The transition from teenager to young adult is a big stepping stone that usually comes with big changes. From moving into higher education, starting a job, and entering the world of dating to moving out and living on your own for the first time, it can be both an exciting and overwhelming time of life.
If you are a young adult diagnosed with or suspect you have ADHD, then learning your strengths and weaknesses at this time can really help to set up coping strategies and routines that will benefit you. If you are the parent or guardian of a young adult with ADHD, then understanding how you can help them navigate this period can be hugely beneficial.Â
How ADHD Can Show up in Young Adults
How ADHD shows up is unique to each individual, however, there are some common traits depending on gender and phase of life. Young adults may find it difficult to concentrate in a new job, particularly finding it difficult to stay focused on low-priority, less interesting tasks. They may find they zone out a lot and have poor listening skills as well as a struggle with organisation, time management, and forgetfulness.
Young adults may find it difficult to control their impulsiveness when it comes to dating, feeling the need to interrupt conversations, and behaving in socially inappropriate ways. It can also show up when sitting through job interviews or university exams in the form of hyperactivity and restlessness. They may struggle with racing thoughts and a feeling of overwhelm, which can quickly lead to anxiety and panic.
Embracing Independence with ADHD
Growing up and starting to realise your independence is one of the most fascinating and rewarding stages in life. It is the point in life where the world really does feel like your oyster and itâs yours to explore and to figure out how you want to show up in. For some, it may feel liberating, but for those with ADHD, moving out, dealing with roommates, new jobs, higher education, and relationships, can feel stressful and overwhelming.
This is where understanding yourself and your ADHD comes in. Knowing where your triggers lie and understanding your own personal tricks around these can help tenfold when it comes to new situations. Check out our 5 tips below to get you started.
5 Tips for Young Adults Learning to Work with Their ADHD
1.    Understand How You Can Communicate Effectively.
At this stage in life, when our social circles expand, tense conversations can happen with friends, family, colleagues, etc. so itâs important to learn how to communicate efficiently, without blame, and listen without judgment, and to reach a compromise. A good template to use in the face of most conflicting conversations is âI feel ⊠when you ⊠because âŠâ
2.    Figure Out Your Time Management Hacks.
Time management is tricky to master for the ADHD brain which can make entering into the world of work challenging. A good way around this is to always plan in more time than you need. If you need to be at your desk and working for 9 am then plan to arrive 30 minutes earlier to accommodate traffic and any other delays, you might face. Use your phone reminders and timers to plan effectively and keep a watch on your wrist at all times.
3.    Set Up Fail Safe Routines.
Hyperfocus can stop you from doing all the things you need to do for your own health therefore in order to keep on top of a balanced diet, exercise, and a good nightâs sleep, you can create habits and schedules using apps and trackers or create your own, print it off and pin it to your notice board. Failing to look after your mental and physical health can quickly lead to illness and depression. These routines can also be helpful when it comes to paying bills. The easiest way to pay what you owe is to set up direct debits, but you can also use a budget app to track your spending, and if you find it difficult to control your impulses when it comes to spending, stick to cash only.
4.    Pay Attention to Your Emotional Triggers.
With ADHD, strong emotions can escalate quickly, and although itâs good to let strong emotions out and not keep them inside your body, you donât want them coming out in the middle of a work meeting or university lecture. Notice what your triggers are, whether thatâs a knot in your stomach, feeling shaky, or sweaty palms, and pay attention to the things that help calm you in the moment. It could be listing five things you see, hear, and smell, breathing in for a count of 8, holding it for 8, and breathing out for 8.Â
5.    Take It Slow and Steady when it Comes to Dating.
Be cautious with your impulses when it comes to dating. If you have met someone and plan to go out on a date, then tell friends where you are going, make sure itâs a public place that you already know well to remove any risk. Although it may be in your nature to go with the flow, donât go home with them, give yourself time to properly get to know and evaluate this person and get your friendâs opinions, too.
How to Support Young Adults with ADHD
As a parent or guardian of a young adult with ADHD, it can be difficult to know when to let them take the lead and learn from their mistakes and when to step in and intervene. The trick here is to understand what works with your child, how they respond to you when giving advice, and how they receive it best.
We speak to numerous concerned parents here at our ADHD clinic about how to foster connection with the adult children as well as giving them their independence and feeling they are safe. Our top tips include:
Trust them to figure out their path for themselves. We all know that we can only learn from making mistakes, therefore just as with any other adult child, those with ADHD need to make mistakes in order to find themselves, their path in life, and also their ADHD.
Actively listen when they talk to you and answer your questions. Take your own fear and emotions out of the conversation and really listen to their side of the conversation. Take a breath and consider your answer to their questions. It is possible to guide and suggest without telling them what to do, and it may also help if you could reframe your suggestion as a question.
Agree with your child, at which point you will stop giving reminders, so they understand that after three times, for example, you wonât mention that appointment you donât want them to miss again, and itâs up to them to set reminders for themselves.Â
Supporting a Young Adult to Get the Help They Need
Itâs important to understand that reaching out for help as a young person is often the hardest step and shows a level of trust in you to help them. Being aware of the common traits and behaviours of ADHD is helpful and helps to build trust by understanding how they listen and communicate best. Understand that a young person with ADHD faces extra challenges than those without and, therefore are more susceptible to anxiety and depression. Make sure you understand their behaviours and if anything changes.
Simple things like actively listening and repeating back what they are saying to you can make them feel seen, heard, and understood. Keep your body language open and encourage them to talk about their feelings. Do your research on helpful resources and information and share them, and also talk about seeking professional help if they havenât already done so in the form of an adult ADHD assessment at an ADHD clinic.
Beyond Clinics: ADHD Assessment for Adults Young and Old
Understanding ADHD at this pivotal time in a young adultâs life is greatly important and can make a difference in them entering into new situations and scenarios with a strong social circle, where a sense of belonging and support is fostered.
If you suspect you have ADHD or youâre the parent or guardian of someone you suspect to have ADHD, then consider seeking help from a private ADHD clinic in Manchester that specialises in adult ADHD assessment, diagnosis, and support.
Beyond is a private ADHD clinic in Manchester offering comprehensive, multi-professional ADHD assessments. We understand that individuals can struggle to live full and happy lives because of undiagnosed ADHD, and for that reason, long NHS waiting lists are just not an option. This is why private ADHD clinics aim to provide rapid access to adult ADHD assessments
Contact Beyond today, a private ADHD clinic in Manchester, to see how we can help you.
