ADHD, up until very recently, has been thought of as a childhood condition, one which hinders a child’s concentration in the classroom, and gets them into trouble by not being able to sit still. Thankfully over more recent years, we are beginning to see that ADHD affects people of all ages and genders and in fact, changes with each individual over their lifespan.
Many adults may have spent years feeling something was not quite right, struggling with certain aspects of life without realising that they may have been dealing with undiagnosed ADHD. No matter your age, an ADHD diagnosis can be a transformative experience.
Is it Ever too Late for an ADHD Diagnosis?
Getting an ADHD assessment and diagnosis ultimately comes down to personal preference and how each individual feels about themselves. For some, they may have struggled for years with focus, organisation, and impulsivity and decided they needed to understand their struggles with daily tasks. For others, they may be able to accept and work with their unique traits and think that getting a diagnosis won’t change who they are. The main takeaway here is that it is never too late for an ADHD diagnosis if the outcome will give you the clarity you need.
ADHD assessments for adults can be life-affirming and give you the understanding you’ve been struggling with over the years. Understanding your ADHD better can also help you manage ADHD symptoms, as well as comorbid conditions that run alongside it such as depression and anxiety disorders.
Understanding ADHD as a Lifelong Condition
Contrary to popular belief, ADHD doesn’t disappear when childhood ends. If you had ADHD as a child, symptoms would manifest differently as you age. Most children with ADHD will go on to be adults with ADHD whose symptoms have evolved due to changes in environment and experiences.
For children, ADHD may look like not being able to focus, constantly daydreaming, not being able to sit still, shouting out answers in class, and feeling unable to control their impulses. For adults, this may look like missed appointments and work deadlines, difficulty maintaining social and romantic relationships, and difficulty organising personal and family life.
Why Wasn’t ADHD Picked Up Earlier?
As children grow older, they may learn ways to mask their symptoms, particularly girls, in order to fit in, which can make ADHD appear less visible and be more difficult to diagnose later in life. It’s also important to understand that our education around ADHD has only recently come to light, so it’s possible that during childhood, our parents didn’t understand what to look for, instead putting behaviours down to normal childhood issues.
There is also a lot of shame around ADHD behaviours, due to a lack of research, knowledge and education, so as a child, you may have felt guilty about your lack of control or shame around certain actions, which then takes courage to seek the help needed.
Lastly, it could be that your ADHD has been hidden behind other conditions, such as mental health, mood, and personality disorders. It’s incredibly common for teenagers and young adults to be diagnosed with anxiety and depression, without looking into what the route cause is. Medication may be prescribed to treat the symptom without looking at or understanding the cause. It is possible to have mental health conditions alongside ADHD however, but treating one without the other will only help so much.
How Getting a Diagnosis Later in Life can Benefit You
It is possible to look at late-stage ADHD diagnosis as both life-changing and bittersweet and many people think the later they get into life, the less point there is to obtain a diagnosis. Gaining a diagnosis at any point in life can benefit your mental health tenfold. It can clarify behaviours and help you understand yourself on a deeper level, not to mention how much it can help friends and family around you.
Gaining a late-stage diagnosis can also help you get treatment if needed, in terms of medication or therapy, which can help you manage symptoms and experience life with less stress, overwhelm, and burnout.
The Challenges of Undiagnosed ADHD
It’s understandable to think that getting an ADHD diagnosis won’t change your personality or who you are, especially if you are a little older but this is where we think no matter your age, an ADHD assessment for adults can help you to understand yourself that little bit more and solidify your sense of character.
There are many ways that dealing with undiagnosed ADHD can show up, including:
Difficulty performing well at work could lead to dangers in job retention.
Financial struggles such as paying bills on time, dealing with late fees due to forgetfulness, needing to replace belongings that have been misplaced, and impulsive spending.
Dealing with intense mood swings, catastrophising, confusing emotions, and dealing with rejection sensitivity disorder (RSD) which is a heightened feeling of rejection to things such as delayed responses, disagreements, criticism etc.
Difficulty keeping on top of household chores.
Low self-esteem, self-trust, and constantly second-guessing yourself.
Sleep problems.
ADHD Assessments for Adults: Beyond Clinics
At Beyond, we truly believe that an ADHD assessment and diagnosis at any stage in life is important. We are a private ADHD clinic in Manchester, founded by a team of people who have ADHD and powered by personal experience. We provide the most up-to-date, evidence-based ADHD assessment for adults and children.
If you would like to start your journey into understanding yourself better, contact Beyond, a private ADHD clinic in Manchester today.
