context: Many people have heard of ADHD. It may make you think of kids who have trouble paying attention or who are hyperactive or impulsive. Adults can have ADHD, too. About 4% to 5% of U. S. adults have it. But few adults get diagnosed or treated for it. Who gets adult ADHD? Every adult who has ADHD had it as a child. Some may have been diagnosed and known it. But some may have not been diagnosed when they were young and only find out later in life. While many kids with ADHD outgrow it, about 60% still have it as adults. Adult ADHD seems to affect men and women equally. If you have adult ADHD, you may find it hard to: Follow directions Remember information Concentrate Organize tasks Finish work on time See More: Foods That Help You Concentrate This can cause trouble in many parts of life -- at home, at work, or at school. Getting treatment and learning ways to manage ADHD can help. Most people learn to adapt. And adults with ADHD can develop their personal strengths and find success. If you have ADHD, you may have trouble with: Anxiety Chronic boredom Chronic lateness and forgetfulness Depression Trouble concentrating when reading Trouble controlling anger Problems at work Impulsiveness Low tolerance for frustration Low self-esteem Mood swings Poor organization skills Procrastination Relationship problems Substance abuse or addiction Low motivation These may affect you a lot, or they may not bother you much. They can be problems all of the time or just depend on the situation. No two people with ADHD are exactly alike. If you have ADHD, you may be able to concentrate if you're interested in or excited about what you're doing. But some people with ADHD have trouble focusing under any circumstances. Some people look for stimulation, but others avoid it. Plus, some people with ADHD can be withdrawn and antisocial. Others can be very social and go from one relationship to the next. Adults With ADHD may have: A history of not doing well in school and underachieving Gotten in a lot of trouble Had to repeat a grade Dropped out of school Adults With ADHD are more likely to: Change jobs a lot and perform poorly Be less happy with their jobs and have fewer successes at work Adults with ADHD are more likely to: Get more speeding tickets, have their license suspended, or be involved in more crashes Smoke cigarettes Use alcohol or drugs more often Have less money Say they have psychological trouble like being depressed or have anxiety Adults with ADHD are more likely to: Have more marital problems Get separated and divorced more often Have multiple marriages Look for a psychiatrist who has experience with diagnosing and treating people with ADHD. The doctor may: Ask you to get a physical exam to make sure there aren't other medical problems causing your symptoms Take some blood from you and run tests on it Recommend psychological testing Ask you questions about your health history While experts don't agree on an age that you can first diagnose ADHD, they do agree that people don't suddenly develop it as an adult. That's why when a doctor sees you they will ask about your behavior and any symptoms that you may have had as a child. They may also: Look at school report cards. They'll look for comments about behavior problems, poor focus, lack of effort, or underachievement compared to your potential. Talk with your parents to see if you had any symptoms during childhood. People who have ADHD may have had trouble getting along with others when they were kids or had a hard time in school. Teachers may have had to work with you. For example, maybe you had to sit at the front of the class. They'll also ask if anyone else in your family has ADHD. This can be helpful information because it does seem like ADHD runs in families. If your doctor says you have ADHD, you'll work together to make a treatment plan just for you. Treatment plans can include medicine, therapy, education or learning more about ADHD, and getting family support. Together these things can help you find new ways to do things that can make day-to-day life easier. That can make you feel better in general and feel better about yourself. Making sure you get fully checked by a doctor is important. That's because people with ADHD often face other conditions, too. You may also have a learning disability, anxiety or another mood disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, or a dependence on drugs or alcohol. Knowing the whole picture can make sure you get the best plan for you. Stimulant Medications. Adults with ADHD are often offered stimulant medications. Studies show that about two-thirds of adults with ADHD who take these medications have big improvements in their symptoms. Examples of stimulant medications include: Dexmethylphenidate ( Focalin) Dextroamphetamine ( Dexedrine) Amphetamine/ Dextroamphetamine ( Adderall, Adderall XR) Lisdexamfetamine ( Vyvanse) Methylphenidate ( Concerta, Daytrana, Metadate, Methylin, Ritalin, Quillivant XR) But stimulants are not always ideal. Why? They can be: Addictive. Stimulants are controlled substances. That means they can be misused. Some adults with ADHD have substance abuse problems or had them in the past. Hard to remember to take. Short-acting types of stimulants (versus long-acting) may wear off quickly. Since people with ADHD can have trouble with forgetfulness, remembering to take them several times a day can be a challenge. Hard to time. If people choose to stop taking them in the evening, they can have a hard time focusing to do housework, pay bills, help children with homework, or drive. But if they do take them later in the day, they may be tempted to use alcohol or other things "to relax." Non- Stimulant Medications. Doctors may also recommend a non-stimulant medication for you to take, either on its own or with a stimulant. They are: Atomoxetine ( Strattera) Guanfacine ( Intuniv) Clonidine ( Kapvay) You may want to ask about making these part of your treatment plan, too: Cognitive and behavioral therapy. It can help with self-esteem. Relaxation training and stress management. These can lower anxiety and stress. Life coaching. It may help you set goals. Plus, it can help you learn new ways to stay organized at home and work. Job coaching or mentoring. This can help support you at work. It can help you have better working relationships and improve on-the-job performance. Family education and therapy. This can help you and loved ones understand ADHD better. It can also help you all find ways to lessen how much it affects everyone's life. Here are some things you can do on your own to make life with ADHD more manageable: Take medications as directed. If you are taking any medications for ADHD or any other condition, take them exactly as prescribed. Taking two doses at once to catch up on missed doses can be bad for you and others. If you notice side effects or other problems, talk to your doctor as soon as possible. Organize. Make lists of daily tasks (be reasonable!) and work to complete them. Use a daily planner, leave notes for yourself, and set your alarm clock when you need to remember an appointment or other activity. Breathe slowly. If you have a tendency to do things you later regret, such as interrupt others or get angry at others, manage the impulse by pausing. Count to 10 while you breathe slowly instead of acting out. Usually the impulse will pass as quickly as it appeared. Cut down on distractions. If you find yourself being distracted by loud music or the television, turn it off or use earplugs. Move yourself to a quieter location, or ask others to help make things less distracting. Burn off extra energy. You may need a way to get rid of some energy if you're hyperactive or feel restless. Exercise, a hobby, or another pastime can be good choices. Ask for help. We all need help from time to time, and it's important to not be afraid to ask for it. If you have disruptive thoughts or behaviors, ask a counselor if they have any ideas you can try that could help you control them.