Hyperactivity in adults is a condition that actively affects concentration, memory, and behavior. Symptoms include inattention, impulsivity, excessive mobility and lack of attention. Experienced specialists are able to diagnose hyperactivity syndrome in childhood, but it is not always possible to identify it due to the nature of each person. So, many adults do not even suspect a problem.
Activity: where is the line and where is it formed from?
If in physical education lessons energy receives a positive assessment from the teacher, then in the workplace a mature person is required to adhere to competence, courtesy and moral standards of behavior in society. Expressed restlessness is perceived as initiative, but it also negatively affects the life of the individual.
The exact cause of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in adults is unknown, but it is noted that the condition often manifests itself at the genetic level. Research in clinical psychology also shows differences in the brain activity of patients.
There are also a number of possible factors that can affect the onset of the syndrome:
- Prematurity of the baby. Early birth.
- Low birth weight.
- Abuse of alcohol, smoking, drugs during pregnancy.
A common misconception remains that energetic children outgrow hyperactivity disorder. In fact, there is no lull period, as symptoms also appear in adulthood. Among students, there is a trend of poor academic performance due to the inability to concentrate on educational material, which leads to difficulties in obtaining an education. Hyperactivity in adults is found everywhere, regardless of intellectual abilities and communication skills.
Neurobehavioral disorder affects the daily functioning of a person in various conditions. The syndrome is clearly expressed in personal relationships, where patients complain about the infantilism of the partner, as well as in society, when it seems that colleagues, friends and acquaintances are too slow.
It is important to adhere to the correct treatment, which will help to fit into the norms of society in the future. Strategies are being developed for the treatment of hyperactivity in adults to overcome life's difficulties, problems and unforeseen situations that await at every corner.
Body features
Genetic predisposition is one of the popular causes of the disorder, but not the only one. It is more correct to single out that the hyperactivity in an adult is affected by a combination of factors, the roots of which originate from different characteristics.
Modern studies show a number of differences in brain activity among people with the disorder and those who have no disease. A scan shows a decrease in some areas and, conversely, an increase in others. This is primarily due to the fact that the syndrome indicates an existing imbalance in the level of neurotransmitters in the brain, which leads to insufficient functioning of chemicals in the human body.
Other factors
It is believed that some groups are at greater risk of hyperactivity in adulthood, especially if they have other problems:
- Anxiety disorder. Stressful situations make you anxious, nervous, and increase your heart rate, causing dizziness, sweating, or physical changes in the form of exhaustion with insufficient strictness in regular food intake.
- Defiant oppositional disorder. Negative, impulsive behavior. It manifests itself, in particular, to authoritative figures: parents, superiors, leader, curator, dean.
- Behavior disorder. Antisocial actions contrary to moral standards. People prone to destructive behavior are often associated with theft, fighting, vandalism, and can also cause physical harm to a person or animal.
- Depression. Depressed state, apathy, indifference to the surrounding experiences.
- Trouble sleeping. Inability to relax, insomnia.
- Autism spectrum disorder. Affects social interaction, communication, interests and behavior.
- Hyperactivity Syndrome of the bronchi. In adults, it manifests itself more often than in children. A characteristic symptom is a persistent cough, especially in the summer. With improper operation of the bronchi, not only oxygen gets into them, but also dust settles, substances that irritate the mucous membrane.
- Epilepsy. A condition in which there is an effect on brain processes. A person may experience uncontrolled cramps or faint.
- Tourette's syndrome. Violation in the nervous system, characterized by constant motor tics and involuntary noises. For example, a person can simultaneously jerk his head, whistle, or swear incontinently.
- Difficulties in mastering the material. Dyslexia is characteristic - the inability to concentrate on reading or spelling words so that the letters do not mix in the process.
If one or more factors are present, the risk of detecting hyperactivity syndrome in adults is increased. To identify the disorder should consult a specialist. Treatment is prescribed individually.
Signs of the disease
The main symptoms of hyperactivity syndrome in adults are inattention, excessive energy and impulsivity. Often they go beyond the bounds of permissible capabilities and greatly tire the human body, as well as those around it, causing headaches, apathy, or satiety with communication. In this case, the patient's activity can dramatically turn into an aggressive mood. Some clinical psychologists mistakenly attribute the syndrome to bipolar disorder, which is characterized by similar features.
The symptoms of hyperactivity in adults should be studied in more detail in order to verify the presence of the disease.
Examples of inattention include:
- Inability to focus on the task for a long time.
- Poor attention to detail.
- Disorganization. For example, the inability to keep a diary or diary regularly.
- Distraction, forgetfulness.
- Quickly switch attention from one to another.
- Putting off affairs.
- Unreliable work habits.
- Indifference to scheduling meetings, frequent reschedules.
- Doing things at the last moment: force majeure, the night before the deadline.
- Dreaminess, immersion in an imaginary world.
- Inability to properly manage your own time.
There are cases when signs of hyperactivity in adults did not prevent them from focusing on hobbies and hobbies, but inattention returned at the moment when interest in the lesson disappeared. Boredom is the main motivator for shifting attention to another object; therefore, inconsistency in leisure activities is also revealed.
Often people with a disorder are prone to impulsive actions, such as:
- Inability to listen to the end.
- Dropping things without ending them.
- Inability to calculate the consequences of their actions.
- Constant problems with money due to unforeseen expenses.
- Too many tasks to prove superiority.
- Frequent job changes due to boredom and monotony.
- Drug or alcohol use.
- Temperamental, including irritability, rapid transition to a state of aggression.
Symptoms of hyperactivity in adults are manifested in the following symptoms:
- Excitement, frequent experiences.
