Contrary to general belief, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) does not always go away as people leave childhood behind. While the condition may look different in children, many adults with ADHD suffer from severe distractibility, forgetfulness, and disorganization. They often exhibit impulsiveness, carelessness or even reckless behavior. They usually experience high levels of frustration and a lot of emotional ups and downs, and their behavior often takes a large emotional toll on their partners.

Typical behaviors include a pattern of constantly forgetting to pay bills and turn in work and frequently losing paperwork, checks, to-do lists, keys, glasses, and wallets. The pattern also includes extreme procrastination, especially when it comes to complex activities, and a chronic inability to complete tasks.

Adult ADHD has significant adverse life impacts. Adults with ADHD have very high rates of quitting or being fired from jobs, earn significantly lower incomes, have elevated substance abuse rates, and get into more accidents than others.

ADHD, however, isn't just a story of individual suffering and underperformance. Adults with ADHD have around twice the average likelihood of marital disharmony, separation and divorce. Partners often express understandable stress and resentment about carrying a disproportionate amount of responsibility for dealing with obligations.

What and how common is it? ADHD involves functional deficits in brain areas that help people organize information and tasks and sustain the focus necessary to get things done. Researchers estimate that four to five percent of U.S. adults have ADHD, the great majority of those undiagnosed. The condition tends to run in families. While about three times as many boys as girls suffer from ADHD, by adulthood the gender ratio is about even.

Diagnosis of ADHD requires an intensive assessment that reaches back into childhood and explores numerous aspects of life including work, relationships, and social adjustment. For those with the condition, great improvements are possible through an individualized campaign that includes education, adoption of life management skills and strategies, healthier lifestyles, and consultation with one's doctor on the value of medication. Building understanding and healthy alliances with partners and family is critical.

Although it usually requires extremely hard work, most adults with ADHD can meet their responsibilities, and lead productive and responsible lives. In our overloaded, multi-tasking lives, everyone experiences some ADHD symptoms. But if you or your loved ones see a compelling description of your life in this brief article, get professional help and take charge of your life.

Stephen Gajewski, MS, JD, LPC, LLC, provides individual and couples counseling, specializing in mind body health and medicine, mindfulness, stress management and reduction, career counseling and coaching, work-life balance, and adult ADHD. He also specializes in helping clients deal with issues surrounding chronic pain and disease. Contact him at (208) 640-3323 or www.sgajskillc.com.