Comments on: Are You Sure You Have ADHD? Revisited.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Sat, 16 May 2009 09:55:53 +0000

Indeed, diagnosis can bring a sense of relief and liberation. It explains so much, doesn’t it!?

I think the hyper focus issue is becoming better understood. However, there are too many out there who are still not completely in the know about ADHD symptoms. As you mention Kathleen, it is important to find a doctor / psychologist who specialize in ADD and ADHD. Not everyone knows that before seeking treatment, so we still have work to do on creating better awareness.

Thanks Randi, I have a feeling you’re on your way to becoming a wonderful asset as a coach to the ADHD community

By: Kathleen Christensen

Kathleen Christensen — Fri, 15 May 2009 15:32:14 +0000

Wanted to second Mel’s comment about hyperfocus. A psychologist once said he didn’t think my daughter has ADD. The reason? She can focus so well on reading (she hyperfocuses on it). The psychologist wasn’t a specialist in ADD and wasn’t doing on workup on my daughter but does deal with kid-related issues. This lack of knowledge does a disservice to people with undiagnosed ADD.

By: Helen

Helen — Fri, 15 May 2009 06:12:01 +0000

I asked a psychiatrist that I have seen on and off for years for my anxiety/depression, whether she thought I might have ADHD….she said she didn’t think so but suggested I contact Canterbury University who were doing research into adult ADHD….and by taking part I would get a diagnosis one way or the other. Most of my friends never picked it up in me either, and are surprised at the diagnosis. I am not surprised! It is such a relief and now everything I have felt/gone through over the years makes sense to me. …and I can be kinder to myself now than I have been in the past. Lack of self esteem has been a huge problem.

By: Randi B. Lyman

Randi B. Lyman — Thu, 14 May 2009 17:15:14 +0000

Great post Bryan. I really appreciate your personal experiences with hyper-focus. It is amazing how many people misunderstand hyper-focus. There are important benefits to those that can hyper-focus, especially when it comes to completing tasks that might not be one’s favorite.

I am at the beginning of my ADHD coach training and really benefit from such discussions.

Thanks.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Thu, 14 May 2009 09:17:58 +0000

Hi Mel, yep, there are still a lot of myths out there and I think the hyperactive one is the most common.

Bryan

By: Mel Taylor

Mel Taylor — Thu, 14 May 2009 07:02:33 +0000

The really huge thing that people overlook/don’t know about when it comes to ADHD in adults OR in children is the ability to hyperfocus. The first doctor I went to to try and get an assessment told me I couldn’t possibly have ADHD because I could spend hours at a time playing video games or reading novels, or any number of other things. He decided I was depressed and put me on Zoloft. The results of that little adventure belong in another story for another time, but suffice to say it was a disaster.

I think a lot of inattentive types get overlooked because the world expects people with ADHD to be hyperactive little monsters who are incapable of sitting still and focusing on anything for more than five minutes at a time.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Wed, 13 May 2009 22:00:04 +0000

Thanks Kethleen! Funny thing about that quote, I have been saying that for a while now and used first wrote it in a blog post maybe a year ago and just this last week, when someone pointed it out, did I take notice of it myself Decided to put it there for everyone to read and enjoy.

Hi Barb!

That is so true about the coping skills! And that has a lot to do with what I mean by the ‘hard’ work, it is hard to figure out coping skills that work and then some of work well enough to keep people from guessing about ADHD. Yes, indeed, made me feel great enough to write about it

btw: thank you for your email!

Bryan

By: Barb

Barb — Wed, 13 May 2009 14:36:08 +0000

I know what you mean. By the time we are adults and know we have ADHD, most of us have learned coping skills to the extent that it isn’t obvious to those who don’t know us well and some who do.

The affirmation and the acknowledgment of how well you are doing now must have made you feel great.

By: Kathleen Christensen

Kathleen Christensen — Wed, 13 May 2009 14:32:15 +0000

This is a lovely story–thanks for sharing! Yes, people have so many misperceptions about what ADD is. It’s one of the things that drives me to talk to people and blog about ADD, and it’ll drive me to write more in the future. I’m grateful for your work in this arena, not only helping those of us with ADD support each other, but helping the outside world better understand. Thanks! … I just noticed a quote from you in the sidebar over to the left that I really like, too, under the heading “Everyone?” Great way to put it!