Here, There, and Everywhere

Nice article, Dr Sarkis. I like your analogy, ADHD is like unknowingly going thru life with a bag of rocks on your back. In a way, it kind of makes me proud thinking what I accomplished so far in life, I was hindered by an unknown load all these years. I was finally diagnosed at age 40 after being filed for divorce... gee, go figure, another ADHD marriage ending that you read about, this one after 13 years. Always the optimist, at least this divorce helped see and get a diagnoses, which also lead to my two boys getting diagnosed too. The diagnoses were huge! ...it gives answers to the years of unanswered questions. All three of us are now on Adderall and seeing improved results.

I like analogies (maybe all ADHDers do), I commonly describe having ADHD to eye vision. If you never had something to compare it to, how do you know what you are seeing is not 100% in focus? With eye vision, a doctor can diagnose and give you the best vision/focus in about 1 hour. But with ADHD, people can walk around for years undiagnosed, in my case 40 years, and think "what I am and do is normal to me", like walking around my whole life with a hidden bag a rocks on my back. After diagnoses and taking medication and awareness, people without ADHD may understand: it's like dropping that bag of rocks or seeing 20/20 for the first time in one's life. In your case of struggling 20+ yrs and my case of 40+ yrs of struggling and frustration... wow, a life altering experience! Imagine going thru life never seeing 20/20 ever, but thinking that was just normal and you just have same vision everyone else has.... then finally taking medication and truly seeing what everyone else has been seeing! OMG!

First half of my life with undiagnosed ADHD, I graduated college, started a business, accomplished a lot, all while carring a bag of rocks and fuzzy vision... the second half of my life and finally diagnosed... hey, watch out World, my life has gotten lighter and much clearer! I am climbing that mountain so much easier now! Exciting!

I am 21 years old and have been diagnosed with ADHD (or AD/HD whatever they call it now) since I was 8 and have been tested/evaluated three times. I have also been on a stimulant medication since then (only Ritalin has helped me). The messy desk and embarrassment references definitely resonated with me. In fourth grade my teacher literally took away my desk because it was so messy. Luckily, my mom who also has ADD (And so does my fraternal twin sister) was an advocate for me and raised hell (she even insured me getting the most awesome teacher the next year). But that embarrassment definitely affected me and still affects me today. I am clean and anal about organization now. Similarly, I freak out whenever I lose or misplace things because I literally was berated once by a teacher in front of a large group of people for always losing things.

However, I cannot understand how you were even able to graduate from college without being medicated. Freshman year being sick of taking medication for ten years of my life and constantly having to study more frustrated me. So I rebelled and didn't take my medication. I partied, hung out with my friends, ate and drank (I was also coming out at the time) constantly. I was out of control. I almost killed myself from drinking one night and luckily my school had amnesty. IT was the biggest wake up call for me. I failed two classes and performed poorly, now my GPA suffers even if my GPA for this year is a 3.7 my GPA is still a 2.5. I had just wanted to be normal. Now getting into law school won't be happening because of it. Hopefully, my performance freshman year won't be held against me whenever I chose to apply for my masters or a job.

Unlike you, my medication affects my personality. I feel numb and not creative when I am on it. I cannot interact socially. If people meet me medicated they think I'm shy (which is hilarious if you know me) and I am hindered socially. However, I have been in a 3.5year long term, semi-distant relationship. I am fortunate that my partner's career is going to be in cognitive behavioral therapy and currently works with children who have LD's and ADHD. Even with her clear understanding of ADD sometimes she even struggles when I am un-medicated and may interrupt her. I can only imagine if she had no understanding of my difference.

Also, being at college most of my friends have no idea I have ADD and take medication for it. Because I really am already paranoid about someone stealing my medication. A roommate told me they used ADD meds a few times to get through finals and now I keep my medicine locked away hidden or with me at all times. I can only imagine those who are limited by financial means to be able to get the medical care needed to help deal with this.

In the end, I realized I probably will always have to deal with it. I'm never going to be "normal". I'm not going to grow out of having ADD/ADHD and I have to take my medication. I registered with DSS and got help. I'm at the stage of my life when I'm transitioning into adulthood (meaning total financial independence) and luckily I had a wake up call a few years ago. I probably would have been kicked out of college or dragged home to be on full lock down. I'm glad I've accepted it.

Last year I was diagnosed with ADD at the age of 22 and been on Ritalin ever since. I never knew my true potential. I always thought I was a C/B student; I never thought I would get straight A's in college! I do not owe my thanks only to the Ritalin ,but to all the other other things I do to keep myself in line. (I'm active, I try to eat right, go to therapy, relaxation, (try very hard) to get 8 hrs of sleep, I enjoy my hobbies and have creative outlets, and I have the encouragement and support of my family, friends, teachers, and professionals.)
Speaking of my solutions to ADD, I'm actually doing research on which treatment plan is most beneficial. Does the medicinal approach or the natural remedies approach help symptoms of ADD? In my opinion, there needs to be a holistic approach. It includes everything. Medication or natural remedies alone cannot entirely help. I'm sure many will argue with me on this one.

Hi, thanks for the great article. I relate to every single thing you said in the article about yourself (I'm 24 and in college). My parents keep telling me there is nothing wrong with me but I'm VERY sure I have ADD and at times it's very hard for me to study.

