Help Starts Here

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has had an impact and may have caused impairments in many areas of my life, including school, relationships, and work. In school, I remember often not being able to complete my homework assignments on time, and I would many times forget deadlines for papers and exams, which often resulted in “bad” or sub-par grades. I knew that my teachers, and even my parents, thought I was intentionally acting unfocused in the classroom, not applying myself, or working up to my potential. No one believed me when I would tell them that I was, in fact, really trying. It was frustrating how hard I tried. I wasn't purposefully trying to be lazy at all. Deep inside I knew something else was going on, causing me to have difficulty in school, but I couldn't put my finger on it.

Two decades later, when I was 32, after much prodding from my now ex-wife, a special education teacher who thought I might have ADHD, I finally went to a psychologist to consult with him about my difficulty focusing. After a comprehensive evaluation, I was diagnosed as an adult with ADHD.

I was then referred to a doctor specializing in ADHD, who explained to me that my undiagnosed symptoms of ADHD may have been a contributing factor to the poor academic and occupational performance I had been dealing with throughout my life. He also explained that it is often difficult for adults to recognize these symptoms in themselves, because people usually tend to think of ADHD as a childhood disorder and that symptoms generally present differently in adults than they do in children. For example, while I may no longer experience the hyperactivity that couldn't keep me in my chair as a kid, I often experience an inner restlessness. After hearing all this, I realized that I wanted – and needed – to work with him to find a treatment plan to manage my ADHD symptoms.

I began working closely with my doctor and an ADHD coach who designed a treatment plan for me. Once I started taking the medication prescribed as part of my comprehensive treatment program, I began noticing positive changes, especially with my inattention. Now that my ADHD symptoms are being effectively managed with medication and coaching, I now feel like I can focus enough not only to follow, but also to personalize my day planner according to how I work best.

Inspired by the many positive changes to my life after finding my treatment plan, I decided to use my passion for managing ADHD and my counseling background to become an ADHD coach, using a comprehensive system I've developed and researched to personalize and provide evidence-based coaching. I am writing an article that will be submitted to a professional journal, with an internationally recognized author, speaker and ADHD expert. This will allow me to fulfill a goal I set 15 years ago in graduate school.

I now know that it's never too late to seek help for ADHD. In my coaching duties, I often meet adults who, like myself, realized later in life that they too may have ADHD. I work with them to identify and discover how their own ADHD symptoms may manifest differently in them from other adults and children. More importantly, I always encourage them to speak with their doctor or will refer them to someone specializing in ADHD for an evaluation and diagnosis, and to find a treatment plan that works for them.

I was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) four years ago at the age of 47. To be honest, the diagnosis came as quite a shock to me. I had initially gone to my doctor to consult with him about my tendency to be forgetful, because I was losing my keys nearly every day. I was concerned about my memory and carelessness, but I never suspected they could be symptoms of a real medical disorder.

On my way back from the doctor's office, I called my childhood friend and told her about my unexpected diagnosis. “That explains it!” she screamed. She had watched me suffer through school, not understanding why I had so much difficulty paying attention in class and completing my homework, and why I often acted so impulsively, especially in friendships and with my parents and siblings.

These continuous patterns of inattention and impulsivity continued into my adulthood and affected my home life. My first marriage fell apart when my husband complained that I didn't pay enough attention to him and never listened to him because I would always interrupt him during our conversations. I remarried soon after, but my second husband complained of the same issues, which was truly the impetus for me to talk to my doctor about distractibility and forgetfulness.

After my diagnosis, I started working with my doctor on a regular basis to find the right treatment plan for me. I knew I needed to work with him to get my symptoms under control so that I could focus better and be more attentive, especially with my family. He prescribed medication for my ADHD symptoms, and I also began seeing a therapist and an ADHD coach to supplement my treatment plan. Before I was diagnosed and treated for my ADHD symptoms, I felt like my mind was constantly racing with thoughts. After finding the right treatment plan, I no longer felt so lost and distracted, and I was able to focus and pay more attention to my family.

Because of these positive changes, I became inspired to help others with ADHD and started a consulting business focused on relationships in the workplace. Without my ADHD symptoms under control, I would have never been able to focus enough on my work and get things done efficiently.

I am a 51-year-old executive, have been divorced once, and have four children. My earliest recollection of feeling different than my peers goes all the way back to kindergarten. I remember always needing and wanting to be the center of attention, which caused me to be very disruptive both at school and at home. This not only led to disciplinary problems, but also resulted in poor performance in school.

Because of my poor behavior and numerous changing of schools (I attended seven schools before entering high school), my grades suffered. It was difficult for me when I was younger to form lasting friendships, since I was continuously being transferred from one school to another. It was also hard not to feel somewhat inferior to everyone else, because I was often used as an example to show other children how not to be.

This pattern of hopping around continued into my adulthood as evidenced by the number of jobs I've had over the last 30 years. Although I've been very successful in my career, I have had 10 or 11 jobs, not including part-time positions when I was younger. Many people find this unbelievable. I was always striving to provide a better life for my family and prove to myself that I was not only smart, but capable as well. As the years went by, I had more and more difficultly maintaining credibility with friends and family.

When my youngest son was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), it was a turning point in both of our lives. Given the similarities between the two of us it was, to say the least, an incredibly eye-opening experience for me. During my son's appointment with the doctor, I was asked to describe my son's behavior out loud to the doctor, and I suddenly had flashbacks of myself when I was his age. When I told this to the doctor, he explained that research suggests that ADHD tends to run in families and that it is common for adults to recognize ADHD symptoms in themselves after their child has been diagnosed with the disorder. At that point, I went through the evaluation process with my doctor, and I was diagnosed with ADHD as a 46-year-old adult.

After my diagnosis, I worked with my doctor to find the right treatment plan for me. Once my ADHD symptoms were managed, the biggest change I could see in my life was with my career. I had fewer distractions and could focus and concentrate at the office. Now I can complete tasks and projects, return calls on time, and meet deadlines for work.