Risks of untreated ADHD in Individuals

ADHD can affect both adults and children, but the condition often goes unnoticed in people in the age group of 18–44 years. No laboratory tests are there that diagnose ADHD. When treating symptoms in adults, a doctor can assess a person’s medical and developmental history and look at their behaviors and how they communicate with those around them. Doctors are able to recognize ADHD more easily in men. This might be because women tend to have dissimilar symptoms of ADHD and do not always show the behaviors related to it typically.

Hadar Swersky says that ADHD can have a considerable impact on adults if they do not get treatment for the condition. It can also affect individuals living with them. Some of the risks related to untreated ADHD in adults are:

• Multiple studies found that untreated ADHD in adults can result in job instability. People with ADHD are less likely to graduate from college or high school and thus, find it more difficult to have a steady income, compared with those without ADHD. Another study supports this idea, recommending that adults with ADHD can be unable to stay focused at work, which can result in difficulty holding a job for an extended period of time. The study also notes that adults with ADHD are less likely to have independence because of the financial limitations they may face.
• Individuals with ADHD are more likely to have low self-esteem. They are also more likely to experience key psychological distress such as depression and severe anxiety. Chronic stress because of these issues can also result in other conditions, such as fibromyalgia.
• Hadar Swersky further says that untreated ADHD in adults can cause differences in a parent-child relationship. Parents with ADHD can have more complexity controlling their emotions and impulses, which may result in frustration and conflict with children.
• Lack of concentration is the fundamental problem in those suffering from ADHD. People suffering from this condition can find it difficult to concentrate on a specific task and often leave them unfinished. But in a few cases, it has been found that people are hyper-focused, but these are various types of attention. In ADHD, people have trouble finishing everyday tasks that are more mundane like paying bills, cleaning, and others.
• At times we all show reckless behavior and may act on a whim, but for people with ADHD things often go uncontrollable. They may rip open out more frequently, which can have dangerous outcomes. They do not have control over their emotions and frequently act out irresponsibly and take impulsive decisions that might not be good for their professional or personal life.

ADHD is a mental health condition that can impact a person’s behavior. It appears during childhood usually, but the symptoms can also continue into adulthood. Many people do not know that they have ADHD. A doctor can recommend diverse treatment plans or behavioral therapies that help control the symptoms. If a person with ADHD does not get treatment, they may have problem staying focused and maintaining relationships with other people. They may also experience low self-esteem, frustration, and several other mental health conditions.