persistently disruptive of their ability to perform the ...
A lack of self-acceptance. Prohibitively expensive medications. Here, commiserate with fellow ADDitude readers as they share some of their biggest challenges of managing life with ADHD or ADD. > Creating rituals to keep track of things.
Common ADHD-Related Problems
Impulsive spending or overspending. Starting fights or arguing. Trouble maintaining friendships and romantic relationships. Speeding and dangerous driving.
Adults diagnosed with ADHD often blame themselves for their problems or view themselves in a negative light. This can lead to self-esteem issues, anxiety, or depression.
With ADHD, a child or teen may have rapid or impulsive speech, physical restlessness, trouble focusing, irritability, and, sometimes, defiant or oppositional behavior.
People with ADHD often describe their lives as feeling chaotic and out of control. They might seem careless because they're scrambling to find their phone or to pay that bill, but they're overwhelmed.
Restlessness and fidgety behavior associated with ADHD can be reduced by taking exercise breaks. Walking and running, and activities like yoga or meditation that incorporate deep breathing and mindfulness can be beneficial and induce relaxation and calm.