Tacoma Christian Counseling Logo

  • ServicesRead about the expertise available
    • Individual ServicesAddress your personal concerns confidentially
      • ADHD
      • Aging and Geriatric Issues
      • Anger Management
      • Anxiety
      • Autism Spectrum Disorder
      • Bipolar Disorder
      • Chemical Dependency
      • Counseling for Children
      • Counseling for Teens
      • Codependency
      • Depression
      • Eating Disorders
      • EMDR
      • Grief and Loss Counseling
      • Individual Counseling
      • Infidelity and Affairs
      • Lifespan Integration Therapy
      • Men’s Issues
      • OCD
      • Pornography Addiction
      • Personal Development
      • Psychological Testing
      • Relationship Issues
      • Sexual Abuse
      • Sexual Addiction
      • Spiritual Development
      • Trauma
      • Weight Loss
      • Women’s Issues
    • Christian Couples CounselingWork through challenges together
      • Couples Counseling
      • Premarital Counseling
      • Marriage Counseling
    • Family CounselingEstablish the peaceful home you desire
      • Couples Counseling
      • Counseling for Teens
      • Counseling for Children
      • Family Counseling
    • Group CounselingBenefit from the support of others
      • Men’s Sexual Addiction Recovery
        Group
      • All Counseling Groups
    • Online Counseling
    • Anxiety
    • Depression
    • Sexual Addiction
    • Marriage Counseling
  • LocationsWe have offices at various locations
    • AnacortesAnacortes
    •  1Bellevue
    •  1Bothell
    • Edmonds
    •  1Everett
    • How Fathers Can Prepare Their Children to Fight Pornography's Lure: What Lies AheadFederal Way
    •  1Kent
    • Kirkland Christian CounselingKirkland
    • Lacey Christian CounselingLacey
    •  1Mill Creek
    •  1Monroe
    • Oak Harbor OutsideOak Harbor
    • Poulsbo
    •  1Puyallup
    •  1Redmond
    •  1Seattle Ballard
    • Seattle Downtown
    •  1Seattle Greenlake
    •  1Silverdale
    • Tacoma
    •  1Spokane
    • Spokane ValleySpokane Valley
    •  1Vancouver
    •  1Online Counseling
  • CounselorsFind out more about our counselors
  • CareersJoin our team of Christian Counselors
  • (253) 777-1997Please give us a call, we are here to help
header-image

Adult ADHD Symptoms that are Subtle and Difficult to Diagnose

Tacoma Christian Counseling
https://tacomachristiancounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/adult-adhd-symptoms-that-are-subtle-and-difficult-to-diagnose.jpg 686 1024
https://tacomachristiancounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Mount-Rainier.jpg
https://tacomachristiancounseling.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Tacoma-Christian-Counseling-Logo-Fill-Stacked.jpg
621 Pacific Ave, Suite 302
TACOMA, WA 98402
United States
621 Pacific Ave, Suite 302
TACOMA, WA 98402
United States
Photo of Missy Neill

Missy Neill

Jun
2019
17

Adult ADHD Symptoms that are Subtle and Difficult to Diagnose

Missy Neill

ADHDIndividual CounselingMen's IssuesWomen's Issues
Adult ADHD Symptoms that are Subtle and Difficult to DiagnoseDo you have trouble finishing tasks? Trouble focusing? Often lose or misplace things? If you answered yes, you may be struggling with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD.

ADHD is defined as a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development. ADHD is usually easily recognized in children but not so much in adults. There are many signs and symptoms of ADHD that are often overlooked or dismissed because they are so subtle. Signs and symptoms can differ between adults and children in how they manifest and this article will only focus on adult ADHD.

Many people live with ADHD and don’t know it but when their lives get to a place of unmanageability they can’t ignore the symptoms any longer. Sometimes a person is encouraged to seek out help from a partner or loved one because ADHD symptoms usually affect entire family systems and rarely just the one diagnosed.

Like us if you are enjoying this content.

Signs and Symptoms of ADHD

Behavior

Behavior is hard to hide and therefore it usually is a dead giveaway for someone suffering from ADHD. A disorganized environment is a major sign of someone suffering from this disorder. Paying bills and keeping a house tidy, which are minor tasks for most, can be quite a struggle with someone who has ADHD.

Adult ADHD Symptoms that are Subtle and Difficult to Diagnose 1

People with ADHD are often late due to their inability to gauge how much time is required to get to a place and/or they become distracted en route such as forgetting that the car is low on gas and they’ll need to stop and fill it up. Plus they underestimate how much time a project will take to complete.

Fidgeting in their seat or getting up multiple times in a situation where seating is expected is another sign of ADHD.

Being easily distracted can be another major indicator of ADHD. If a person is working on a project or paper and easily falls off task when a phone rings or someone asks a question, that can be an indicator that there is more going on then just being disrupted.

Cognitive

The cognitive dissonance a person experiences with ADHD can lead to mood disorders because of the high level of internal chaos.

A person suffering from ADHD can experience:

  • trouble focusing
  • be easily distracted
  • forget things or forget where items were placed

Mental / Mood

Adult ADHD Symptoms that are Subtle and Difficult to Diagnose 2Anxiety, mood swings, depression, and irritability are all signs of ADHD. A person can become quite anxious or depressed about meeting a deadline, finishing a project, or losing an item because of the daily struggle of being unorganized and/or not being able to complete a task. People also might describe you as uptight or tense as ADHD will make it hard for you to relax.

