Consultant psychiatrist reveals three signs that are 'present in everyone with ADHD'

While various signs and symptoms manifest in the human body, they can be particularly prominent and diagnosable in conditions like ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder). Consultant psychiatrist Dr. Ali Ajaz (@draliajaz) shared his insights on several signs visible in “everyone with ADHD.” He noted 3 symptoms in particular and explained how these are connected with the disorder. ADHD is a developmental disorder that affects the behavioral patterns of an individual, per the National Institute of Mental Health. It is largely characterized by inattentiveness, impulsiveness or hyperactivity. 

Coming right to the topic, Dr. Ajaz pointed out the first sign, “Not being able to get stuff done.” He explained that day-to-day mundane things like washing dishes, paying bills, and other chores that seem simple and generic to many might be quite the task for people with ADHD. He added that people with the disorder are likely to “procrastinate” these seemingly small things and put them off. Dr. Ajaz also mentioned that even bigger deadlines and important things that need to be ticked off the list might be pushed aside as a sign of ADHD. “It’s not until the 11th hour when that voice in their head goes into panic mode that they take action,” he noted.

This is because people with ADHD either hyperfocus or delay or get perplexed with the idea of getting tasks done, per Medical News Today. This often pushes them to keep tasks for later, ultimately procrastinating. Highlighting an important point, the psychiatrist mentioned that these tasks, though put off or pushed aside, are often “done to a pretty good standard.” The second sign the expert noted was “depression and anxiety.” “If you’re a person with undiagnosed ADHD, life sucks,” he said. He explained that it takes a lot more of such a person’s effort to bring themselves to do everyday and basic things.

“You beat yourself up more than others and your mood and emotions can be all over the place,” he added. He also explained that people with ADHD might notice that “something is wrong” but are unable to figure out what exactly the issue is. This ongoing curiosity and failure to diagnose ADHD symptoms often lead to depression, per WebMD. Lastly, Dr. Ajaz mentioned that “gut issues” are also an indicator of ADHD. “IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), either bloating, constipation, gas, diarrhea, pain and cramps,” the expert said, are some of the issues caused as a sign of ADHD.

This is because the gut has microbiomes that are connected to the brain and can affect mental health, per Everyday Health. Andrea E. Cassidy-Bushrow, PhD, a senior scientist at Henry Ford Health in Detroit who has studied the relationship between the gut microbiome and ADHD explained, “Some of the most compelling evidence comes from studies where the gut microbiome of humans with ADHD is transferred to mice, with those mice then exhibiting behavior and brain changes compared with mice who received gut microbiome from [people without ADHD].” Dr. Ajaz recommended visiting a doctor to identify the root cause if any of these signs seem familiar. 

You can follow Dr. Ali Ajaz (@draliajaz) on Instagram for more content on mental health and ADHD.