Did you think ADHD belonged to children? Think Again | Israel Hayom

While the effect of ADHD on children is well known, it turns out that the effect of ADHD is actually more acute in adulthood and causes difficulties in every area.

New studies, recently presented at the World Organization for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder conference held in Amsterdam, found that adults with ADHD have three times the risk of divorce, a higher risk of dismissal and difficulty maintaining a job. 80% of adults with ADHD do not have a degree certificate, have more difficulties in creating intimacy, have a higher risk of addictions, and 50-70% suffer from anxiety or depression.

The main study was conducted in Prague and included more than 1,000 adults with attention disorders, aged 18-65 (half women and half men). The study found that those who reported severe symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder reported an unhealthy lifestyle, poor diet, cannabis use and more than others.

Many additional studies were presented at the conference and reflected a bleak picture of the severe consequences of ADHD in adults, in all aspects of life.

What is it about ADHD that causes marital difficulties and increases the risk of divorce? The statistic has been proven by research, and the path to divorce is accompanied by difficulties that come with ADHD: the spouse (or spouse) does not listen, is disorganized and unorganized, seeks more excitement and it is difficult to maintain relationships over time because you get bored quickly.

In terms of the claim that adults with ADHD experience more difficulties in their financial situation, ADHD makes it difficult to keep one job because those who suffer from ADHD tend to get bored quickly, do not get along with those in authority, and are not good at bureaucracy and documents, which are also a necessary criterion for success in financial management.

Struggling to keep up with work, Photo: GettyImages

Economic situation

Adults with ADHD have more financial difficulties, such as reaching financial goals or income information, or taking care of bills/forms, and would rather have someone else take care of their financial affairs. And they really need help there.

Marital violence

There is more risk of violent relationships in a relationship with a partner with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The causes: impulsivity and difficulty in emotional regulation. In addition to the high risk of drug and alcohol use. It is important to know that proper treatment of ADHD lowers the risk.

sleep

The data indicate that about 75% of children and attention professionals suffer from sleep difficulties. The cause is physiological. The sleep hormone (melatonin) is secreted about three hours later. It also causes later difficulty getting up in the morning and little sleep. This is particularly problematic because sleep is the most important thing for our health. It is recommended to darken the room and sleeping area towards evening, this helps the secretion of melatonin.

Congenital disorder

One of the most important things in understanding ADHD is the fact that ADHD is congenital. You are born with a slightly different brain structure and less dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is the hormone responsible for attention and is also related to sleep, diet, addictions, allergies, and various diseases.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder accompanies the person throughout life. Not only in studies and school, as is commonly thought, but in every area of life and the difficulty is reflected in all aspects.

Women of Attention

Another worrying finding revealed at the conference found that the common age for diagnosing boys is 7, while the common age for diagnosing girls is 17. The finding has many implications as young girls are missed, undiagnosed, and lack of diagnosis has negative consequences.

In girls, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder manifests itself differently. They don't run around the classroom, but that doesn't mean they're attentive to the lesson. In fact, they can hover throughout school hours without picking up anything. This causes them to outperform their potential, and will often be reprimanded and accused of laziness. The way the disorder manifests itself in girls may be more comfortable, but the price they pay is high: they may fall between the chairs and suffer more disappointment and frustration.

The consequences of the delay in diagnosis do not end with the score sheet. Such a delay entails a higher risk of low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, feelings of frustration, headaches and stomach aches, and eating disorders.

Additional studies presented have shown that in adulthood women have a 6-fold risk of unwanted pregnancies, because women with ADHD tend to forget the contraceptive pill more frequently. What's more, premenstrual women will suffer more from depression, anxiety and more. The state of hormones is different and therefore a different treatment/drug dosage for ADHD should also be considered.

What to do?

The importance of diagnosis is critical. The precise diagnosis and correct treatment are life-changing. It is important to see a specialist and undergo a comprehensive diagnosis and receive personalized treatment and close accompaniment in order to prevent the cycle of terror felt by most ADHD sufferers.

Dr. Shirley Hershko is a senior expert in the field of attention. Researcher and author, lecturer at the Hebrew University, owner of an institute for diagnosis and treatment, behind her 4 successful books (among them the bestseller, "People of Attention").

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