- Restlessness.
- Lack of sense of danger.
- Quick thoughts, inability to relax before bedtime in a stressful situation or problem.
- Lack of long concentration on one subject.
- Inability to stand in lines and wait.
- Continuous conversations, inability to keep secrets.
Often, a person experiencing all of these problems encounters difficulties in social interaction with others. Constant stressful situations, the desire to put in a tight framework and forcefully teach discipline are perceived by the patient impulsively. Therefore, you should adhere to the recommendations of a specialist: undergo therapy or take medication.
Positive sides
Quite often, hyperactivity disorder in adults leads to alcohol or drug abuse. There are cases of accidents in a state of intoxication, when a person sits behind the wheel impulsively, wanting to prove the point or run away from problems.
Nevertheless, hyperactivity is not painted exclusively with dark colors, but has several advantages. These include:
- High energy.
- Creative approach to solving problems.
- Increased empathy, intuition and insight.
- Good sense of humour.
- Enterprise.
- Limitless perseverance.
- Focus on your favorite hobby.
Diagnosis of the disease
There is no single test that indicates hyperactivity in an adult, but with the help of an experienced specialist you can find out about the presence or absence of the disorder. The diagnostic process may consist of one or more approaches:
- Psychological tests. They determine the characteristics of thinking, the type of temperament and a tendency to destructive behavior.
- Questions about childhood. Freud argued that in the early years of life, one can detect a number of distinctive features and identify the causes of congenital or acquired moral injuries.
- Conducting an interview with a partner, close friend, or parent about patient behavior.
- Physical examination. Includes heart testing, a blood test, and a scan of the cerebral cortex.
- Review of documents. School letters, thanks.
There are frequent cases when the diagnosis indicates hyperactivity in the early years. However, the incompetence of specialists or the carelessness of parents puts an adult in front of the fact of a shocking reality many years later.
So, the syndrome has an effect on various spectra of life, including:
- Difficulty in relationships with loved ones or lack of friends.
- Failure in work or study.
- Dangerous situations behind the wheel.
- Difficulties in love. Constant change of partners.
It is important to consider that if there are several signs of hyperactivity in adults, the disorder need not be diagnosed. Only with the help of an individual approach, taking into account all the personality traits, can an objective conclusion about the state be made.
Treatment methods
Medicine has moved forward a long time ago, and modern specialists in clinical psychology can boast of unlimited experience of practices behind them. Having an idea of similar situations accumulated over centuries, they developed a number of effective methods to learn how to treat hyperactivity in adults and help to enjoy life. It is not recommended to independently diagnose and try to get rid of the disorder.
Drug treatment
Medicines are recognized as the most effective way, because they can reduce the manifestations of impulsivity, help to concentrate and reduce the level of energy. Studies show improvements in patients in two of three cases. However, a person may be denied the use of drugs due to past abuse of psychotropic substances or drugs. Worried about the recurrence of the situation, doctors resort to other methods.
Therapy sessions
Approaches to eliminating hyperactivity in adults often include combined methods. The patient is simultaneously referred for behavioral therapy and a prescription for drugs is prescribed. Treatment takes place exclusively taking into account individual problems:
- Workouts for relaxation and stress management. Reduce anxiety and stress.
- Individual cognitive and behavioral therapy to enhance self-esteem.
- Mentoring. Helps maintain business relationships and improves workplace productivity.
- Therapy for family problems.
- Training a person in home and work organization strategies.
If the early stages of hyperactivity are identified, behavior can be resolved as soon as possible, however, if you ignore the situation, the degree of complexity of the disorder may increase, and treatment will take many years. With quick intervention, adults can get rid of psychological difficulties and emotional impulses.
Live further: recommendations and tips
A disease that cannot be resolved surgically often shock patients. So, the most common causes of hyperactivity in adults is a genetic predisposition or the presence of an adjacent disease that increases the risk of a disorder, such as Tourette’s syndrome or depression. Nevertheless, life does not stand still and is moving inexorably forward. Clinical psychologists provide a series of tips to help keep your hands on and reduce symptoms.
- Day planning. The distribution of cases helps to focus on their implementation. A list of required responsibilities may seem like a pointless exercise, but it helps you know what to expect at this time. For example, a person needs to create a project, but only with the help of structured steps will he be able to complete the task as effectively as possible.
- Objective reward. The main sources of treatment are motivation and praise. The patient is encouraged to tune in to positive behavior and reward himself with purchases, favorite activities that will not harm his health. For example, it can be a trip to the cinema or a walk in your favorite park. Even for fulfilling one of the points in the diary, it is important not to forget to tell yourself a simple "well done" to yourself.
- Exercises. Exercise is an effective way to reduce hyperactivity throughout the day. Giving classes at least half an hour a day, a person will not only be able to use excess energy, but also to increase tone, pump up muscles and normalize sleep quality. Sport implies moderate activity and therefore, during exercise, one should not exceed one's own physical abilities.
- Diet. You should get rid of caffeine and other pathogens of the nervous system. Some foods also have a similar effect, toning the mind and increasing energy. It is recommended that you create a balanced, healthy menu. Experts advise you to get a notebook where a person will record the main foods that he ate during the day.
- Relaxation before bedtime. People with hyperactivity often suffer from insomnia, because they can not calm down. Noisy parties, computer games or watching an action movie negatively affect your vacation. Patients are advised to adhere to the routine several hours before bedtime, as well as go to bed and get up at the same time.
In the modern world, hyperactivity is not a sentence for any person. Following the advice of specialists in the field of clinical psychology, correctly diagnosing and adhering to the course of treatment, you can live with the disorder and get rid of it in the future.