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 and work. In school, 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 a family member, 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. He 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 may 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.

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 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.

I called my childhood friend and told her about my unexpected diagnosis. “That explains it!” she screamed. She had watched me struggle through school, not understanding why I had 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.

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. 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.