Many adults diagnosed with ADHD are left untreated.
What is ADHD?
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition that can start as early as childhood. Many adults are diagnosed with ADHD, not realising how it may have impacted them early on. Some adults, like me, were left untreated and diagnosed later in life. I was diagnosed at the age of 26. Upon reflection, there were many signs that may have led to an earlier diagnosis however, as I am very good at masking and deflecting, I did not acknowledge these signs. Perhaps my mother saw some signs, but I had a lot of extra curriculum activities and decent grades to scrape by and go undetected (and untreated).
There are many signs of untreated ADHD:
· Impulsivity
· Poor listening skills
· Forgetfulness
· Difficulty following things through
· Restlessness
· Mood swings
I exhibit all of these signs!
I can be very impulsive at times. Sometimes, I would shop online and buy things that I may not need. I have many, many jobs (I’m talking 10+ jobs), and I applied for most of the jobs out of impulse; the job wasn’t suitable, but I wanted money and, yet again, didn’t think things through.
Unfortunately, there have been many occasions where I struggled to listen to what was being said. It may appear that I am listening, but my eyes may be glazed over, and my mind may be elsewhere. I have been in conversations where I had to ask the person to repeat what they said, or I asked them a question they had already answered.
Forgetfulness is a major one. I have come home from work or the gym on more than one occasion to find that I left a light on at home! During these challenging times, the cost of living and all of that is not good. I have forgotten friends’ birthdays and essential information that people have told me, I need to be better, and I will be better.
Following things through is another one that I struggle with. I try, but sometimes, a wave of procrastination hits me, and I am struck, or I get distracted and forget to go back to the task. Ouch.
One thing you should know about me is that I cannot relax for my life, another symptom of untreated ADHD. I would love nothing more than to stay at home, lie in, and just chill. But no, I have to be doing something. If I find myself sitting on the sofa, I have to plan something or do
something aside from watching countless YouTube videos. I can’t just chill. There are a million and one things going on in my head, and I need them to come out.
Even if I am in a good mood, the mood can change quickly. I have been super productive and cheerful, but out of nowhere, something has changed my mood. Perhaps, I was triggered by someone saying and/or doing. However, most of the time, this is not the case. My mood can change at the flick of a switch.
It is also essential to be aware that many people with ADHD are often misdiagnosed. In 2020, during the pandemic, I spoke with my doctor as I believed I had a lot of symptoms of ADHD, but my doctor instead mentioned that my symptoms might be due to anxiety. Please be aware that many people with ADHD may also have anxiety and depression. A study looked at the link between ADHD and anxiety, and the findings demonstrated that a large majority of the participants with ADHD had Generalised anxiety disorder.
Adult ADHD can be left untreated as there is limited research stating how ADHD may manifest in adults. This in turn has created a lack of awareness.
As mentioned prior, I am good at masking. I can hide my symptoms and convince people that I am feeling fine even though I may not. Some people are shocked when I tell them I have ADHD. I get aware of it, I am an expert at masking, I’m telling you. Click here for more details about ADHD and masking.
It is not ideal to be walking around with untreated ADHD. I have, at times, bottled up everything because I do not want to be a burden to others.
I found it essential to manage my symptoms in other ways and show myself more grace.
I am in long-term counselling and have been for over a year now. Using my counsellor as a sounding board to release and get things off my chest is beneficial. Although my counsellor is not necessarily trained in ADHD, it is essential that I deal with my emotions and talk things through instead of pushing things away.
I have tried to let go of getting things done ASAP. I tend to write things down in multiple places in case I forget. I also like to write weekly and, at times, daily to-do lists to ensure I stay on top of everything. This does not always go to plan, and that is ok. Sometimes, procrastination gets the best of me, or a mood swing takes me for six, but I just need to do better at going with the flow and not get so caught up about ticking off things on my to-do list. I am not a robot; I am simply a beautiful human being.
I recently tried a new thing attending an ADHD support group! It is something far out of my comfort zone, but it was an excellent experience to hear about individuals with ADHD, how the symptoms manifest for them and how they are navigating through life: some untreated, some treated. It was a great time, and I will try to reach out and find more support groups.
Take away
It can be frustrating to struggle to do what some may consider basic things at times; however, this is a beautiful trait that I was given, so I will try my best to work on it and still be me. The best version of me possible.
If you know of any ADHD online support groups or some face-to-face groups in south London, do reach out and let me know.
Thank you for reading; take care and stay safe.
