Adult ADHD Lifestyle Adaptations

Identifying the problem

Many adults have no idea they have ADHD, and it is a relief to some to be able to put a name on why they are the way they are. ADHD can be a problem, but there are also benefits and positive aspects. Adult ADHD lifestyle adaptations are the key to minimizing the negative effects of ADHD, and the beginning of learning to take advantage of your ADHD.

There are controversies about the reality of ADHD, and how it should be treated, but there are some adaptations that you can make to overcome the negative aspects on your own.

Distraction versus obsession

One of the most obvious adaptations is to find a passion. One of the biggest symptoms of ADHD is being distractible, or having trouble focusing on a task. However, once an ADHD person does get locked into a job or task, they can stick with it for a very long time and it is hard to distract them at all.

The problem is one of focus, and it is one of finding your passion. ADHD people who find something they can get passionate about are often very successful in that endeavor.

Attitude

Attitude is all-important when considering how to react to your ADHD. How you think about it can affect how it affects you. You may think of restlessness as energy. Disorganized might just be being unique or creative. Being distracted could be seen as being versatile.

Having a more positive attitude about the condition could affect how you handle it, and could put you in a position to come up with more creative solutions.

Organization

Many ADHD people are disorganized. Getting help with being organized would be a good adaptation to ADHD. You may have to do a little more than others do in this area, such as creating a system, color-coding files or objects, or setting up a system that keeps things flowing.

Being still, and getting flustered as a result of the confusion of disorganization is very frustrating to an ADHD person and could lead to feelings of depression, making the ADHD worse.

Scheduling

Scheduling is very important, so try to schedule and structure your life as much as possible. Schedules must always have some flexibility because life gets in the way, but having a routine would be essential for an ADHD person because they are likely to forget things otherwise.

Giving yourself a little more time than you think you need also tends to help. Writing notes will help you remember important dates and commitments, as well as keep you on schedule. Create a network or system of checks to keep yourself on track.

Understanding

The most important adult ADHD lifestyle adaptation is to understand your condition. The more you learn about it, and the more you understand your own self, the better you will be able to make adjustments.

Understanding yourself will also open ideas as to ways to turn negatives associated with ADHD into positives.

Resources

Help Guide: ADHD Symptoms and Treatment

[Adult ADHD: Self Help](/tools/Adult ADHD: Self Help)

American Journal of Psychiatry: Diagnosis Controversies