Contrary to popular belief, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) isn’t just a childhood problem; symptoms often persist into adulthood. Many adults with ADHD can build successful careers, but the disorder nonetheless creates additional challenges. Here are some common work-related problems that may be signs of ADHD.
1. Perfectionism
” People with ADHD often have an unhealthy tendency toward perfectionism,” says American psychologist Dede O’Shea. “ADHD disrupts the areas of the brain responsible for attention. Therefore, people with this disorder find it very difficult or almost impossible to switch attention or focus on something by sheer willpower. Their brain constantly ‘jumps’ between different thoughts and ideas.
Perfectionism sometimes becomes an attempt to cope with this problem: “If I can do everything perfectly, then things will work out.” But “perfect” usually doesn’t happen,” explains Did O’Shea.
2. Putting things off until the last minute (procrastination)
“ADHD in adults often manifests itself at work as chronic procrastination (in other words, they do everything at the last minute). This is because this disorder affects the so-called executive function of the brain (responsible for planning, self-organization, willpower, and much more), and therefore, people with ADHD typically have problems with planning and time management,” explains Deepti Anbarasan, professor of psychiatry at New York University School of Medicine.
Failure to meet deadlines is often also associated with anxiety.
“People with ADHD, like everyone else, have different approaches to work. Some put things off until the last minute, paralyzed by an intense fear of failure. For others, the prospect of a looming deadline motivates them and helps them focus,” says clinical psychologist Megan Anna Neff.
3. Constantly being late for work and meetings
People with ADHD may struggle to arrive at work on time, despite their best efforts. “Flexible schedules and the need to meet deadlines often create significant challenges for them,” says psychologist and coach Sean Abraham.
We all run late sometimes, but many people with ADHD have a distorted sense of time —meaning they have a hard time estimating how long it will take them to get to work, or they confuse their departure time with the start of their work day.
“I often hear a story like this from patients with ADHD: They seem to know they need to be at work by 9 a.m., but all they remember is the number 9 a.m. As a result, they only leave the house at 9 a.m.,” says Sean Abraham.
4. Nervous breakdowns or hysterics during tense moments
People with ADHD often have underdeveloped prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain that controls (among other things) our attention and emotional responses.
“A person with ADHD often struggles to control the turbulent flow of thoughts and feelings that arise in stressful situations. This can lead to a nervous breakdown and an inability to manage themselves and their emotions. Some people become distraught because of this, while others may experience angry outbursts or hysterical reactions ,” explains Did O’Shea.
At work, such a person may react inappropriately to new, unfamiliar work responsibilities or to an unexpected setback. Any change to the usual routine, any unexpected event, can provoke a strong emotional reaction.
5. Constant errors
“Our brain’s executive function is like a boss or manager, helping us organize our lives. In ADHD, executive function is often impaired, making it difficult for people with this disorder to focus on the task at hand or they often rush and make careless mistakes,” explains Did O’Shea.
They may feel like they are doing the task effectively.
But in reality, they often read a text and don’t understand its meaning because their attention is elsewhere. With any monotonous task that requires perseverance (for example, reading a large number of emails or documents), a person with ADHD quickly becomes bored; their brain requires constant stimulation.
“If coworkers are constantly having to finish your work and correct mistakes you make out of carelessness, or you regularly miss key details in emails or documents, this could be a sign of ADHD,” O’Shea says.
6. Frequent creative ideas and insights that fail to be realized
People with ADHD are often able to come up with unusual, creative solutions, but because of impaired executive function, they may have difficulty putting these solutions into practice.
“At work, an employee with ADHD may be seen as a highly creative, enthusiastic, and imaginative individual. However, they often struggle with the practical implementation of projects and solving everyday problems,” explains Did O’Shea.
