I just found out that i have adhd at the age of 34.Why at such a late stage in life?

Question

Why was this not picked up as a child,it would explian alot.

Thank you all for such mature answers

Answer 1

Well it wasn't picked up when you were a child because at that time the condition didn't "exist" for lack of a better term. I bet your teachers used to tell your parents you had a short attention span, yet were clever but still had mediocre marks despite the fact you were intelligent. Look at it this way, if the condition existed back then, they'd have pumped you full of ridalin, (which also didn't exist back then), and rather than be distracted in class, you'd be medicated.

I'm curious though, how was it diagnosed? Feel free to email me, I honestly think I have the same thing!

Answer 2

If you are just diagnosed, I recommend you read some of Dr. Hallowell's books on ADHD and also some of Thom Hartmann's work about Hunters vs. Farmers. It isn't necessarily a disease, it is just a different way of thinking. Most of the time, people with the Hunter mentality are smart enough to perform all the tests and tasks that the Farmer mentality has designed and so, you impress them enough to seem normal. Once you reach a stage in life where you have to choose and organize things for yourself (promoted past the usual 'follow the binder' jobs), then you start to have problems with the situations where "there is no 'I' in 'TEAM'.....
There is a lot of information and help out there. Don't just expect to be drugged into 'normalcy' all of a sudden.
Another thing to think about is that a LOT of car accidents cause the same type of mild brain injury. This is a type which injures the part of the brain which organizes and controls executive functions. Many of the same symptoms as ADHD can come from these types of injury. If you have been in a car accident, look up information on MTBI (mild traumatic brain injury)....

Answer 3

There are 3 different kids of ADHD. There's the one where you are distracted easy and have a hard time paying attention, there's the one when you are really hyper, fidgety, can't keep still. There is also a combo of both. There are some children that grow out of it and there are some that carries it on to their adult lives. Most schools are the ones to bring it to the attention of the parents. If you didn't have problems at school most likely it went unnoticed. I am a mother of two ADHD kids and the youngest one has also been diagnosed with oppositional defiant disorder. I know the affects of it and it can be trying. There are things that can help such as changing your diet, medication, and therapy. It is possible that you can control most things and there are somethings that you can't...but you are an adult and you may have adapted and are able to control yourself much better then smaller children. My children are seeing a pshychologist so that she can help them express feelings and teach them how to focus better. She is also helping me to help them better in school as well as their everyday lives. They are also on medication to help tone them down. They do not act like zombies, they act like they normally would except that they are not yelling and bouncing off the walls. They are improving every single day. I Hope that this helps.

Answer 4

sometimes, people can contract what is known as adult onset ADHD. this happens all the time, sometimes due to uncontrolled anxiety, panic attacks/panid disorder, too much stress, or other chemical imbalances that dont exhibit themselves completely until adulthood. also, alot more is known now about ADHD than there was 30 years ago when you were a child, so it is easier to detect and treat now. 30 years ago, ADHD was still considered a myth and wasn't out in the open as much as it is now. so maybe these are parts of the reasons why you were never diagnosed as a child and it waited until you were 34 to manifest itself and be properly diagnosed.

Answer 5

You have probably had your whole life and no one had you tested. Back in the day, they generally would just explain adhd type of behavior or symptoms as being un-ruley, or being a rebellious child, etc. Today, it is easier to pick up on and a visit to a trained therapist office will identify the disorder. There are medications for it. Good luck.

Answer 6

ADHD was not recognized until the late 70's and then wasnt acepted by most untill the mid 80s , smaller schol districts were not trained to recgnise the condition . you moast likly have had adhd all your life .
I was diegnosed in the erly 80s prior to wich i was just referd to as being slow and having behavior isues
it is posible to l;ead a productive live with ADHD medicated or not

Answer 7

FIRST OF ALL THERE WAS SUCH DIAGNOSIS WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD OR TEEN. IF YOU EVER HAD COMMENTS WRITTEN ON YOUR REPORT CARD LIKE:


DOESN'T PAY ATTENTION IN CLASS

DOES NOT COMPLETE HOMEWORK OR HOMEWORK ON TIME

CAN NOT SIT STILL IN CLASS

DOES NOT MANAGE TIME WELL

TALKS IN CLASS

IS NOT WORKING UP TO HIS/HER POTENTIAL

THEN THESE WERE THE EARLY INDICATORS OF ADD/AHAD. BE GLAD YOU FINALLY GOT DIAGNOSED. ASK YOUR DR. ABOUT A NON-STIMULATE DRUG CALLED STRATTERA. I HAVE BEEN TAKING THIS FOR 4 YEARS AND HAVE GOTTEN REALLY GOOD RESULTS WITH ONLY A FEW SHORT LIVE SIDE EFFECTS..DRY MOUTH - A LITTLE LOSS OF APPETITE. AT A DOSE OF 40MG 2X DAILY 40MG @7:00AM & 40MG @ 1:00PM. I AM 43 NOW AND I HAVE NEVER FELT BETTER. GOOD LUCK,
DODA

Answer 8

ADHD & ADD in both adults & children are the 2 most overdiagnosed & commonly diagnosed illnesses. Both illnesses have become the catch-all illnesses for people thinking they can't complete anything, when in actuallity, they're procrastinators or like to have a lot to do. I've got a short attention span sometimes. Am I ADD or ADHD? No, I'm not.

Check out the source below from webmd.com about your illness. The article is about adults who have ADHD. Get a second opinion or even a third. DO NOT trust one doctor's diagnosis. You have the right to question his/her diagnosis & to seek more information.

Answer 9

You probably never had it as a child. You have developed it because you have gotten lazy with your mind. I am having the same problem right now. Just stop taking the medicine, if you are. and change your life around start reading maybe even take a college course or two. Don't make excuses for yourself.. ADHD is an excuse. Just get some motivation going on and start changing it. Good Luck..

Answer 10

I have it too. I was diagnosed at 23. Some people have adult onset or you may have just been diagnosed late. I started taking ritalin and it has helped a lot... I now only use it during the week, when I'm at work, when I know I have to concentrate.