ADHD can affect anybody, of any age group, and it can be diagnosed at any time of life. However, it is well known to affect different age groups differently, as well as to lessen – or worsen – in severity as one progresses through life. Diagnosis is important, and you can start doing something about ADHD at any age.
Nevertheless, the reason ADHD affects various age groups differently isn’t just down to the biological difference between the age groups, and it isn’t only down to the length of time one has been dealing with it since diagnosis.
Also very significant is the different responsibilities that those in different age groups need to deal with to make it through an average day. Children can rely on the care and supervision of their parents, adolescents need to get through school, and adults need to manage all of life’s responsibilities and, usually, hold down a job or career.
With the exception of children, one commonality between ADHD management in people different ages is the importance of planning – both long-term and daily. Next Level Daily, a company that creates a daily journal for ADHD sufferers, say that this can be incredibly effective.
The reason for this is the same as the reason planning can be good for anybody – it helps you manage your day and be aware of all the tasks thatneed to be completed in order of priority.
Of course, it is also different for people with ADHD. This is the reasonspecific ADHD planners exist, and it is also the reason there are so many lifestyle tips to help people with ADHD manage the condition.
How Does ADHD Affect Adults
Nevertheless, before getting on to this, it’s worth looking a little closer at how ADHD affects adults specifically. We have already mentioned that there are different responsibilities in adulthood compared to earlier in life. This is certainly part of it, but there are other things too.
There is no scientific consensus on what causes ADHD, but it is generally agreed that it’s a combination of genes, brain anatomy, and environmental factors. For adults, it could either be the case that ADHD develops at this time or that one was just never diagnosed earlier.
The earlier the diagnosis, the better. This is because you can start working towards optimizing your lifestyle in order to deal with the condition. If you are diagnosed later – or the ADHD develops later – then this can be more challenging to deal with.
Tips for Adults with ADHD
The aforementioned environmental factors are always the ones that you can do something about by making lifestyles changes. Here are some tips for doing so as an adult:
Sleep Well and Get Exercise
For managing all of adulthood’s responsibilities, this is good advice for anybody. This can lessen the effects of feeling overwhelmed when tasks become, quite literally, overwhelming. Mental agility will be improved, and concentration will be as optimal as it can be.
Plan and Manage Your Time
This is even more important for those with ADHD than for those who do not suffer from the condition. Luckily, there are lots of planning tools made specifically for ADHD, and particularly for those with adult responsibilities.
Work on Your Relationships
Some great advice is to practice listening, not responding too quickly, but also to make it a priority to get back to people. By doing this, you can make sure that ADHD is effectively managed, and you notice less stress building up.
Always remember, it is never too late to do something about your ADHD, and you can certainly see a turnaround in your life.