Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a diagnosis given to people who have challenges with: 

inattention - finding it hard to concentrate 

hyperactivity - feeling restless and struggling to sit still 

impulsivity - saying or doing things without thinking about the consequences first. 

Most people experience these challenges at some point in their lives, or in certain situations. For example, someone might struggle to concentrate the following day if they’ve had a bad night’s sleep. 

However, for people with ADHD, these challenges usually begin in childhood and for most people they continue as they grow up, though they may change or improve. These challenges will also affect someone in many areas of their life. 

“For me, reading a book can feel like a carousel ride with the book held by someone in the crowd. Tasks can feel like a car journey where my impatient self is in control of the pedals, but my curious self is holding the wheel.” - A person with ADHD 

People used to believe that ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) only affected children. Now, it's known that adults can have ADHD too, and for many, it's a lifelong condition. Many adults discover they have ADHD long after finishing school. If you recently found out you have ADHD, you're not alone! 

ADHD makes it challenging to pay attention and stay focused. Many adults with ADHD struggle to control their impulses or "hold their horses." Other symptoms include forgetfulness, difficulty staying motivated to do chores, and trouble organising daily life. ADHD can cause issues at work, at home, and in everyday living. The disorder often runs in families. It’s not your fault, but it is your responsibility to seek help to minimise ADHD's impact on your life. 

Some people have mild and manageable symptoms, while others experience more severe ones. No two individuals with ADHD are the same. 

There isn't a single test to diagnose ADHD. To determine if you have the disorder, a clinical professional will conduct a detailed interview with you and will use various sources of information, including:

• Questionnaires you complete about your current difficulties 
• Input from a spouse/partner or someone close to you.
• Input from a parent or someone who knew you as a child 

There isn't a "magic formula" for knowing when to see a professional, but most adults who are diagnosed with ADHD report the following:

• Difficulty keeping jobs, either due to quitting frequently or being fired often.
• Trouble being on time for appointments or completing tasks.
• Household chores often go unfinished, and bills may go unpaid due to forgetfulness.
• Relationship problems, such as forgetting important dates, failing to keep promises, or getting easily annoyed.
• Frequent feelings of worry and stress due to difficulty meeting goals and responsibilities.
• Strong feelings of frustration, guilt, or low self-esteem.

As with any medical diagnosis, there are guidelines for determining whether you have ADHD. It's not enough to simply have the symptoms; they must be significant enough to cause problems like those listed above. If the symptoms do not interfere with your life, you won't be diagnosed. Additionally, the symptoms must cause issues in at least two areas of your life, such as at work and at home.

The best place to start is with your GP, let them know your concerns and ask for a referral to a professional with expertise in evaluating an adult or ADHD.

Your GP needs to be under the Integrated Care Board for Central North West London, these including the following boroughs:

• Brent
• Ealing
• Hammersmith & Fulham
• Harrow
• Hillingdon
• Hounslow
• Kensington & Chelsea
• Westminster

No preparation is needed. It's natural for many adults to feel nervous or anxious about seeking an evaluation. However, remember that the professional you see has likely encountered many similar cases. They won't judge or criticise you. The more open you are about your problems, the better they can help you. Keep in mind: you didn't cause your ADHD, so there's no reason to feel ashamed.

People used to believe that ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) only affected children. Now, it's known that adults can have ADHD too, and for many, it's a lifelong condition. Many adults discover they have ADHD long after finishing school. If you recently found out you have ADHD, you're not alone!

ADHD makes it challenging to pay attention and stay focused. Many adults with ADHD struggle to control their impulses or "hold their horses." Other symptoms include forgetfulness, difficulty staying motivated to do chores, and trouble organising daily life. ADHD can cause issues at work, at home, and in everyday living. The disorder often runs in families. It’s not your fault, but it is your responsibility to seek help to minimise ADHD's impact on your life.

Some people have mild and manageable symptoms, while others experience more severe ones. No two individuals with ADHD are the same.

People with ADHD often encounter a lot of stigma. However, our focus has long been on the problems ADHD causes. It's important to remember that mental health isn't just about the absence of illness or disorder; it's also about recovery, coping, well-being, and thriving. While ADHD means your brain works differently, not all those differences are negative. Broader studies highlight positive ADHD traits such as high energy, creativity, hyper focus, agreeableness, empathy, and a willingness to help others.

ADHD affects about 3 to 4 in every 100 adults. People with ADHD can be of any background, but ADHD is more common in people who have: 

• a sibling or close family member with ADHD 

• epilepsy 

• other neurodevelopmental conditions, learning disabilities or learning difficulties 

• mental illnesses 

• a history of alcohol or drug misuse 

• been involved in the criminal justice system 

• an acquired brain injury 

• been in care 

Or who were: 

• born prematurely 

• diagnosed with ‘oppositional defiant disorder’ or ‘conduct disorder’ as children thought to have a mental illness like anxiety or depression as children. 

ADHD is more commonly diagnosed in boys than in girls. However, in adults the diagnosis of ADHD in men and women is more equal. This might be because, as children, boys are more likely to show hyperactive and impulsive symptoms, which are more noticeable. 

When it comes to diagnosis, girls and women might be more likely to: 

• have undiagnosed ADHD 

• not be referred for assessment for ADHD 

• receive an incorrect diagnosis of another mental health or neurodevelopmental condition. 

