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Print ArticleCould You Have Adult ADHD? Recognizing Signs & Symptoms
Adult ADHD and Your Relationships
Does your husband complain that you never listen? Does your wife say she feels like you’re just one more child in the house? Have your friends lost patience with your chronic lateness?
Adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder could be to blame. While ADHD is often thought of as a childhood problem, it can sometimes linger into adulthood. And if you don’t know you have the condition, it could be wreaking havoc on your relationships.
You might find that friends or family think you’re irritating, that you interrupt a lot, or you’re a nuisance, says psychologist Arthur Robin, PhD, professor of psychiatry and behavioral neurosciences at Wayne State University in Detroit, Mich. “Sometimes the person with ADHD will sense this, but other times they won’t sense it until they’re hit over the head with it -- they’re oblivious to what’s going on.”
And that’s part of the problem. Adult ADHD may affect your life so dramatically that you don’t even realize there’s an issue. Because of this, adults struggling with ADHD often aren’t evaluated for the condition until a significant other insists they talk to a professional.
Is Adult ADHD Straining Your Relationship? 5 Warning Signs
While everyone is different, there are some common relationship problems many people with adult ADHD deal with. If the following five complaints sound familiar to you, it might be time to consider whether adult ADHD is having a negative impact on your relationships.
“Do you even hear what I’m saying?”
One of the most common complaints about people with ADHD is that they don’t listen -- even when someone is talking directly to them. That was the case for Gina Pera, whose husband has adult ADHD.
“The problem isn’t working on communication between you and your partner -- the communication problems are happening between their neurons,” says Pera, author of Is it You, Me, or Adult ADD? Stopping the Roller Coaster When Someone You Love Has Attention Deficit Disorder. “They’re not hearing what you’re saying. They’re distracted by the fifth word or they’re hearing what they want to hear.”
Of course, if you have ADHD you might not understand why your friends and family are getting so angry. Instead, you might feel you’re constantly being nagged or that you honestly never were told about those Saturday night dinner reservations.
“You never pull your weight around here!”
Mowing the lawn. Washing the dishes. Folding clothes. Household obligations present responsibilities that can be overwhelming for people with adult ADHD.
If the people you live with are constantly complaining that you aren’t pulling your weight, take a step back and consider whether they’re right. When was the last time you took the trash out ? Is your clutter taking over the house? Are your family members doing more than their fair share?
WebMD Medical Reference
CONCERTA® is a prescription product approved for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as part of a total treatment program that may include counseling or other therapies.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Talk to your healthcare professional for a proper diagnosis and treatment of ADHD. Only a healthcare professional can decide whether medication is right for you or your child.
CONCERTA® should not be taken by patients who have: allergies to methylphenidate or other ingredients in CONCERTA®; significant anxiety, tension, or agitation; glaucoma; tics, Tourette's syndrome, or family history of Tourette's syndrome; current or past use of monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI); esophagus, stomach, or intestinal narrowing. Children under 6 years of age should not take CONCERTA®.
Abuse of methylphenidate may lead to dependence. Tell your healthcare professional if you or your child has had problems with alcohol or drugs; has had any heart problems, heart defects, high blood pressure, or a family history of these problems; has had depression, abnormal thoughts or visions, bipolar disorder, or seizure. Contact your healthcare professional immediately if you or your child: develops abnormal thinking or hallucinations, abnormal or extreme moods and/or excessive activity; or if aggressive behavior or hostility develops or worsens while taking CONCERTA® . Your child's healthcare professional should check height and weight often and may interrupt CONCERTA® treatment if your child is not growing or gaining weight as expected.
Stimulants may impair the ability of the patient to operate potentially hazardous machinery or vehicles. Caution should be used accordingly until you are reasonably certain that CONCERTA® does not adversely affect your ability to engage in such activities.
The most common adverse reaction (>5%) reported in children and adolescents was upper abdominal pain. The most common adverse reactions (>10%) reported in adults were dry mouth, nausea, decreased appetite, headache, and insomnia.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch , or call 1-800-FDA-1088
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CONCERTA® is a registered trademark of ALZA Corporation.
© Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2009
March 2009 60CONA09023