[entp4mbti]

Hello All:

I took the ADD screening test at Psych Central and scored an 82. It urges me to seek further diagnosis immediately. And I admit that having a wandering attention span is causing problems in my life. I had a window open to post a message here for 2 hours and promptly forgot about it.

I run my own business and have always been a high achiever and I have the ability to concentrate on something to the exclusion of everything, but I'm very poor at multi-tasking and organization. The more complex my life becomes, the more frazzled I feel. I don't feel depressed or have low self-esteem, but I feel like I'm a hamster on a circular treadmill frantically trying to pedal as fast as I can to get everything done. And remember everything! My desk is a paper bomb. My house would be a mess if I didn't have a housekeeper once a week. I have a dozen projects underway and I can't finish any of them. That's always been pretty typical of me. My father always scolded me for not finishing the things I start.

I'm also getting fairly snappy with my employees and sometimes with my kids.

What tangible benefits could I derive from being diagnosed at my stage in life? I am 48.

Thanks!

[livingwithadd]

There are many benefits to getting a diagnosis as an adult. Finally having a reason for why your brain works the way it does is great. Many adult with ADD who get diagnoses and choose to use medication. Many of these people say that medication has been life changing for them.

There a lot of people are getting diagnoses in the 40's and 50's. I even know of a few people who got the diagnosis in their 70's.

Just make sure that you find a professional who actually understands adult ADD. There are far too many out there who don't.

Good Luck!!!

[cinderellamoon]

Hi. Maybe you and I can chat sometime. Sounds like we are just about in the same spot. I am 45 ( female) and have a grown son who we knew had adhd as a child- but no hyperactivity. I'm sure my parents had no clue what adhd was when I was little...they just called it spacey and scattered, irresponsible, and selfish. My father did a lot more than just scold. I was afraid of him. Even though he was mostly "bark" he would occassionally "bite". My parents hated that I was so sensitive and I grew up believing it was the most ugly, weak, and shameful trait. So the difference between us would be that I have some old wounds and have establishd a serious case of low self esteem. Anyway...forgetfulness, cluttered home, a trillion unfinished projects. That's me. And I went to a psychologist for the first time on Monday. He gathered information from me and even gave me a lttle talk therapy? He believes I have adhd and gave me some tests to take to help him confirm his view. Like you, I had filled out test after test online and had already made a self diagnosis. Now I don't know what to expect either... like you said, looking for something tangeble.
I just know I can't live like this into old age. I still feel young and I want a solution. I just sucked it up and went in to see someone with an open mind. I decided to accept that he was the professional and would try to figure it out, no matter what the "it" was. He told me it could have been stress related, a bipolar disorder, or other various things because they all can have similar symptoms. I think the key is to investigate your childhood to see if you had symptoms then. They tell me you can't get rid of adhd but you can take medicine and learn how to manage it by learning some new skills...I'm sure you probably have already researched that too. But don't you think you've tried just about everything? I know I do. I'm trying to remain optomistic until I seen this guy again. My son takes strattera and does well with it - making As in college now. If my doctor says I should take it as well, I will. Let me ask you this. Do you think you might be experiencing some stress or anxiety because of your lifestyle. And middle age doesn't help my ability to juggle. I thought mine was stress, but I cut back my activities to almost nil and all of the adhd traits were still there. Why don't you go have it checked out? We can share our progress if you want to. I double dog dare you. wink.

[cinderellamoon]

Post deleted by ozzie

[cinderellamoon]

Sorry about the double post....