In childhood 

ADHD can start to show itself at an early age and is often first noticed when someone is at school. However, some people might not experience challenges until adulthood, or these challenges might not be noticed until they are much older. 

Although people with ADHD share common, ‘typical’ symptoms, ADHD can look different from person to person. What ADHD looks like can depend on a person’s: 

• background 

• personality 

• fit with their environment 

• level of support and structure 

• positive and negative life experiences 

• stage of life. 

Hyperactive and impulsive symptoms tend to be more common in childhood and be less of a challenge for some people over time. Inattentive symptoms tend to become more of an issue in teenage years and adulthood. 

Growing up 

Usually, as young people grow up, they experience more challenges and receive less support. For example, if someone has lived at home and had lots of support, their ADHD might not cause them problems until they move out of home. 

Young adults with ADHD often face new challenges, such as: 

• work or education 

• living independently 

• Relationships 

• Finances 

In adulthood 

Throughout life, new challenges like parenthood might further increase a person’s overall level of stress. This can mean that their ADHD causes more challenges as they get older. 

As the overall level of demand and stress increases, people with ADHD are more likely to struggle to keep up. When this happens, they can become overwhelmed and unwell. This can be avoided through appropriate support. You can find out more about this in the section on support further on in this resource. 

There are a number of things that people with ADHD can do to support their overall health and wellbeing. 

1. Tell the people around you how they can help 

As with any health condition, people often want to help but don’t know how, and end up giving unhelpful advice. Tell the people in your life about the things you do and don’t find helpful. 

2. Try to get some regular exercise 

Regular exercise is good for everyone. In people with ADHD, it has been shown to significantly reduce symptoms related to anxiety and depression, which can make ADHD symptoms worse. Exercise has not been shown to have a positive impact on hyperactive, impulsive, or inattentive symptoms. 

3. Get enough good-quality sleep 

Not sleeping well can make ADHD symptoms worse. Developing good sleeping habits can be challenging, but there are some things you can try: 

Develop and maintain a comforting bedtime routine, e.g. having a bath, listening to music. 

Go to bed and get up at the same time each day, including at weekends. 

Avoid screen time for at least an hour before bedtime. 

Do not consume sugar, caffeine or alcohol within a couple of hours of bedtime. 

Get enough exercise during the day. 

Keep the bedroom dark and quiet. If you can, leave a window open for fresh air. 

4. Aim for a regular and balanced diet 

A large study has shown that there is a relationship between inattentive symptoms and unhealthy eating habits, including eating foods high in added sugar. An unhealthy diet negatively impacts physical health and possibly mood, which could make it more difficult to manage ADHD symptoms. 

5. Driving 

By law you must tell the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) about any condition that may affect your ability to drive safely. 
 

If you’re not sure if your ADHD, or your ADHD medication affects your ability to drive safely, speak to your doctor. If ADHD does affect your driving and you do not tell the DVLA, you can be fined up to £1,000. If you’re involved in an accident you may be prosecuted. 

How can I support someone I know who has ADHD? 

If you know someone who has ADHD, there are a number of things you can do to make life easier for them, and yourself. 

1. Learn about the condition 

Just because you’ve met one person with ADHD doesn’t mean you’ve met them all. Finding out more about the condition can help you to get a stronger understanding of ADHD. It will also show the person that you care about them. 

“It's exhausting, variable and infuriating multiple times a day. It can impact every aspect of your life and a lot of that is hidden, especially with the mental load of women juggling home, work, family. People have no idea.” - Margaret 

2. Join a peer support group 

Some adult ADHD peer support groups run separate groups for partners and spouses, or allow them to participate in the ADHD groups. Check with the group first before attending. You will usually be able to find out more about a peer support group online. 

3. Start a conversation 

Ask the person you know if there is anything you can do to help. If they can’t think of anything right now, you can let them know you are there if they need someone to talk with in the future. 

4. Be aware of stigma 

There are a lot of misconceptions about ADHD and the people who have it. You can help by informing yourself and other people about the realities of ADHD. 

5. Manage your frustrations 

If you find the behaviour of the person you know upsetting or frustrating, talk through your feelings with someone you trust. If there are problems you want to bring up, try to explain clearly what the issue is and what you think could help. There may be things that both of you can do to help solve the issue. 

“Sometimes when we talk about disability, we make assumptions that it’s got to be something visible. And when you have ADHD it’s not so visible, and people just put it down to your personality.” - Hameed 

For most people with ADHD, the condition is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. 

Genetics

The genetic factors that lead to someone developing ADHD are generally made up of lots of small genetic differences rather one single gene. 

Environmental factors

Environmental factors can include: 

• difficulties when you were in the womb 

• birth complications 

• exposure to toxins 

• nutritional deficiencies 

• brain injury. 

Studies have shown that the genetic and environmental factors leading to ADHD are also found in other common mental and physical health conditions. 

Research has shown that other mental and physical health conditions are more common in people with ADHD. These include: 

• anxiety 

• depression 

• bipolar disorder 

• substance use disorders 

• obesity 

• disordered eating 

• allergies 

• asthma 

• sleep disorders 

• diabetes 

• autoimmune disorders, e.g. arthritis, psoriasis 

• joint hypermobility.