Distracted adults: ADHD?

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- ADHD is not just for kids and you could be suffering from it too and not even realize it.

Maria Edwards, who suffers from Adult ADHD, told ABC30, "I felt like I was different from other people. I kind of put myself down and I looked at other people and said well they're so prefect and I'm not."

That imperfection 51-year-old Maria Edwards felt is actually Adult ADHD.

"I have had feelings of depression, I definitely felt overwhelmed a lot," Edwards told ABC30.

She's not alone. According to the National Institutes of Health, more than four percent of all adults suffer from it too.

Clinical physiologist, Kate Roberts, PhD, says warning signs of adults ADHD include lack of focus, difficulty completing tasks, organizing and planning as well as a low frustration tolerance level and often they find themselves interrupting others in conversations.

Roberts told ABC30, "Difficulty with what we call self-monitoring, so what that is, is basically reciting without thinking, often times people will regret actions because they do it so quickly."

Dr. Roberts says routine is key for those with ADHD and suggest making a schedule to aid in time management, planning ahead, eating healthy and a consistent workout will help people stay focused.

"I think that low self-esteem is paramount for people with ADHD," Roberts told ABC30.

Especially in adults who have gone undiagnosed.

Edwards told ABC30, "Once I got the diagnoses I stopped blaming myself for my shortcomings."

This diagnosis meant a world of difference for Maria.

Just like how ADHD affects a child's performance in school, ADHD that is not managed properly affects an adult's performance at work. They tend to change employers more often and perform tasks poorly at work. People who suffer from adult ADHD also have less job satisfaction and fewer occupational achievements.

For more information, contact:

Kate Roberts, PhD
Clinical Psychologist
978-884-1213
kmoraroberts@yahoo.com