Has anyone out there been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder for the first time as an adult?

Question

I'm 44 years old and I was recently diagnosed with ADD and I began medication immediately. The results were miraculous. I would be very interested in hearing about other people's similar first hand experiences. I believe there are a lot of adults who suffer from this disorder.

Answer 1

Yes, I'm 43 and was officially diagnosed 2 years ago. I say "officially" because that's when I met with a clinical psychologist and received the diagnosis. Unofficially, I'd known for at least several years prior. When I began hearing more & more about this condition and realizing that a lot of the characteristics sounded really familiar to me, I started reading about it, checking out 10 or 15 books at a time on the subject. The testimonials, or personal accounts I was reading of people's experiences with ADHD in their lives struck a chord with me immediately; I could have written some of those passages from my own life.
Looking back on years of struggling in school(even though I always felt I was intelligent enough to learn the material if I could just find a way to get it in my head), being constantly disorganized at home, distractible, high energy, trying lots of different jobs, keeping half a dozen projects going at a time . . . it all fit together once I read about this condition.

I've heard for some people it's very distressing to get this diagnosis; for me it was actually a relief, because I knew that all the years of struggling with everything was not just because I didn't apply myself or try hard enough (which I'd never really believed was true of me). I didn't go immediately to medication; I'd heard good and bad about it, and I was afraid that I would think or feel differently if I was medicated - I didn't want to lose things like my creativity, energy, and spontaneity. Last year I finally decided to try medication, and I've tried a few with mixed results. So far the only one that's had a moderate effect is Adderall. It hasn't dramatically improved my focus/distractibility issues, but neither has it reduced my energy or creative thought.

I'm aware that no two people will respond the same way to medication - even within the grouping of ADHD we're all different - and it may be that eventually I'll want to forge my way ahead without the meds, although I know that for some people they have been lifechanging.

More important for me than the decision to take medication has been the discovery of the qualities that often accompany this condition. We all hear about the problems(we've probably heard about them most of our lives), but we also share traits with people who are world-changers: constant curiosity, imagination, tenacity, restlessness & wanderlust, unconventional thinking, love of adventure . . . and the list goes on. It's now widely believed that Thomas Edison and Albert Einstein had ADHD; they both did poorly in school, were disorgized, went from project to project - but look at what they accomplished.
I may not be an Edison or an Einstein, but it still feels good to have something in common with them! I'm glad more adults are talking with each other now about this, and learning that it's not a disease, but rather being wired a different way. It's not anything to be ashamed of, and it's good to have the support of others who can identify with these challlenges.

Answer 2

I have triats of ADD but I am indigo- if you look up indigo adults in the search engine you will find more about indigo adults-
I am impatient, intolerable of stupidity and selfishness, rudeness. I get anxious and my mind as I describe it for the most part is like a VHS tape pushing play and FF at the same time.
I was never placed on medication because it masks our identity, who we really are- and I didn't want to depend on something the rest of my life. When i found that I was indigo, I was okay with me- I was then more accepting of myself which allowed me to be a bit more accepting of others- though I am still more of a loner. I am married with a daughter (daughter is a 12 yr old indigo) but I don't go out and socialize much, cannot sit and relax long enough. The only time I can sit for a long period of time is if I am in my rocker recliner watching TV or when I am on my pc - I have to be doing something.

We are gifted, more tuned into the reality- the little things in life we recognize while others miss out, though others may seem to have everything, or more than we do, we are satisfied with what we have and can't understand why they need all the crap they think they need, new cars, new this, new that, material things.
We also have a built in BS detector too, we know when we need to break out the ole hip boots for the BS piling up- a con artist- I say it like it is. When a telemarketer calls and brags about his product, I yell "if its so wonderful then YOU buy it" I hang up and laugh.
Did I mention we have a great sense of humor and bust a stitch with little effort? We are great people- better than most others I know.
Be proud! Many hugs

Answer 3

I was nearly 30 when I was diagnosed, after my son was diagnosed with ADHD and I realised I shared a lot of his symptoms. The more I read about it, the more I had to check it out.

