What Happens If ADHD is Left Untreated in Adults?
Adults suffering from ADHD can experience a range of issues if the condition is not treated. This includes issues with relationships, work and mental health.
Adults suffering from untreated ADHD generally have low self-esteem, and an unfavorable view of the world. This can cause them to feel like they are failing at work and at home.
Inattention and lack of Focus
It is normal to experience trouble focusing from time-to-time especially after a long day at work or at school. If you are noticing that your ability to concentrate is getting worse and is affecting your life, then it might be time to seek out help. If you're having difficulty keeping up with routine chores, are missing out on important social events, regularly get lost items or make mistakes at work that affect your reputation, it could indicate a larger problem.
Untreated ADHD symptoms can also lead to relationship problems. People suffering from ADHD tend to lose focus on their partner, which could cause them to fight and break relationships. They also have a tendency to talk before thinking, which can cause them to say things that they later regret later. This inability to control their thoughts can be particularly difficult on a partner when someone is feeling frustrated, stressed or anxious.
If someone suffers from ADHD is more difficult to manage their finances. adhd in adults untreated can result in missed payments or late payments. Inattention and impulsivity can result in poor choices that impact savings and budgets. If you have ADHD and have trouble managing your finances, it is recommended to seek treatment and diagnose.
Adults suffering from ADHD have difficulties working in a workplace. They are unable to keep deadlines on track, follow instructions, and work effectively with their colleagues. These issues can lead them to lose out on promotions, or be denied job opportunities. Inability to focus while driving could result in accidents or injuries. You are more likely than those with ADHD to be distracted by road noises and other drivers, as well as the environment. Having trouble keeping your focus could also affect your self-esteem, mental health, and well-being. Speak to our team now if your symptoms impact your daily functioning.
Relationship problems
ADHD symptoms like disorganization, forgetfulness and impulsive behavior may cause serious relationship problems. It's not uncommon for a non-ADHD partner to feel angry and even abandoned by an ADHD partner. This can result in a messy mess of emotions that leads to a breakdown in the relationship and ultimately the breakup.
ADHD can cause issues in relationships with family members and friends. It can cause financial stress when a person fails to pay their bills or manage their finances effectively. It can also create emotional strain when someone responds in a way that is not normal to stressors and experiences rapid mood swings.
A common issue that arises when someone suffering from ADHD is untreated is that their partner or spouse starts to over-help them. This is a huge issue because it prevents the person with ADHD from gaining their own independence. It could also lead to the person with ADHD becoming resentful of their spouse or partner because they are always taking care of them.
If someone with ADHD in an intimate relationship does not receive treatment, they might mistakenly interpret the actions of their partner and think they have that they have ulterior motives. For instance, if an individual with ADHD doesn't show up for a scheduled meeting or event, it can be interpreted as an indication that they don't care about you or the relationship.
Additionally, if someone who suffers from ADHD is not properly treated they could experience cognitive issues that could affect their ability to understand and respond to other people's needs. For instance, they might have trouble understanding complex ideas and are prone to skipping over important details when listening. They may also have difficulty with self-control during conversations that can manifest as interrupting or speaking over other people.
Your partner and you are able to resolve these issues by communicating clearly and regularly. It's also recommended to plan regular family gatherings where everyone can talk about the issues they're experiencing and ways to work together to address them. If this doesn't help it might be time to consider couples counseling so that you can learn new ways to communicate and organizational strategies to use outside of the therapist's office.
Health Issues
People with ADHD typically have a difficult time managing their emotions and regulating their impulses as adults. This could cause problems in both their personal and professional lives. The impulsive nature of ADHD can cause them to act in ways that are harmful to their own or others, or lead to risky behaviors like reckless driving that can result in injuries or death. They may also struggle to complete daily tasks such as keeping their schedules in order, meeting work deadlines, or completing their assignments.
ADHD symptoms in adults are different than those seen in children. This can cause misdiagnosis and missed treatment options. Adults might experience symptoms like difficulties in paying attention to classes, inconsistency in work and not remembering social plans or meetings. They may not be able to prioritize their tasks or complete long-term tasks, which can affect their financial and professional stability. They might have trouble interpreting social signals. They could disrupt others or disrupt their conversations. This can cause strain in relationships and make it hard for them to form meaningful friendships.
They may also have difficulties maintaining healthy lifestyles and miss regular health screenings. This can exacerbate physical conditions like obesity, hypertension, or heart disease. They might have trouble sleeping because their minds are racing with thoughts that distract them. They may also eat unhealthy food that contributes to weight gain and poorer health.
Untreated ADHD can also result in depression or other mood disorders that can affect a person's quality of life. It can cause people to lose confidence and self-esteem and they may have difficulty to maintain jobs or relationships when their behavior becomes worse as time passes. Undiagnosed ADHD can cause adults to live a life of depression and boredom. They may even develop suicidal ideas.
Luckily, ADHD is highly treatable with medication. There are a myriad of types of drugs to pick from and a medical professional will take the individual's symptoms into consideration when creating an appropriate treatment plan. Some adults might need to try a variety of different medications and dosages until they find the most effective one. But, most are more successful at work, at home and school once their symptoms are addressed.
Depression
Many people with untreated ADHD also struggle with depression. The symptoms of both disorders overlap, and the two frequently occur in conjunction. Depression is more serious than a severe case of the blues. It can cause a lack in enthusiasm for daily activities and can lead to thoughts of suicide.
Individual therapy can assist someone struggling with ADHD to manage depression. Depression can be caused by a variety of factors, including the trauma of childhood or abuse, financial problems, relationship stress, and the emotional repercussions of long-running patterns of underachievement in the workplace and at school. ADHD can contribute to these issues and even exacerbate them, since people with ADHD who aren't treated tend to feel low self-esteem and feel like failures in different areas of their lives.
If a person suffers from both ADHD and depression, then they must be treated for both conditions. Treatment options include psychotherapy and medication which is often known as cognitive behavior therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy assists people change their negative behaviors and develop healthy coping skills. Counselors can guide people on stress-reducing strategies, such as regular physical exercise, getting enough rest and eating a balanced diet.
The good news is most people with ADHD do not suffer from severe depression. However the longer ADHD remains undiagnosed and untreated, the more it can interfere with a person's quality of life as they grow older and their responsibilities increase. The inattention and impulsivity that characterize ADHD can cause adults to have difficulty keeping track of their work obligations, family commitments and personal finances. They may fall into debt, have difficulty to find a job or become frustrated when they fail at home or at work.
The good news is that there are effective treatments for both ADHD and depression. The use of medication can help reduce the symptoms of ADHD, and it is often combined with nonstimulant medications that are used to treat depression. Certain people suffering from ADHD are able to manage their depression using antidepressants but it is important that a health care provider assesses the person's mood, medical history, and other issues prior to prescribing medications for either condition.