Four indicators that YOU may have grownup ADHD

The stereotype may be that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is just for ‘naughty boys’. But the number of adults seeking a diagnosis is soaring – and about half are women.

It was the second most-viewed health condition on the NHS website last year, with celebrities including Lily Allen sharing that they have recently realised they have the condition.

If you think you might have ADHD, here are some of the things to look out for…

Singer Lily Allen is one of several celebrities who have recently said that they have ADHD

ARE YOU OFTEN DRIVEN TO DISTRACTION?

When you hear the term ADHD, you may instantly think of hyperactive and impulsive behaviour. However, that type only accounts for 15 per cent of cases, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.

Twenty to 30 per cent of cases are ‘inattentive’ ADHD – the more common type among women – with concentration, organisation and memory affected. This could result in a short attention span, forgetfulness and careless mistakes. The hyperactive/impulsive type could mean you are unable to sit still, appear to act without thinking and are constantly moving, talking or interrupting.

Do you regularly forget appointments, or turn up late for meetings? Do you misplace things around the home? How often do you feel restless or fidgety?

If the answer to these questions is all the time, or very often, then it may be that you’re on the ADHD spectrum.

Twenty to 30 per cent of cases are inattentive ADHD – the more common type among women

ARE YOUR RELATIONSHIPS SUFFERING?

Adults with ADHD can find it affects every part of their life, giving them problems with time management, following instructions, completing tasks and coping with stress. But a diagnosis in adulthood is only made if your symptoms are having at least a moderate effect on several different areas of your life, for example if you are underachieving at work or in education, driving dangerously or if you have difficulty making or keeping friends or sustaining a relationship.

It’s normal to procrastinate sometimes, but if at work you find that you often or always delay starting important tasks that require a lot of thought, then that could be symptomatic of ADHD.

IS YOUR PERIOD A CLUE?

Your period may change how your ADHD affects you. Studies have found that the first two weeks of the menstrual cycle – starting with the first day of your period – are easier for women with ADHD, due to a rise in oestrogen levels, a hormone that affects the chemicals in the brain needed for emotional regulation and organisational skills.

At the end of the cycle, however, progesterone increases, reducing the beneficial impacts of oestrogen on the brain, and it is thought it could also decrease the effectiveness of ADHD medication.

The menopause can also aggravate existing issues and the Priory, a leading independent provider of mental healthcare, says it is seeing more women than ever with symptoms in their late 40s and 50s. Pre-existing restlessness, mood swings, irritability and extreme impatience can all be made more severe by the declining oestrogen levels during menopause.

Studies have shown that cognitive behavioural therapy can help with symptoms of adult ADHD

HAVE YOU ALWAYS FELT THIS WAY?

The current consensus is ADHD cannot develop for the first time in adults, so if your problems with concentration and organisation have only come about later in life – or during a period of depression or stress – it may be they are not the result of ADHD. Under NHS guidelines, a diagnosis cannot be confirmed unless your symptoms have been present from childhood.

The first step is seeing your GP, who can refer you for a specialist assessment. This may involve a physical examination, to rule out other conditions, and a series of interviews.

Unlike in children, for adults, medicine is often the first treatment offered, according to the NHS, but studies have shown that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), group therapy and one-to-one coaching can also help.