Impact of adult ADHD on relationship

Many people think that ADHD is just a childhood problem, however, a large proportion of children with the condition remain affected throughout adulthood.Adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental health condition exhibited by difficulty maintaining attention, as well as hyperactivity and impulsive behavior. For some people, adult ADHD causes significant problems that improve with treatment.

The presentation of ADHD in adults is different from that in children. in part because of a greater decrease in symptoms of hyperactivity than in symptoms of inattention.

 

Adult ADHD symptoms may include:

  • Trouble focusing or concentrating
  • Restlessness
  • Impulsivity
  • Difficulty completing tasks
  • Disorganization
  • Low frustration tolerance
  • Frequent mood swings
  • Hot temper
  • Trouble coping with stress
  • Unstable relationships

Having been diagnosed with ADHD, an adult can start to make sense of the problems they may have suffered for a long time. It can help him let go of bad feelings about himself, and improve low self-esteem.

ADHD affects a person’s quality of life. They may find it difficult to maintain relationships or keep a job. Relationships in which one or both partners have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD) range from successful to disastrous. If your partner has ADD/ADHD, you may feel ignored and lonely. Your partner can focus on things that interest him, but not on you. He never seems to follow through on what he agrees to do. He may seem to act like a child instead of an adult. If you have ADD/ADHD, you may feel your partner has become a nagging monster. The person you loved has become a control freak, trying to manage the details of your life. No matter how hard you try, you can’t meet your partner’s expectations.

Good relationships take a lot of work, whether they are with a spouse, a significant other, a child, or a friend. When one of the people involved has ADHD, there can be additional challenges. The wide-reaching effects of ADD/ADHD can lead to embarrassment, frustration, hopelessness, disappointment, and loss of confidence.

 

Treatment depends on how severe the person’s disorder is, but can include:

Education – to help the person understand and better manage their condition

Lifestyle improvement – such as cutting back or quitting drugs and alcohol, and taking up regular exercise

Medication – psych stimulant medications are used

Psychotherapy – to address self-esteem problems or substance abuse

Therapy – to teach anger management, organizational skills or social skills, depending on the needs of the individual

Vocational counseling – to increase the person’s chances of success and satisfaction in the workplace

Family therapy – when one family member has ADHD, the whole family needs support.

Finally once the diagnosis of ADHD is confirmed, the treatment options must be discussed: pharmacotherapy to ameliorate symptoms and cognitive behavioral therapy to help develop skills to compensate for the deficits. The patient should be informed about the paucity of long-term data regarding the use of stimulant medications in adults and about the risks, including increases in the pulse rate and blood pressure, as well as the possibility, though unlikely, of abuse.