Need advice and suppor from ADD sufferers?

Question

I am about 42 years old and I recently realized that I have had ADD all my life but it just went undiagnosed amongst all my other mental illnesses. I feel that this is what has stopped me from going forward in life. I feel that I am not emotionally mature even though I have lots of life experience. I am disorganized, I feel like a true loser. I am not sure how to take control of my life and change.

Answer 1

it took a lot for me to finish reading all of the words you wrote in your question- to give you an example of my problems.

ADD is something else made up by the medical industry that they can lable as a specific case and prescribe a specific medicine for a specific price.

don't beat yourself up!!! look at what you have now! think about what you want and how you can achieve those things!
don't live in the past, you think there is something different about you, that's fine, it does NOT mean there is anything wrong with you!
today is the first day of the rest of your life!

Answer 2

I have ADHD,
And I really know how you are feeling. Remember you are not a loser. Not in any way shape or form.
I am so disorganized, and my best friend is a perfectionist.
But in my mess, if ONE insignificant thing was moved or REmoved, I would notice.
I came to an understanding with myself, that people may look at me and see a DISORDER, but who decided it was an illness.
I channelled my energy in my favor. I listen to hat my employer wants, and I may have five different tasks, but I do get them done, just no one understands my thought proccess, and that okay. I am the only one that needs too.
You aren't at a pause in your life. You are moving just a little different. I see ordinary as a disorder. we are fun, and interesting.
People can know us for ten years and still not know everything about us.
You are uniqu, not mentally challenged. Don't try and be ordinary, use your ADD in your favor. I make my friends laugh that way.

You share the same views that "ordinary" people share, we have a disorder, Well tell them,
Geniuses, are just one step away from insanity.
There is nothing wrong with us my friend, we just have a different thought proccess, and others don't agree with it, so they have to make us feel less then important.
We are what brings color to life, why give that up?

Answer 3

Who said you had to change?
But if you want to change, organize in a way that fits your learning ability and not the standard.
i.e. Colors, Letters, Numbers, Symbols, etc.

Everyone learns differently. Most people learn best by doing.
Some effective "consentration" toys for ADHD kids include: legos and clay. Sometimes it helps to construct a problem in front of you or have multiple options for pursuing answers. Legos are quite mathematical. The Montessouri principle is based on this philosophy. Constructing and tending a small garden is another small activity. This can be done even in a window sill. Sometimes visualizing words from a book is difficult for people and making a scene from a novel, or a minature diarama of a place or science system is a valuable reference and experience in learning. These are great ways to learn even for adults or highschoolers. I don't know why American Education systems abandon them so early.

Remember that a school isn't a perfect center of learning. Some argue schools are actually geared toward conformity, something which ADD/ADHD people also have a bit of trouble with, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. Einstien had much trouble in school, as the legend goes, and I've heard some comment that he may have been ADHD. Find what works best for you. it may indeed be ritalin (the Jury's still out).

Personally, I don't believe in ADHD. I think we all learn in a myriad of ways and it's easier for an institution like education to label someone "problematic" rather than itself "incapable".

Again please explore multiple avenues (including those darn professionals -they aren't all pill pushers), and best of luck to you.

And forget about the past, there is no day like to day. Carpe Diem. Use your strengths around your weeknesses.

Answer 4

Hi Sunset. I also feel that I´ve had ADD all my life but it just went undiagnosed. I would like to write me to [e-mail] and tell me your symptoms. Were you prescribed with any medicine?
YOU ARE NOT A LOOSER. You are a wounderful human being that did a lot in his life but now that he found out that has ADD feels bad. Before you did not now and you were a great person. You are still a great person.
To take control on your life first you have to value yourself, then you have to think positive, then you have to take your med.
Adriana

Answer 5

You are not a loser when you have come to the crossroads of KNOWING what your problem has been all along...you have just won the lottery! Now, I would advise you to get a good professional who specializes in ADD (county mental health is a good place to start). You can "relearn" and learn techniques that will help you farther along and ease your frustration with yourself. It can be done if you have the will and have acknowledged the problem, which I might add, is not your fault at all. Please go and make and appointment NOW while this is important to you and while you're thinking about it. Let me know how it goes. Godloveya.

Answer 6

Whoa! Everyone has given you very long answers! Mine was supposed to be short and sweet. XD

Hey, ADD can be difficult to deal with, I would know, but you can't use it as an excuse for your life being, in your eyes, a disaster. Things will be difficult with or without ADD. We all have different obstacles placed in our road and we just have t learn how to run them over!

Do what I did, Get something good out of your ADD and turn to art or music! =D Focus on the distractions for a bit and when you need to concentrate for real, you won't have anything to distract you after wards because you've already squeezed yourself dry of these distractions! Lol, I used the word distract three times in one sentence. SCORE! =D

Answer 7

I don't think he has ADD, sounds more like an entirely different mental disorder to me! My doctor refuses to diagnose a child as ADD as their opinion is that the condition is self explanatory- Attention Deficit Disorder, the kid is not getting enough attention from the parents. Also I feel most of the problems with these people are a result of misdiagnosis or the drugs that get pumped into them

Answer 8

There are some really good books out there. "Out Of The Fog" is about adult ADHD. "Healing ADD" by Daniel Amen is fascinating. He's done a lot of research using advanced brain imaging and the results are very interesting.
I think my ADHD (in addition to other mental illnesses) has caused me a LOT of problems in every aspect of my life and the more I learn about it, the more I understand how very much it effects my daily life and has all along.

Answer 9

I don't think ADD is like a virus & I'm fairly certain it can be reversed.

Paying attention is powered by meditation, so despite your ADD I recommend you do it 5 minutes DAILY. Increase slowly up to 45 min. after a few years. You will improve.

Answer 10

Go to your doctor and ask to be placed on meds for ADD, like Concerta or Adderal. You will not believe how much clearer you can think. You also should look into therapy, to help you prioritize, and maintain.