Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Adults and ADHD
I have been working with adults with ADHD for years now and I always seem to find out something new everyday. I have found the following
- Greatest strengths are usually the ability to see the big picture.
- Great personalities and can be the life of the party.
- They seem to get stuck when things don't go there way.
- Have difficulty following through.
- Can believe that they are always right and everyone else doesn't know what they are talking about.
- When first diagnosed may believe that medication is for others and not themselves.
What do you believe about adult ADHD? What are your struggles? What have been your greatest achievements? Surprise me again with your great ADHD story.
- Greatest strengths are usually the ability to see the big picture.
- Great personalities and can be the life of the party.
- They seem to get stuck when things don't go there way.
- Have difficulty following through.
- Can believe that they are always right and everyone else doesn't know what they are talking about.
- When first diagnosed may believe that medication is for others and not themselves.
What do you believe about adult ADHD? What are your struggles? What have been your greatest achievements? Surprise me again with your great ADHD story.
posted by Maren Angelotti at
11:55 AM
I am approaching 60 years old, in a few weeks. I found out about my AD/HD just 4 years ago. I was cruising WebMD just looking around. I saw a side-bar with the question, "Do you have ADD?" There was a test to take. I did and passed it!
I was then tested by a psychologist (4 hour test) (he said I was in the 98th percentile) and also passed that. This has been a very traumatic 4 years. I went through grief for a number of months. ( I think I am still grieving)
I am on meds (from my GP) and had been doing ok. I even started a business. I have a talent for making jewelry and I have been totally amazed at what I am able to do! I feel VERY blessed.
The meds were right for a while, now I am not so sure...
It's a journey, I know. But, it is a very hard journey.
I have suffered from depression most of my life. Feeling stupid, overwhelmed, confused. Went to many, many therapists for depression at different stages of my life. Finally, I was diagnosed with ADHD. What a relief to know what's going on. I'm not stupid!!! Taking medication and seeing therapist to deal with my everyday problems. Not soo overwhelmed and emotional any more. Still have trouble retaining things that I read and sure can't remember anything from school like events in history, never did well at math so that's still a struggle. Tempted to go back to school but feel like I would have to go so far back and relearn so much.
Maren, your comments are like reading a discription of about 80% of my existence or more. Much to my chagrin I have been at times the person that believes that I have all of the answers when others don't. I am happy to say that with age comes wisdom and I have been humbled many times. I do not figet, but I do have almost every other attribute. I am not particularly hyper and the outside world sees me as calm and soothing to be around (most of the time). =)
Are there other ADHD folks that do not manifest the outward symptoms of hyperactivity?
In response to the person wondering about hyperactivity: I have a hypreactive brain, but no outward hyperactive symptoms. I have to purposely slow down my thought process to be able to speak intelligently (without stuttering, or skipping, or talking backwards), to be able to write in a way that makes sense, I have to read over things several times (like now) to make sure it all sounds right. So, consequently, it's even harder for other people to understand me and my personality. I have finally started to explain this to people who are very close to me, but new acquaintances and casual friends just don't know. At 43 I can now control myself from being a "too intense and over the top" kind of person, but it takes much practice, effort, and a deliberate slowing down of all my mental activity to make this happen.
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