Psychiatrist reveals top 10 signs that show you might be living with ADHD

A psychiatrist has shared a list of 10 common signs which could suggest that you're living with ADHD.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is thought to affect around four percent of adults in the UK, with statistics from ADHD UK suggesting the figure could be around 2.6 million people.

The number of people diagnosed with ADHD in the past decade has also skyrocketed, with a '400% increase' in people pursuing a diagnosis meaning that many adults are likely to be suffering alone with the condition.

With waiting lists to see a psychiatrist ranging from months to sometimes even years, several doctors have shared advice online for people who believe they may be suffering.

One of these people is Dr Daniel Amen, who has shared a list on TikTok of 10 things he believes would be common indicators of ADHD, adding that if you can relate to 'two or more' of the things on the list you should consider pursuing a diagnosis.

You have a short attention span

The first thing to look out for is a short attention span as Amen highlights that a short attention span from ADHD will usually affect how well you do 'routine' jobs such as work, schoolwork, chores or even just paying attention during a conversation with a longterm partner.

You're bored a lot

People who suffer from ADHD frequently experience feelings of boredom more often and intensely than neurotypical people due to a higher need for stimulation.

You're restless and fidgety

Feelings of extreme boredom can often lead to frustration with Dr Amen explaining that people with ADHD are typically 'restless, fidgety, keyed up and agitated'.

You're chronically late

"You're chronically late, or just right on time because you didn't get ready until [the moment where] in your head you went 'oh my god I'm late.'"

You often misplace things

Most of us will misplace things from time to time, however, people with ADHD can sometimes find they have a lower working memory capacity - which leads to items often being misplaced.

Procrastination

Poor organisation, planning and procrastination are other telltale symptoms of ADHD, with Amen adding that people who suffer with the condition will often tend to leave things 'until the last minute'.

This can also lead to issues with performance at work and school.

You change jobs frequently

Procrastination isn't the only part of work performance which is impacted by ADHD, with a lot of sufferers also 'job-hopping' due to sudden interest changes.

Fall in and out of love a lot

Romantic relationships can also be impacted by ADHD, with sufferers often experiencing hyperfocus during the early days of their relationship before suddenly losing interest in their partner after a number of months.

Trouble following directions/instructions

A common symptom of ADHD is trouble following directions, this is because navigation skills requires sustained attention to understand details. As ADHD also impacts working memory, remembering a specific set of instructions can also be more difficult.

You just don't feel anywhere near your potential

Perhaps one of the most frustrating and upsetting parts of having ADHD is often feeling as though you're unable to reach your full potential, due to decreased a attention span and sudden changes of interest.

Of course, Dr Amen's list isn't a definitive diagnosis for ADHD, but the observations could be helpful for someone who has always suffered with concentration, but never quite known why.

However, sitting and listening to a list of 10 items might not be the best idea for someone with ADHD, as one commenter wrote: "#11: you totally spaced out and missed several of these bullet points."