Diagnosis took a lot off my shoulders, the guilt, the lack of patience & understanding of my own personality. I suddenly understood why life didn't make sense, and was able to make it make MORE sense. Knowledge is power, I guess :)

Medication helped me short term, but in the end I all but gave it up. Now I only use half a pill once or twice a week when I really need a clear head. I don't recommend doing this - better to be on or off them.

I'd suggest online forums or groups - there's nothing like talking to others who understand!

Answer 4

I was diagnosed after testing at 42. Completely by mistake, I went to a psychologist for depression, and he thought I may be ADD. Didn't know it until I was told, but a lot of things now make sense. ( hindsight is 20/20 ). When I told my mother, she said..." your teachers always said they wished they could give you A's because of the effort you put into learning". Knowing and understanding my illness is more important to me than the med's, because I'm in control. I now can learn by understanding the different way's that don't help me learn. I can now tell someone to explain things differently, and I know the questions to ask to verify that I am following and understanding properly. When I have a project, I now break it up into small segments that will only take X amount of time (after which I can no longer concentrate, or become bored, or frustrated). At the end of each segment, I am finished. It may take me longer to do something than others, but now I finish all of my projects. For most people a project has one "finished"... I have numerous "finishes" for the same project....maybe I'm the lucky one.

Answer 5

40 yo and found out last year. I can remember in 6th grade 7 inutes into a 48 minute class I would drify off in my mind and not listen to the teacher. Yea I can concentrate better now and am able to get my work done with less stupid errors. I just wish I had this back 30 years ago. Btw it can be hereditary so keep an eye on your kids they may have it also.

Answer 6

I was just diagnosed a year ago just before I turned 30. I read about ADHD people being disorganized which led to further internet research and because I fit the discription so well I sought a formal diagnosis so that I could start meds. After I got married 6 years ago I was so overwhelmed by what it took to "play house" for real. It seemed like with each passing year I fell more and more behind with all of my jobs: bill payer, household secretary, housekeeper, gardner, nurse, etc. My husband is a wonderful man but he's not a real "go-getter" so asking him to help me really just created more work for myself. The mundane jobs of keeping house and my fulltime job outside the home kept my creativity stifled and realy made me a grouch.. But th s--t really hit the fan after my daughter was born in Dec '05. Holy mackerel! Thankfully it was only 5 months later when I was diagnosed and began treatment (although that in itself - trying to get med dose adjusted - was a whole other issue). Medication and a form of cognitive therapy (excercises completed on a computer at my psychologists office) really helped. So did the buyout I took in Feb this past year.

I have actually found being a fulltime housewife and mom has been the toughest, most challengeing, and most overall enjoyable job i've ever had. I am able to use all of my ADHD assets (like hyperfocus, and hyperactivity) to help me organize my home, keep my toddler entertained, and start (and mostly finish) home projects. That's not to say that I don't still have issues - I did say this job is a challenge for me. I 've come to hate grocery shopping, even without my little one in tow. I can't even begin to eliminate all of the piles, though, they've been really narrowed down and I'm getting creative at hiding some of them or making them portable to move them out of my line of sight . I love to cook for my family but cleaning up afterward seems nearly impossible. I have a thousand ideas for projects to help with the organization and storage problems we face in our small house but I strive to have only 3 or 4 going at a time and struggle to finish one before I start another.

About half of the time I feel cursed by this ADHD and the other half I feel that it is an absolute blessing. What I have really learned to do is to tune into me. I do not let what others think govern what I do. If my house is not as clean as my mother's, so be it. If I show up late for a family function, so be it. I'm not saying that I don't try my hardest to be "normal" but if it's not working for me on that particular day then so what. I just really work to be at peace with myself and ADHD. It has made my family and me so much more calm and happy.

