10 signs you have ADHD without actually realising

There are a number of signs which may indicate that you have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and some many have gone unnoticed.

Most cases of ADHD are diagnosed in children under the age of 12, but there are still times when an adult is later on told they have it.

According to the NHS symptoms of ADHD can improve with age, but this doesn't mean the end of problems.

Experts have warned against people trying to diagnose themselves, as some of the signs can overlap with other mental health issues and they can be part of what people feel as they go through life.

If you think you have ADHD then talking to a doctor or therapist is the way to go.

There are 10 signs for you to be on the lookout for according to HuffPost, who spoke to a plethora of experts including neuropsychologist Dede O'Shea, clinical psychologist Cristina Louk and psychiatrist Dr Zishan Khan.

They reported that over 365 million people around the world are thought to have ADHD, but many people might not even realise it at first.

Procrastination instead of focusing on a longer task may be a sign. (Getty Stock Photo)

Plenty of procrastination

Everybody wastes time now and then, but apparently ADHD brains are aiming for things to do which will result in dopamine, the chemical which sets up feelings of pleasure, satisfaction and motivation in the brain.

A person with ADHD may have low dopamine, meaning that performing routine tasks can be quite boring which results in doing anything but that.

Hyper-focusing

On the other hand, the experts said that once you've got going with a task it's possible to become utterly absorbed by it.

As a result you might end up neglecting other important things as you feel like you're in the zone on whatever you're doing right now.

O'Shea told HuffPost this could be 'sometimes mistaken as selfishness and overzealousness'.

Impulsive spending can feel good in the moment. (Getty Stock Images)

Impulsive spending

A spot of retail therapy is all well and good, but according to the experts adults with ADHD may not make the best financial decisions.

Unwise but quick purchases can lead to that all important trigger of dopamine, while the far less interesting task of sitting down and paying bills might be put off.

Losing track of time

It can be difficult to keep track of time or know how long something is going to take.

O'Shea explained that this may dovetail with always being late, explaining that 'thinking you have enough time and then rushing' could be a sign of ADHD.

They told HuffPost: "You might know the exact time of an appointment, but leave the house at that time rather than in advance to give yourself room to travel there, park and sign yourself in."

People can surprise even themselves with outbursts. (Getty Stock Photo)

Emotional outbursts

O'Shea said an 'easily overlooked' symptom of ADHD in adults was having strong reactions to things that were difficult to anticipate.

This was tied up with difficulties in 'managing attention and directing energy', and working out the 'appropriate level of mental stimulation'.

Forgetting food

Dr Khan suggested that people with ADHD may struggle to maintain consistent eating habits.

Food may be used as a way to alleviate boredom, but you could become so focused on a task that you forget to eat for several hours.

Many people with ADHD also have sleeping disorders. (Getty Stock Photo)

Sleeping difficulties

The NHS warns that people with ADHD can also have sleep and anxiety disorders.

Meanwhile, the experts warned that there could also be disruption to your body's circadian rhythm, which may result in a person persistently putting off sleep for a couple of hours beyond what would be a normal time to go to bed.

Difficulty deciding

Louk said that someone with ADHD 'may experience slower processing speeds', which is all to do with how quickly a person reacts to a situation.

It doesn't mean being indecisive, more that it might require a little bit more time for the decision-making process inside the brain to work through the options and come to a conclusion.

Considering the details and weighing up the outcomes may take a long time.

The decision making process sometimes takes more time. It doesn't mean you're indecisive. (Getty Stock Photo)

Restlessness

Going through a period of restlessness doesn't mean you have ADHD, but the experts warned that 'feeling perpetually restless' might be something to think about.

They said this was one of the subtler signs, as restless behaviour could be explained away with things like drinking too much coffee or having too much energy.

Conversational complications

Keeping up a conversation is tricky enough at the best of times but people with ADHD may have it even harder.

They may interrupt more often than usual as they might not remember what they were about to say, or what they'd been told elsewhere in the conversation.

O'Shea also mentioned there might be 'an urge to jump in with a thought that interests them'.

It's worth knowing the symptoms of ADHD, and if you believe you have several of them it may be time for a conversation with your doctor.

Topics: Health, Mental Health, ADHD

Joe Harker

Joe graduated from the University of Salford with a degree in Journalism and worked for Reach before joining the LADbible Group. When not writing he enjoys the nerdier things in life like painting wargaming miniatures and chatting with other nerds on the internet. He's also spent a few years coaching fencing. Contact him via [email protected]

@MrJoeHarker