What Can Trigger ADHD in Adults?

The traits that are present in adults who have ADHD are fairly common among the average person, but when several of the traits are present and the disorder is starting to affect multiple aspects of the individual’s life, a positive diagnosis can be made. This diagnosis is made through essentially an interview with a physician to see if the individual has several of the common traits and investigates how these traits interfere with the individual’s day-to-day life. Some of the common traits that a physician will look for in adults include:

– Poor time management
– Poor planning
– Impulsiveness
– Difficulties with multitasking or planning
– Difficulties staying organized and prioritizing
– Excessive restlessness or activity
– Low patience, frustration tolerance, and short temper
– Difficulty coping with stress
– Difficulties focusing on a task as well as following through and completing tasks
– Regular mood swings

If an adult has diagnosable ADHD symptoms, they will likely display a variety of common traits when engaging in any activity that requires their full, undivided attention, making it difficult for them to get many of their required daily tasks completed in a timely manner. Having undiagnosed ADHD can make working in an office trickier as the common symptoms of ADHD interfere with a productive work routine, causing the individual to be easily distracted, struggle to sit still and focus on any single task at hand, and experience impulsivity that leads to difficulty to complete work well before deadlines. General procrastination, hyperactivity, lack of attention to detail, and forgetfulness will be common behaviors that can be noticed in adults struggling with untreated ADHD.

Many adults who have ADHD will notice that there are some specific circumstances or triggers that will cause them to have more severe or significant symptoms, but there is some variance for triggers from person to person. One of the most prevalent triggers for worsened ADHD symptoms includes stress. Increased levels of stress will commonly lead those with ADHD to experience worsened symptoms, which in turn results in increased levels of stress, making this one of the more difficult triggers to deal with. Other common triggers include poor quality of sleep or insufficient quantity of sleep as this generally leads to increased forgetfulness, poorer impulse control, and difficulty concentrating, as well as diet (many individuals will experience specific foods or drinks triggering worsened symptoms or sometimes helping to alleviate symptoms), increased stimulation from technology (spending too much time on the internet, computer, etc.) or overstimulation from a busy environment. Being able to identify potential triggers that will lead to worsened ADHD symptoms will help individuals to be able to more or less control the environment a bit more effectively to maximize productivity, if necessary, especially if they are able to identify foods or beverages, or limit their use of technology at specific times in order to ensure that they will be able to get a good night’s sleep and be as productive as possible.

If an adult displays many symptoms and is unable to manage or treat the condition, they will become more likely to develop other mental health disorders including anxiety and depression. Additionally, the untreated symptoms can continue to worsen, leading to more significant problems with maintaining focus, concentrating on important tasks, and leading them to become more impulsive, which often leads to increased feelings of irritability, frustration, and lowered self-esteem. Adults who have untreated ADHD symptoms are more likely to struggle to keep employment as they will often have increased difficulty with punctuality, staying organized, accepting criticism, and managing their emotions in a professional manner. They are also more likely to have difficulties maintaining relationships, both romantic and platonic, as they struggle to listen and control their emotions.

ADHD is a prevalent condition that can lead to living a challenging life for individuals who suffer from it. For more information, please contact us or book an appointment online. We serve patients from Bronx NY, Brooklyn NY, Manhattan NY, Queens NY, Rockville Centre NY, Staten Island NY, and surrounding areas.