Adult ADHD: More Than Just Trouble Focusing
By Tannia Salazar, APRN | Rooted in Serenity Behavioral Health LLC 🌿
Rooted in Care. Grounded in Calm. Focused on Your Healing.
What ADHD Really Looks Like in Adults
When most people think about ADHD, they imagine a child who can’t sit still in class or is always bouncing from one thing to the next. ADHD doesn’t always “go away” with age. Many adults continue to struggle, often blaming themselves for being lazy, scatterbrained, or unmotivated. Instead of hyperactivity, adult ADHD may show up as losing track of time, forgetting appointments, feeling restless even while sitting still, overreacting to stress or criticism, or falling into cycles of procrastination and perfectionism. If this sounds familiar, you are not alone—ADHD in adults is more common than many realize, and recognizing the signs is the first step toward change.
Here’s how symptoms often shift from childhood to adulthood:
| Childhood ADHD | Adult ADHD |
|---|---|
| Difficulty sitting still | Inner restlessness, racing thoughts |
| Interrupting in class | Interrupting during conversations |
| Trouble waiting turns | Frustration with delays or long tasks |
| Forgetting homework | Forgetting bills, deadlines, or appointments |
| Disruptive behavior | Emotional reactivity, irritability |
| Struggles with schoolwork | Struggles with work performance & organization |
Types of ADHD in Adults
ADHD is generally described in three types: inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive, or combined.
| Type of ADHD | Key Features in Adults |
|---|---|
| Inattentive | Disorganization, losing things, zoning out, forgetfulness, poor follow-through |
| Hyperactive-Impulsive | Restlessness, fidgeting, blurting, impatience, interrupting others |
| Combined | A mix of both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive features |
Do These ADHD Patterns Sound Familiar?
If you’re wondering whether ADHD might be affecting your daily life, here are some common experiences adults describe:
- ✅ Losing track of time and missing deadlines, no matter how hard you try
- ✅ Feeling restless inside, even when you appear calm on the outside
- ✅ Forgetting bills, appointments, or important tasks
- ✅ Struggling to stay organized despite endless to-do lists
- ✅ Overreacting to stress or criticism in ways that feel hard to control
These aren’t signs of laziness or carelessness—they’re symptoms of adult ADHD that deserve understanding and support.
Adult ADHD Challenges in Daily Life
ADHD symptoms ripple through work, relationships, and self-esteem. At work or school, it can mean missed deadlines or feeling like you’re always behind. In relationships, forgetfulness or emotional reactivity may feel personal to loved ones. Over time, these struggles chip away at confidence. Daily life can feel overwhelming when you’re constantly losing keys, forgetting bills, or struggling with organization. These are not flaws—they are signs of ADHD in adulthood that deserve understanding and treatment.
Adult ADHD Diagnosis in Connecticut
Getting an ADHD diagnosis isn’t just a checklist—it’s a careful process. Providers review personal and family history, patterns at work and in relationships, and may use structured questionnaires. Ruling out other conditions, such as anxiety, depression, trauma, or thyroid issues, is also essential. This is why a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation matters—what looks like stress or procrastination may actually be untreated ADHD.
Adult ADHD Treatment Options in Connecticut
Medication can be life-changing for adults with ADHD, but it is not the only solution. A holistic treatment plan may include coping strategies like planners and reminders, lifestyle support such as sleep and exercise, therapy for executive functioning and emotional regulation, and involving family or workplace accommodations. For some, ADHD medication management is part of the plan, but care is always individualized.
You Don’t Have to Figure This Out Alone
If you’ve wondered whether ADHD explains your struggles, you don’t need to figure it out on your own. At Rooted in Serenity Behavioral Health LLC, Tannia Salazar, APRN, provides adult ADHD evaluation, treatment, and medication management via secure telehealth across Connecticut. Together, we’ll create a plan that helps you function better, feel calmer, and move forward with confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions About Adult ADHD
Many adults exploring ADHD for the first time have similar concerns and curiosities. Below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about adult ADHD that I hear in my practice.
Can ADHD start in adulthood?
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition, which means it begins in childhood—even if it isn’t diagnosed until later. Many adults don’t realize they’ve been living with ADHD because symptoms were overlooked or explained away as stress, anxiety, or personality traits. A comprehensive psychiatric evaluation can help clarify whether long-standing challenges are due to ADHD.
Is ADHD just a focus problem?
No. While difficulty with attention is one hallmark of ADHD, it also affects organization, time management, memory, and emotional regulation. Adults with ADHD often describe cycles of procrastination, restlessness, or feeling easily overwhelmed—challenges that go far beyond simple distraction.
How is ADHD treated in adults?
ADHD treatment is highly individualized. Options may include lifestyle strategies, therapy, coaching, and, when appropriate, medication. At Rooted in Serenity Behavioral Health LLC, Tannia Salazar, APRN, offers telehealth-based psychiatric care across Connecticut, helping adults find the right balance of support and tools to manage ADHD effectively.
Can ADHD be managed without medication?
Yes. Some adults find significant improvement with non-medication strategies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, ADHD coaching, mindfulness practices, structured routines, and lifestyle changes like regular exercise and good sleep hygiene. For others, combining these approaches with medication provides the best results. The right plan depends on your unique needs and goals.
Still have questions? You don’t have to figure it out alone — I’d be glad to help you explore whether ADHD care is the right next step for you.
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✨ Start Here 👈
📗 Read about overlapping symptoms of ADHD and anxiety
📘 7 Signs You Might Benefit from Medication
📙 Understanding Medication Management
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🌿 Tannia Salazar, APRN, Founder of Rooted in Serenity Behavioral Health LLC, offering telepsychiatry services across Connecticut for adults navigating anxiety, ADHD, trauma, and more.
