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Not Just Distracted: What Adult ADHD Really Looks Like—and What to Do Next

  • Writer: Daniel Steinberg, PhD
    Daniel Steinberg, PhD
  • Jan 6
  • 2 min read

Most adults with ADHD aren’t bouncing off walls—they’re quietly overwhelmed, exhausted, and misunderstood. Here’s what your clients, patients, or colleagues might not be telling you.


Illustration of an adult professional woman working at a desk in a modern office, focused on her laptop while an overfilled email inbox and scattered paperwork suggest cognitive overload and executive strain rather than visible distraction.
Adult ADHD often looks like quiet overwhelm, not chaos—high functioning on the outside, exhausted on the inside.

She’s a high-achieving professional—but her inbox is a disaster. She forgets deadlines, double-books meetings, and works late into the night to compensate. She’s not flaky; she has undiagnosed ADHD.


Adult ADHD doesn’t look the way people expect. And because it doesn’t, many adults struggle for years without answers—especially women and professionals in demanding fields.

1. What ADHD Looks Like in Adults

  • Chronic procrastination masked by bursts of last-minute productivity

  • Emotional reactivity (not immaturity—dysregulation)

  • Constant mental noise; difficulty prioritizing

  • Sensitivity to rejection or feedback

  • Functional but always at the edge of burnout


2. Why It's Often Missed

  • ADHD in adults is under-recognized, especially in women

  • Masked by anxiety, perfectionism, or trauma history

  • Many have adapted so well they seem “fine” from the outside

  • Primary care is not trained to screen for ADHD in high-functioning adults


3. What a Good Evaluation Actually Involves

  • Structured clinical interview (not just a checklist)

  • Objective performance-based testing

  • Rule-outs for anxiety, trauma, depression, learning disorders

  • A written report that makes sense to both the patient and any third party

If you're a therapist, physician, or care manager working with adults who are overwhelmed, avoidant, or spinning their wheels despite motivation—refer them for a proper ADHD evaluation.


I offer structured, evidence-based ADHD assessments for adults in PSYPACT states, 100% virtual, clinician-led, and available during evening hours. No diagnosis mills. No cut corners. Just clarity and a path forward.

Dr. Daniel Steinberg is a licensed clinical psychologist offering telehealth-based ADHD assessments for adults across PSYPACT-participating states. His approach emphasizes clarity, compassion, and clinically sound evaluation.


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