ADHD isn’t just a childhood condition. In fact, most research indicates that when you’re ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), you’re ADHD for life. However, a common question is: does ADHD worsen with age? The answer is yes…and no. It’s complicated. So let’s unpack this important question now.
Brain Changes = ADHD Changes
ADHD is neurodevelopmental, which means it solidifies as the brain develops. The wiring of the ADHD brain stays the 
same for a person’s entire life. The brain itself grows into early adulthood. In the ADHD brain, executive functions (the brain’s ability to focus, regulate, plan, etc.) are slower to mature than non-ADHD brains. Meaning, the brains of adults without ADHD solidify at age 25, while for ADHDers…it’s more like 30. This can make for one heck of a quarter-life crisis.
But natural brain changes are only one piece of the adult ADHD puzzle. Adult lives (careers, family, etc.) involve more responsibility and stress than those in childhood. Most adults are responsible for managing their time in a way much different than children. Your teachers are all gone, and you have to rely on yourself to meet deadlines.
ADHD is a Lifelong Condition—but It Doesn’t Always Look the Same
In reality, ADHD in adulthood often looks different than ADHD in childhood. ADHD Symptoms in childhood might look like:
- Running around the classroom
- Talking back to teachers
- Doodling in class or daydreaming out of the window
- Pulling all nighters to cram for a test you forgot was tomorrow ADHD Symptoms in adulthood might look like:
- Not being able to “shut your brain off”
- Oversharing in conversations, then beating yourself up all night as you try to sleep
- Emotional overwhelms, breakdowns, or total shutdowns
- Forgetting about meetings and appointments entirely
Actual ADHD Symptoms that May Get Worse with Age
- Working This is the brain’s ability to hold items in mind and apply them when needed. This looks like remembering appointments, what others said to you, and where you put items. The older you get, the more you need to hold things in your mind. This results in things slipping through the cracks…and others criticizing you that much more often.
- Emotionally, the experience of ADHD often creates excessive guilt and shame over the years. You tend to carry more emotionally as you age, making you more vulnerable to overwhelms and total shutdowns when triggered.
So does ADHD actually “get worse”?
No, ADHD itself isn’t what’s getting worse. It’s the world around you that’s changing. The criticisms pile up, the environments become less supportive, and you live with a chronic fear of asking for help. Over time, you lose the structure of your childhood and are faced with the overwhelm of trying to navigate a world built for someone else.
Here’s the good news: even though the world is changing around you, there are tools to change your life so that the world works for you. These include strategies to boost focus, assertiveness, organization, and confidence, helping you navigate the practical and emotional side of ADHD…at any age.
Key Takeaways
- ADHD isn’t just a childhood
- ADHD is neurodevelopmental, which means it solidifies as the brain
- ADHD in adulthood often looks different than ADHD in
- ADHD itself doesn’t get worse, but the world around the ADHD can create more ADHD issues
Begin Adult ADHD Treatment in Columbus, Ohio
Looking for more individualized support? You don’t have to live struggling with adulting. ADHD-focused therapy can help you find tools to manage ADHD in adult life. Our counseling practice in Columbus, Ohio, has caring therapists who specialize in ADHD testing and ADHD treatment. To start your counseling journey with Focused Mind ADHD Counseling, follow these simple steps:
- Fill out the contact form to schedule a free 15-minute phone consulation.
- Meet with one of our caring therapists.
- Stop Struggling. Start living.
Other ADHD Services Offered at Focused Mind ADHD Counseling
Adult ADHD treatment is not the only service we offer at our Columbus, OH counseling practice. At Focused Mind ADHD Counseling, we offer a variety of mental health services, including ADHD testing. As an adult with ADHD, we know you may also benefit from anxiety treatment for ADHD, counseling for men with ADHD, couples therapy for ADHD, or depression counseling for ADHD. You can also view our blog for more resources and helpful info!
