1. Raise awareness of adults with ADHD in Singapore
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Affliates
♥
HelpGuide- Signs, symptoms, effects,
treatment
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Family Doctor -
Conditions
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TOP 4 MYTHS of ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER (ADHD) IN ADULTS... debunked!
4. ADHD is not correlated to intelligence, many ADHD adults are very creative and highly intelligent. They often become actors, artists, entrepreneurs or inventors.
3. ADHD is not a problem of willpower, it is essentially caused by a chemical imbalance in one's brains.
2. Even if one has not been diagnosed with ADHD as a child, he/she may still have it as an adult.
1. Although everyone may show certain symptoms of ADHD, those with chronic impairments warrant an ADHD diagnosis - it does not mean that having a higher level of intelligence will help him/her overcome the illness.
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STATISTICS
ADHD affects an estimate of
4% of the adult population
In Singapore, problems with impulsivity, inattention and organization remain in ADHD adults from childhood
25% of ADHD adults drop out of school.
Common symptoms/signs of ADHD in adults:
- Easily distracted ("
Zoning out")
- Chronically late
- Disorganised and forgetful
- Hyperactive and restless
- Impulsive
On the flip side...
- Hyperfocus
Tendency to focus on tasks that are stimulating and rewarding to ADHD adults.
Effects of ADHD in adults
- Physical and mental problems
(E.g. Substance abuse, compulsive eating, depression, chronic stress etc.)
- Work difficulties
ADHD adults have difficulty sticking to a routine-based job, meeting deadlines for work assignments and even following basic corporate rules. They also tend to be disorganised with their work.
- Financial difficulties
ADHD adults have difficulty making payments on time, keeping track of their bills and managing their own finances well.
- Relationship issues
ADHD adults usually come off as "lazy" and "irresponsible" in the eyes of unaware people, which builds resentment and causes a strain in relationships.
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Coding: X
Picture: Juggling
Picture: Time management
Picture: Thinking
{ How do you get help? }
Help for ADHD adults
- Practice better time management
Set deadlines for everything, and can use alarm clocks to ensure one stays on track. Take breaks at regular interval. Avoid piling up.
- Work on relationships
Cultivate relationships with people who are understanding and sympathetic of your situation.
- Create a conducive work environment
Utilise reminders, notebooks and post-its to keep track of your activities and deadlines and to organise properly. If possible, choose work that best interests you, or team up with people who are more organised and on-task, to create a mutually-beneficial partnership.
More professional help...
- Therapy
` Talk therapy
` Marriage therapy
` Cognitive-behaviorial therapy
` Engagement of a professional organiser
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We hope you have learnt more about ADHD in adults!
Final note:
Learning about the signs and effects of adult ADD/ADHD is the first step toward understanding the challenges and identifying your own symptoms.
Once you understand the difficulties that come with ADD/ADHD, you can learn to compensate for areas of weakness and take advantage of your many strengths and talents.
With education, support, and a little creativity, you can learn to manage the symptoms of adult ADD/ADHD—even turning some of your weaknesses into strengths.
It’s
never too late to turn the difficulties of adult ADD/ADHD around and
start succeeding on your own terms.
