The Long-Term Effects of Untreated ADHD in Adults
If you're diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, it can trigger a range of emotions. It can cause feelings of regret over missed opportunities, or feeling of relief from finally finding a cause for your struggles.
Untreated ADHD can have a long-term impact on relationships and finances, mental health and more. It is important that providers be aware of the long-term implications of untreated ADHD among adults.
1. Greater Risk of Mental Health Issues
Adults with untreated ADHD might have difficulty coping with negative emotions, especially when faced with challenges and setbacks. For example, a person with untreated ADHD might forget significant dates or react impulsively in sensitive conversations, which can affect relationships. They might also miss deadlines or make a mistake in professional settings, which could impact trust and dependability. In some cases this can trigger feelings of discontent and unworthiness which can create a negative self-image.
Adults who suffer from untreated ADHD can also have financial difficulties due to their lack of attention or disorganization, as well as their impulsive behavior. For instance, they could spend money impulsively or fail to keep track of bills or forget to pay their phone bill on time, which could result in late fees and late payments. They may also have difficulty maintaining stable employment due to frequent job changes and difficulties with attention to detail, organization, and time management.
Studies show that undiagnosed ADHD is associated with higher levels of mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety (Able and al., 2007) and social issues (Bishop-Fitzpatrick and co. (2018)) and a higher risk to sexually harmful practices (Bargiela et al. (2016)). It is also associated with a lower quality of life and an increased risk of chronic diseases such as weight gain and heart disease.
Adults with untreated ADHD may benefit from psychoeducation and therapy. They can also learn to reduce the risk of co-occurring conditions by keeping an eye on their symptoms and ensuring they aren't taking certain medications, such as stimulants, that could interfere with them. They can also be honest and transparent with their healthcare provider about their symptoms and the impact they can have on their lives. This will allow them to receive the medication that is most effective for their particular condition.
2. Increased Risk of Substance Use Disorders
Untreated ADHD patients are more likely to be diagnosed with a comorbid diagnosis that includes substance use disorder. ADHD symptoms such as inattention and impulsivity can lead to drug abuse and alcohol dependency. The person who has ADHD has a higher risk of becoming dependent on alcohol and other drugs than someone who does not have ADHD. This is believed to be due the core ADHD symptoms as well as impulsivity and poor self-regulation. These can lead to an increased risk of drug and alcohol abuse.
The combination of low levels of dopamine and impaired dopamine receptors triggered by untreated ADHD can increase the risk of drug addiction. Stimulants, like Ritalin and Adderall, are commonly used to treat ADHD because they raise dopamine levels in the brain, allowing people to focus and stay calm. However, the long-term use of stimulants can result in serious side effects, such as stroke, heart attack, brain damage and even death.
People who are not treated for ADHD may be more likely to suffer from depression and are at a greater likelihood of experiencing suicidal thoughts which may contribute to the development of the use of drugs. Untreated ADHD can also cause issues with relationships and work. Untreated ADHD can also lead to financial issues that make it difficult for people to maintain sufficient health insurance.
Many adults can feel content when they get the diagnosis of ADHD as an adult. They can now see that their behavior wasn't their fault. Adults with ADHD should seek treatment. First, adhd treatment for adults must consult with a physician to receive an accurate assessment of your medication and receive the best medications for your needs. Be sure to disclose any other health conditions or medications you are taking in order to ensure that ADHD medications may interact with certain substances.
3. Depression and anxiety are more likely to occur.
Untreated ADHD can affect a person's quality of living. These include difficulty at home, work and social interactions and relationships, low self-esteem and pessimistic outlook, and depression and anxiety.
Adults suffering from ADHD may have trouble maintaining relationships or establishing friendships due to the fact that they are indecisive, forget important dates, or aren't paying attention. Additionally, those who are not treated for ADHD often have trouble working through workplace hierarchy and managing long-term projects due to difficulty meeting deadlines. In some cases, this can result in unemployment, a decrease in professional status, and greater levels of job stress and anxiety.
Ginsberg and his coworkers (64) conducted an extensive study of the effects of ADHD underdiagnosis. Their findings indicated that untreated ADHD affects academic performance negatively, psychiatric co-morbidities, substance use as well as antisocial behavior, employment, driving, and health (e.g. smoking, obesity and poor sleep).
Some adults can benefit from other treatments, in addition to receiving an accurate diagnosis of ADHD. These include behavioral therapies such as behavioral therapy and lifestyle modifications like improved diet and exercise. The use of medication is also an effective option for those suffering from ADHD. Stimulants such as dextroamphetamine and the methylphenidate drug, also known as Ritalin (Ritalin), may be prescribed. Trials of medication begin with a low dose to observe how the patient responds prior to adjusting the dosage.
Getting a correct diagnosis and beginning treatment as soon as possible is crucial for better managing ADHD symptoms. The symptoms can be similar to those of other conditions, such as anxiety and depression, so it's crucial to seek an in-depth evaluation from a health care provider or mental health specialist to determine what's the cause of these symptoms.
4. Risk Increased for Physical Health Issues
Adults with untreated ADHD might have difficulty to maintain their regular healthcare routines. They may skip appointments and refills for prescriptions, and they might be unable to adhere to eating, exercise, and sleep schedules. This can make health issues worse like hypertension or heart disease. They may also have trouble managing financial issues. This could lead to impulse purchases or late payments on bills. This can also exacerbate chronic health conditions resulting from mental disorders like anxiety and depression.
In addition, those suffering from untreated ADHD often have difficulty to maintain relationships and social support networks. Relationship problems may be due to their symptoms, including forgetting household duties, ignoring their partners, or getting easily distracted during conversations. They may also have difficulties remembering important dates, such as birthdays or anniversaries. This can lead to stress and tension in their relationships, which may eventually lead to the breakup.
For many adults, symptom management and lifestyle modifications can make a an enormous difference in the quality of life. They can utilize lists and reminders to help manage their forgetfulness, establish regular routines for their day to decrease variability and take part in physical activities to help overcome their restlessness. They can also work with a physician to determine the right dosage of medication that will improve their symptoms without producing any negative adverse side effects.
It is crucial to seek help if you are struggling with the symptoms of ADHD. Refusing treatment could lead to people blame their issues on themselves, reliving them, and creating a vicious cycle that negatively impacts their physical and mental health. Getting an accurate diagnosis and undergoing treatment as soon as you can will prevent these problems from arising.
5. Suicide Risk Increased
It is not unusual to find people suffering from untreated ADHD who are diagnosed to resort to self-destructive coping strategies. This may include using or drinking alcohol, which can cause mental health issues and lead to a downward spiral of symptoms.
In addition, people with ADHD may have difficulty maintaining relationships due to their impulsivity and difficulty managing their emotions. They might not be able to attend important events or drop off during conversations, leaving their loved ones feeling undervalued and frustrated. They might also make a decision something carelessly and later regret it. This can cause a strain on friendships. In the workplace, adults with untreated ADHD frequently miss deadlines and lose credibility due to due to their inability to fulfill commitments.
The challenges faced by people living with ADHD can create a perfect recipe for anxiety and depression and can lead to suicide attempts. One study found that people who suffer from untreated ADHD are at an increased risk of suicidal behavior regardless of comorbidities. It also found that adult ADHD-related impulsivity and hyperactivity predicted temper outbursts/hitting/throwing and that adult ADHD-related inattention predicted threats/actual self-harm.
It is important to note however that the majority of participants were females. Only a handful of participants were diagnosed with ADHD-H. The future research should aim to utilize larger sample sizes to ensure exact results. Furthermore, the research was based on questionnaires, so results should be validated using diagnostic interviews.