What Happens If ADHD is Left Untreated in Adults?
Adults with ADHD can experience a range of issues if the condition is not treated. These include problems with relationships, work and mental health.
Adults who suffer from untreated ADHD generally have low self-esteem, and a pessimistic outlook on the world. This can make them feel as if they are failing in their work and at home.
Inattention or lack of Focus
Having trouble staying focused at times is normal and is commonplace, especially after a tiring day at school or at work. If, however, adhd treatment for adults online begin to notice that your focus is becoming more difficult and is impacting your everyday life, it could be time to seek help. If you are having difficulty keeping up with routine chores, miss out on important social events, regularly lose things or make naive mistakes at work that hurt your reputation, it could indicate a larger problem.
Untreated symptoms of ADHD can cause problems with relationships too. People who suffer from ADHD tend to have difficulty focussing on their partners, which can lead to disputes and breakups. They also talk before they think, which can cause them to say something they regret later. This inability to control their thoughts can be particularly difficult on the person who is feeling frustrated, stressed or anxious.
If someone suffers from ADHD, it is more difficult to manage their finances. This could result in delayed or missed payments. This is due to inattention and impulsivity can lead to poor choices that affect savings and budgets. If you are struggling to manage your finances and you suffer from ADHD, seeking diagnosis and treatment can be a wise move.
Adults with ADHD have difficulties working in a workplace. They have a difficult time to adhere to deadlines, follow directions, and work effectively with their coworkers. These issues can result in them being denied promotions or being denied work. In addition, if you are struggling to stay on task when driving your lack of focus could result in accidents and injuries. This is because you're more likely to be distracted by road noises and other drivers, or the surrounding environment as compared to someone who doesn't have ADHD. Finding it difficult to focus could also affect your self-esteem, mental health, and emotional wellbeing. If you've noticed your symptoms affect your daily functioning, speak with our team today to receive an ADHD assessment today.
Relationship problems
ADHD symptoms like disorganization forgetfulness, and impulsive behavior can result in serious relationship issues. It's not uncommon for a non-ADHD partner to feel resentful and even be abandoned by an ADHD partner. This can result in an array of negative emotions that could cause relationship stress and even a break-up.
ADHD can cause issues in relationships with family members and friends. It can lead to financial stress when a person fails to pay bills or manage their finances efficiently. It can also cause emotional stress when a person responds in a way that is not normal to stressors and experiences a rapid swing in mood.
Untreated ADHD can result in a spouse or partner over-helping the person. This is a huge issue because it hinders the person suffering from ADHD from gaining their own independence. This can result in the person with ADHD feeling resentful towards their spouse or partner because they always take care of them.
If a person suffering from ADHD in the relationship doesn't receive treatment, they may mistakenly interpret the actions of their partner and believe that they have ulterior motives. If a partner with ADHD doesn't attend an appointment, it could be interpreted as a sign they don't appreciate you or your relationship.
In addition, when a person who suffers from ADHD is not properly treated they may develop cognitive issues that affect their ability to understand and respond to others' requirements. For instance, they could have trouble understanding complex ideas and tend to skip over important information when they listen. They might also have difficulty with conversational self-restraint, which may manifest as disrupting others or speaking over them.
Your partner and you are able to resolve these issues by speaking clearly and regularly. It's also a good idea to schedule regular family gatherings in which everyone can discuss the problems that they are experiencing and ways to work together to address the issues. If this doesn't help then it's time to consider couples counseling to learn new ways to communicate and strategies for organising outside of the therapist's office.
Health Problems
People who have ADHD tend to have a tougher to manage their emotions and regulating their impulses as adults. This can cause problems in both their personal as well as professional. The impulsive nature of ADHD can cause them to behave in ways that hurt their own or others, or lead to risky behaviors such as reckless driving, which could result in injuries or even death. They may also struggle to complete daily tasks, such as being organized and meeting deadlines for work, or keeping up with their work.
The symptoms of ADHD don't present the same way for adults like they do in children, which could result in misdiagnosis and missed treatment options. Adults may experience symptoms like difficulties in paying attention to class, unorganized work or missing social or class schedules. They might be unable to prioritize their work or complete long-term projects which could impact their careers and financial stability. They may be unable to discern social cues that are specific to the situation and tend to interrupt other people frequently or interrupt their conversations. This can create tension in relationships and make it difficult for them to find meaningful friendships.
Additionally, they could be struggling to maintain healthy lifestyle practices and miss regular health screenings, which could cause physical health problems like hypertension, heart disease, or obesity. They might have trouble getting enough sleep, because their minds are filled with thoughts that keep them awake at the night, or eat unhealthy foods which contribute to weight growth and poor health.
Untreated ADHD may also lead to depression or other mood disorders that could have a significant impact on the quality of life of a person. It can cause them to lose confidence and self-esteem, and they may have difficulty to keep jobs or relationships as their behavior worsens as time passes. Undiagnosed ADHD can lead adults to accept an existence of boredom and depression. They might even develop suicidal thoughts.
ADHD is a highly treatable disorder that can be treated with medication. There are many medications available and health professionals will look at each person's individual symptoms when determining the right treatment strategy. Some adults may have to try a few different medications and dosages before finding the best one, however the majority of people report being more productive at school, work and at home once their ailments are treated with medication.
Depression
Many people with untreated ADHD also suffer from depression. Both conditions have similar symptoms, and they often occur in tandem. Depression is more serious than a severe blues-like episode. It can lead to an absence of enthusiasm for daily activities and can lead to thoughts of suicide.
Individual therapy can help those suffering from ADHD manage depression. Depression can be triggered by a myriad of causes, including the trauma of childhood or abuse, financial issues or stress in relationships, as well as the emotional fallout of longstanding patterns of underachievement in school and work. ADHD may contribute to these types of issues, and it can reinforce them since people who have not been treated for ADHD are more likely to suffer from low self-esteem and feel of being a failure in different areas of their lives.
If a person suffers from both ADHD and depression, then they must be treated for both disorders. Treatment options may include psychotherapy and medication, which is commonly known as cognitive behavior therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps people to change negative habits and develop healthy coping strategies. Counselors can help people learn stress-reduction strategies, such as regular physical exercise, ensuring adequate sleep and eating a balanced diet.
The good news is most people who suffer from ADHD do not suffer from severe depression. The longer ADHD is left undiagnosed the more it could impact a person's life particularly as they age and their responsibilities increase. The impulsivity and lack of focus that characterize ADHD can cause adults to have trouble managing their work obligations, family commitments and personal finances. As a result, they could end up in debt, have a difficult finding work, and feel frustrated when they aren't successful at work or home.
There are effective treatments available for both ADHD and Depression. The use of medication can help reduce the symptoms of ADHD and depression, and is often combined with non-stimulant drugs that can be used to treat depression. Certain people suffering from ADHD are able to manage their depression using antidepressants however, it is essential that a medical professional evaluates the person's mood and medical history, as well as any other issues prior to prescribing medications for either condition.