Exhibiting one or two signs of ADHD is common for most people but it doesn’t mean that you have the disorder or meet the criteria for diagnosis. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual requires a person to have a certain amount of symptoms over a certain time span to be diagnosed. A professional or doctor will take a complete history and look at your signs and symptoms in context to see if you meet the diagnostic criteria.

Treatment Options

There are many treatment options available to someone who is affected by ADHD. It is no fun living in a world where a person may feel they are in complete chaos all the time and feeling like they have no control over it. Treatment ranges from psychotherapy and behavioral interventions to medications and is based on the severity of symptoms and how the symptoms are affecting a person.

Adult ADHD Symptoms that are Subtle and Difficult to Diagnose 3

Psychotherapy can help you process your feelings around managing ADHD and behavioral interventions will teach you life skills to be aware of your ADHD behaviors and to better manage them. The better a person can learn skills to manage their ADHD, the more in control they will feel about their disorder and it may allow them to function without the use of medication.

“Talk therapy” or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a powerful tool to use in helping someone get relief not only from dealing with their ADHD but also dealing with the behavioral, cognitive, and mental/mood issue related to ADHD. Family therapy may also be warranted as well.

Medications include stimulants and non-stimulants and starting medications is always trial and error. Stimulants are usually prescribed first and your doctor will monitor your dosage, side effects, and how the medications are affecting you.

Side effects of medication can sometimes mimic ADHD symptoms so it’s important to check in regularly with your doctor and/or therapist to monitor things. Some side effects can include jittery nerves, anxiety, trouble sleeping, loss of appetite, moodiness, dry mouth, increase in blood pressure, and other effects.

Medication that is primarily used to treat anxiety and/or depression may also be prescribed to help with your ADHD. Some people may be able to discontinue meds after awhile but for others, it may be a lifetime maintenance plan.

If you are suffering from ADHD, get help. As a Christian counselor, I see and recognize that seeking help can be challenging for some individuals as there may be a belief that asking for help means we don’t have trust and faith in God.

I encourage you to use prayer to ask the Holy Spirit to guide you to a place of wisdom and discernment around getting help with your disorder. God loves and works through imperfect people and you are worth it and deserve the best.

Photos:
“Alejandra thinking II,” courtesy of Luis Alejandro Bernal Romeo, Flickr CreativeCommons (CC BY-SA 2.0); “Reading Day 12,” courtesy of Katia Goretti Dias Vazzoller, Flickr CreativeCommons (CC BY-SA 2.0); “Hope Sign in Oakland Hills,” courtesy of Cary Bass-Deschenes, Flickr CreativeCommons, (CC BY-SA 2.0)

  • Share on Facebook
  • Tweet it
  • ↑ Back to top
Photo of Missy Neill
Missy is currently not accepting new clients

Missy Neill

Licensed Counselor
(206) 607-9699 missyn@tacomachristiancounseling.com

I’m a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, passionate about helping individuals and couples find healing and peace for their lives and relationships. If you struggle with issues like anxiety and depression, grief and loss, relationship issues, or sexual addiction, I’m here to offer you compassionate support and tools for recovery. I look forward to working with you. Read more articles by Missy »

Other articles that might interest you...

spacer

Adult ADHD – Do I Have It? A Christian Counselor on ADHD 3
Photo of Dr. Julie Stroemel

Dr. Julie Stroemel

Adult ADHD – Do I Have It? A ...

Part 2 of a 4-Part Series on Adult ADHD This is the second article in a four-part series on Adult...

continue reading »
Adult ADHD – Fact versus Fiction: A Christian Counselor on ADHD 3
Photo of Dr. Julie Stroemel

Dr. Julie Stroemel

Adult ADHD – Fact versus Fiction: A ...

Part 1 of a 4-Part Series This is the first article in a series on Adult ADHD in which I...

continue reading »

About Missy

Photo of Missy Neill

Missy Neill, M.Ed, LMHC, CSAT

Licensed Counselor

I’m a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, passionate about helping individuals and couples find healing and peace for their lives and relationships. If you struggle with issues like anxiety and depression, grief and loss, relationship issues, or sexual addiction, I’m here to offer you compassionate support and tools for recovery. I look forward to working with you. View Missy's Profile

Recent articles by Missy

  • May 29 · Finding Help for Depression
  • Mar 8 · Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety in Adults
  • Jan 17 · How To Listen Well In Difficult Conversations
See all articles by Missy »

Related Services

  • ADHD
  • Individual Counseling
  • Men's Issues
  • Women's Issues

Missy's Office Locations

  • Photo of the Kent office

    Kent

    Washington

    General Office Number

    (253) 656-5454
    24909 104th Ave SE,, Suite 101-A Kent, WA 98030

    View Office Details
  • Photo of the Federal Way office

    Federal Way

    Washington

    General Office Number

    (206) 452-6728
    33710 9th Ave S,, Suite 15 Federal Way, WA 98003

    View Office Details
Tacoma Christian Counseling Logo
Tacoma Christian Counseling
Professional help with faith-based values
We are an association of professional, independently licensed Christian counselors experienced in helping people of all ages find healing for a wide variety of issues.
© 2023 Tacoma Christian Counseling. All rights reserved.
621 Pacific Ave,, Tacoma, WA 98402. Tel (253) 777-1997.
Facebook Twitter Online Counseling About Us Privacy Policy Terms of Use Feel free to contact us!
COVID-19 Service Update: We are still open for business. In office and online counseling is available if needed.