In my practice I've seen some amazing results from identifying and eliminating food sensitivities. Any comments on this method?

Those pretty good. For me, my ADHD was diagnosed at 34. I was displaced after Hurricane Katrina to another state. I moved from Mississippi to Colorado. While there, I started seeing a psychologist at the insistence of my employers. I always knew there was something that just wasnt quite right, and it was such a relief to finally have confirmation. So anyway, for me, my brain is like a 20 lane superhighway in the middle of rush hour.....and there's only one off ramp, and all of the cars are getting off, and screaming at each other, honking their horns, crashing, breaking down...etc etc etc. I dont do medication, never worked for me. I prefer the coping mechanisms technique.

Thank you.

I read this and thought, Oh my goodness this person is me. I am 20 years old and was diagnosed less than a year ago. I'm still trying to figure out how to organize, but I think I found a way that works for me, we will see when the semester starts. Its so good to know that someone so similar to me was able to be so successful academically. My GPA is a 2.5 and I really need to get into grad school to pursue the career I want, I have 5 semesters left to prove myself. Thank you, this articular really makes me feel validated.

I am a freshmen in college, and I was diagnosed with ADD when I was in fifth grade,and have been medicated on adderall ever since.Ever since I was medicated I became a better student, however I was never able to do homework at home. (did it at school) It is very encouraging to hear that other ADDers have graduated college with high GPA's. I thankfully got a 3.1 in the recent fall semester. But I am constantly worried about my workload, I feel like all I do is hyper focus.and when I am not hyper focusing, I am the president of one club, and on the exec board of two other clubs.... I hope that it will all work out.

I too, have struggled with ADHD my entire life. Although I'm intelligent, (I've always scored in the 99th percentile in standardized tests) my disorganization, lack of motivation, and tendency to be distracted overshadows mosts academic benefits this intelligence grants me. I've never made above a C average in school, and am continually chastised by teachers and classmates.

I have been on about 8 ADHD medications, (was on Adderall from 2nd to 7th grade) and they have all had very adverse side effects. While taking Adderall, I virtually lost all traces of appetite and became underweight. (I've gained 40 lbs since going off of the medication.) I was unable to sleep and underweight severe changes in personality. I also started having slight nausea, elevated heart-rate, high blood pressure, and even developed trichotillomania. At one point, I had to start throwing out medication to deceive my parents and psychiatrist.

Now, I'm more susceptible to side effects than most -- I understand that. However, it must be noted that these medications are potent, and can cause health problems and tics; they are not a "cure." I do not reccomend them to everyone.

I'm 16, by the way.

I am really touched by how many people have responded to this post. Thank you for sharing your stories. Remember, you have kindred spirits who have gone through the same struggles as you.

At 58 I get the diagnoses and had it all my life. The intelligence is there but the usual school problems with focus and staying on task. As an adult I did okay as long as my job was more sales oriented that detail oriented. But, menopause has made ADD even more pronounced. I hate taking Adderal and do not unless I am working, which I just was released from yet another job for too many small mistakes (careless). It is a small piece of hell at 59 to not fit anywhere and cannot get a focus on anything.

While I was in high school I did quite well, receiving about a 4.2 gpa in high school. I was constantly involved in sports and always had my mom close on my ass to get everything done I needed to in order to succeed in high school. My teachers would always get frustrated with me because while still being quite a bright student I would not really pay much attention in class and often be very impulsive/disruptive in class. I am now 20 years old and attending the university of Illinois. I came into college with high hopes of moving onto medical school but while there I have had just the worst experience trying to prioritize my time, focusing on school work, etc. Hell, I even scheduled my Spanish final exam on the wrong day, 3 days later than it actually was this past semester. Also since I've been in college my gpa has suffered tremendously, right now a 2.242. I have sat my parents down and discussed the possibility of me having ADHD. I was convinced by my plummeting grades for high school to college along with doing personal research and found that my everyday behavior is stunningly consistent with ADHD predominately impulsive and in attentive. I am going in to get analyzed by a specialist soon. I was just wondering if anybody can relate to me and my experience and possibly aid me with any advice.

Thanks so much

I just got diagnosed recently at the age of 25. I can't believe I didn't realize before. It's taking me 8 years just to get a Bachelor's degree because I've been just all over the place. Other areas that stand out to me now are like when I drive, I can't carry on a conversation with whoever is in the passenger seat. I can listen, but I can't think of anything to say without losing focus of the road.. same goes with work. I remember getting in trouble for talking with someone that would initiate conversation.. and I'd stop working to look/speak with them.. then my boss is like.. you're not getting any work done, but usually I get the most work done when no one talks to me!

We didn't even get around to discussing meds, but rather starting with therapy. I didn't go in for adhd, but instead for depression/anxiety and along the way she was like, yeah you have it. But, I found out that my dad had been on Ritalin as a kid and still today suffers from concentration problems.

Anyway, thanks for posting.

ive been diagnose with ADD since I was in the 4th grade. Im 24yrs old now. And all through my school career i was told i was lazy, not working to full potential and all the usually ADD things. And throughout school i was on 3-4 different add meds. now im on vyvanse when i can afford it