Answer 7

Yes I just recently discovered that I have all the criteria for ADHD. ADHD is a group of mental and personality traits that everyone has. It is how you manage those traits that determine if you are successful. Many people are not given the tools to develop their ADHD traits into something positive hence drugs are used instead of teaching self control and focus.

An interesting book that you will find useful in whichever method you use to embrace your ADHD is: ADHD a Different Way of Thinking by Lynn Weiss. she lives it daily...she has ADHD too.

Stay positive with all you face. There's a lot of information out there coming from all sorts of "pros" you will find the best road for you.

Answer 8

I read all the other answers and now I'm wondering if I am a candidate for this. I hate it. I will watch a program on TV and my mind wanders. I can't sleep at night because I'm constantly thinking of different things. I'll be driving my car and again, my mind will wander but always end up at my destination without even thinking about it. I have to constantly be busy, I'm always doing things, Just can't stop. Now I really feel foolish because I'm a nurse and you would think I would know better. but, I guess I'm just refusing to think I may have this problem. Do you think I have this? I'm 61

Answer 9

Hey I been thinking I have that. I'm 25 and feel like I have at least 25 things running through my mind. Also I think what if then go into detail in my mind all while doing another thing( even while driving). How did you get diagnosed?

Answer 10

I am 41 years of age and was diagnosed at 37. I have ADHD and an LD. I have had trouble keeping a steady employment record since 2001 because I feel trapped in full time permanent jobs. My creativity is stifled. I began working with www.opportunityworks.ca in Dec 2002 to become self-employed. In secular work, I last about 3 months and then get bored or due to poor inter-personal skills I am fired. I waited a year after my diagnosis (got two opinions) and then began meds. I started out on 5 mg Dexedrine (short acting) - got dizzy on those and split them so I was taking 2.5 mgs to start. I gradually moved on to 10 mg Dexedrine spansules. I am now on 30mg Adderall XR. They work wonders on me. I am happy to say I start a new PERMANENT job with benefits July 23rd, 2007. I am so afraid of losing this job that I want to do a daily check-in with someone so that I keep things in perspective this time. Finding a professional with whom I can do this is proving to be impossible. Sandy Maynard is a brilliant ADHD coach in the U.S. Ed Hallowell's tips are very enlightening. I am also on Cipralex (used to be Celexa) 10 mg (two nightly). I struggle with obsessive-compulsive "tendencies" but my ADD doc insists I do not have OCD. I procrastinate terribly. I KNOW what I have to do but I don't do it until it is absolutely imperative that it get done, if then. I am always late on my taxes and finally have hired an accountant to do them, except he has ADHD too so I am looking for another accountant. Over the past few years, I have educated myself on ADHD and how it manifests in MY life. THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT as we each are very unique in our ADHD. I have improved in some areas but still have a long way to go. I am never free of being internally conflicted on things. I have ENTHUSIASM galore and plenty of good intentions. I envision things all the time but I have major difficulty prioritizing / and executing. I have an IDEA generating brain. I am too critical of myself and this leads to downward spirals and depression especially if I've allowed my inertia to get the better of me and my housework. EXERCISE helps me, but since going on meds I lack the desire to work out, for some odd reason. I want to take responsibility for myself even though it is really difficult at times. "The only way out is through." "10 percent inspiration and 90 percent perspiration." "If you're going through hell, keep going!" Unless you have it, you don't know what it is really like. I firmly believe this. I am glad to know what my problems are today and I am committed to maximizing my strengths, minimizing the weaknesses and above all, treating myself with unconditional love. Love yourself thru it all, even when you are downward spiralling coz when you come back up - it is SO WORTH IT !!! Self-knowledge, self-acceptance, self-understanding are KEY. Perseverance and persistence come naturally to me. Thank Goodness. Coz I really need to persevere. Meds work but they too have a lifespan. We are never free of our condition. This led to my interest in starting an ADD 12 Step Group. I am my own best friend now. Knowing my limits helps. I take very good care of my sleep, nutrition, exercise and keep things in balance and moderation. That is sustainable living to me. GOOD LUCK!