Adult ADD - Could this be you?
Have you ever joked that you must have ADD to explain away forgetting something or lack of attention to something important? Adult ADD is real, and not as uncommon as you might think.
Do you spend a half and hour looking for your sunglasses or keys, only to find them on your head or in your purse? This doesn't mean you are suffering from ADD, but it is an example of a common symptom generally attributed to simple forgetfulness.
There are those of us for whom forgetfulness is a way of life. We can't remember when we didn't spend periods of time each day "chasing our tails". We grew up with mediocre grades in school, and heard over and over that we were "daydreamers" or "slackers".
The truth is, ADD is just as common in adults as in children, but rarely caught or treated. ADD is generally attributed to a chemical imbalance in the brain. It doesn't have anything to do with intelligence or future potential, and many adults with ADD find ways to "cope", such as finding jobs that enable them to be more active, or switch frequently to different tasks.
As ADD has only come to the forefront of medical knowledge in the last few years, your parents and teachers probably didn't know it existed, so never thought to ask a doctor about your behavior. The current myth is that ADD is only a childhood disease, and the other is that ADD doesn't exist at all.
ADD, or Attention Deficit Disorder, can take different forms. Most people who are never diagnosed, most often girls, have a form of ADD called Inattentive ADD. This is different from the form known as Hyperactive ADD. A person with Inattentive ADD will often appear essentially average, but will be labeled a "daydreamer".
Here are some symptoms to watch for:
Do you lose things easily and often?
I know that I spent a ridiculous amount of time looking for my keys, my shoes, bills that needed to be paid, etc. I'd often find them in the most obvious place, sometimes right where they belonged!
Do you forget important tasks, or simply keep putting them off?
I know that I often spent time on things that were low priority, and put off anything with a deadline attached. I constantly planned for holidays or company at the last possible moment, often working late into the night to get the house clean and organized.
Do you constantly jump from one task to another, rarely finishing something you start?
This was a biggie for me, and the main reason I called my doctor. As a writer, it was important to be able to spend time sitting still and revising, and I wanted to be able to stick with projects longer than a simple article or short story.
Do you have difficulty following conversations, particularly when more than one person is talking in a room?
This can be particularly embarrassing. I often found that I couldn't remember names of people I met two minutes ago, and frequently found myself paying more attention to every noise and activity in the room but the person who was speaking directly to me.
Do you have difficulty motivating yourself?
Do you feel like your brain is "tired"? It's frustrating to be in your thirties and feel like you're energy level is that of an eighty year old. I woke up tired, couldn't wait to take a nap, and went to bed exhausted each night. Mostly, I just wanted to stop thinking, truly, I felt like my brain was working overtime, and wearing me out. Just like the mouse on the wheel, I went round and round in circles, through all the motions of success, without really moving.
If this sounds familiar, I would encourage you to contact your physician. I know that when I looked through the most common symptoms of ADD, it was positively scary. It was like the article was written specifically about my life. The truth is, ADD is real, common, and very treatable. Just because no one thought to check with the doctor when you were five, or ten, or twenty - doesn't mean that there's no hope for you now. Truly, your doctor can help.
There are numerous safe and effective medications on the market to treat ADD. I take a small pill each morning when I wake, and it lasts the entire day. For me, there aren't any adverse side effects. I'm more alert, more attentive, more energetic, and MUCH more productive. My life has changed in so many positive ways, and the future looks brighter than it ever has before.
About the Author
Michelle Gonzalez is the editor of both www.youthweekly.com and www.inspiredparent.com . A mother of three, she enjoys writing articles as well as poems and stories in her spare time. Her passions around childrens literacy and good parenting led her to create her two successful ezines.
Written by: Michelle Gonzalez
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