Okay, there is a lot of material online about signs and traits of adhd and the criteria for diagnosis. Additionally, I will answer this with my own observations of myself and others I’ve known with ADHD. However, you can visit COULD IT BE ADHD for a more formal response; this is what it could look like. Additionally, feel free to add your own lived examples. Moreover, we should discuss this, as we may gaslight ourselves and doubt it, even after a professional diagnosis.
What follows are behaviors and examples that reflect signs and traits of adhd in myself and others. Additionally, real-life examples should make you curious about the bigger picture, and many are not listed as official traits.
- Consistently forgetting things within seconds of being told
- People keep saying “Have you ever thought that you could have ADHD?”
- Having lots of things that change regularly like romantic partners, hobbies, interests, obsessions, houses, cars etc.
- Zoning out and feeling overwhelmed without an obvious reason
- Snapping at someone for a perceived slight
- Finding it really hard to ask for help to the extent that you carry on yourself even when you don’t know how
- Going to a public place and suddenly feeling anxious and overwhelmed, wanting to cry etc.
- Finding it hard to maintain friendships and forgetting about people who at one time were really important in life
- Looking with suspicion at anyone coming across as too nice/innocent/happy etc
- Talking to yourself aloud
- Interviewing yourself about something that happened as if you are a football manager on Sky Sports talking to Gary Neville “Yeah Gary, the meeting went okay and I took away some actions, not sure when I can squeeze them in though”
- Having rituals over washing, cooking, work etc
- Having no rituals and letting the house go to shit!
- Getting obsessed by a band and buying their books, back catalog, t-shirts and merch then losing interest within months
- Going on regular side-quests when you’re meant to be doing something else e.g. set out to mow the lawn but found distracted sat down in the garage listening to a podcast and eating an ice cream
- Researching the hell out of something and then when you buy it the rush, interest and novelty goes whether that be a car or a kettle
- Borrowing a book and never getting beyond page 2 despite the excitement of it initially or taking one that someone recommends and not being able to say “no thanks”
- Working flat out and missing mealtimes
- Being flippant with money and spending beyond your means, regularly
- Addictions of various kinds including alcohol, drugs, sex, gambling and more innocent ones
- Forgetting massively important events completely like an operation a family member is having
I would love to hear your examples of ADHD in real life, so please use the button below.
Additionally, it’s hard to know what is normal life and what is ADHD since it’s always been part of us.
The severity and long-lasting nature differentiate ADHD from neurotypical.
Use our ADHD Screener Tool to check on how ADHD could be affecting you.