How do I explain Adult ADHD?

[briochick]

What's a good way to explain to friends and coworkers how it is to be an adult with adhd? Especially because when you think of adhd you almost never think of a woman and even less commonly an adult woman it's hard for some people to get that I'm not just "being weird" but that I'm ADHD.

Also, these things; the always fidgeting moving bouncing talking, the obsessing a bit, the distractablity and accidentally interupting people because of it, the constant brain activity, the random conversations, the absentmindedness are just...me.

I got a decent amount of help as a kid and they're relatively mild compared to a lot of people with ADHD and so I don't find them particularly troublesome but sometimes people mention them and I find myself frustrated because they seem to think it's as simple as "stop it Brio" or "pay more attention Brio."

How exactly can I explain that? It seems as though they're like "adhd? Well, yeah, when you're a kid."

 

[David Baxter PhD]

Re: How do I explain?

Giving them something brief to read on adult ADHD might help (there are probably some posted here).

If they tell you directly that they think ADHD is a "kid's disorder", you can tell them just as directly that they are repeating a myth that mental health professionals have known to be false for decades: ADHD doesn't go away during adolescence. ADHD children grow up to become ADHD teenagers and then ADHD adults.

 

[Retired]

Re: How do I explain?

Adult ADHD is a very real concern for many people and often requires strategies to increase awareness among family, friends and co workers.

As a start, please have a look at the NIMH site dealing with Adult ADHD and while there look through the Table of Contents on the right side of the page.

Are you currently being treated by a physician for your disorder? Do you have the understanding and support of your immediate family or is the difficulty solely at your workplace?

What have you told them so far?

 

[Teresa Lauer]

Dear Briochick,

As a therapist, I appreciate how difficult it is to live with ADHD and suffer through two difficult aspects of it: focusing and having others understand what you're going through. I have a number of clients who face this as well.

You're not alone though; there are many adults living with ADHD to a certain degree and I know of several resources that may be of help:

First, the Attention Deficit Disorder Association is the largest organization for adult sufferers and has a great deal of information, and there's a very good documentary titled: Adult AD/HD Documentary: Regaining Focus that you can access right at the top of their site (this takes you to Healthy Mind/Health Body) and is free to watch. While it starts out with a girl, it does talk about Adult ADHD and introduces you to several adults. They have great information on focusing.

As far as explaining it goes, I believe sharing information and especially this documentary might help your loved ones and friends understand how difficult ADHD can be, and also the hard work you're doing in managing it.

I hope this was of help and wish you all the best,
Teresa Lauer, M.A.

 

[Retired]

Thank you for the great resource, Teresa..and welcome to Psychlinks!

Briochick,

According to the website of add.org some of their website resources may not be available in future to the public, following their website overhaul.

Their information on Adult ADHD and the Worklplace is contained HERE.

Have a look through the articles at your earliest convenience, as this link may not be available later on.

As a person with Tourette Syndrome, which includes some co-morbid ADHD, I can say that coping means focusing on the positive characteristics of the disorder. People with ADHD can bring some very positive attributes to the workplace, far outweighing the sterotypical manifestations of the disorder.

The key to success for dealing with adult ADHD is to find the positive atttributes that you have and allow these to guide your career.

There are numerous lists of the positive attributes of people with ADD, and the one I've attached as a comes from a list compiled at a recent ADD conference in Vancouver.

 

[briochick]

Re: How do I explain?

TSOW: I'm not currently being treated for it. I was actually unaware that you needed life-long treatment (do you?).

I have the support of some close friends and my immediate family (aside from my father who doesn't like anything psychiatric and thinks everyone is normal and should stop going on about what's wrong with themselves and stop talking to strangers who just want to diagnose you).

I've told three of my coworkers that I'm ADHD but haven't gone into much detail. My co-teacher, because it wasn't fair that I'm so scatterbrained and she had no reason for it, and two others because I've made friends with them.

---------- Post added later and automatically merged ----------

I'm a teacher by the way so at least other adults are spared my ADHD during most of the day. I love my job and I think who I am fits in pretty well with it. I just forget to check homework about once or twice a week and I'm always the last one to staff meetings (well, there's one lady who occasionally forgets all together but when she remembers she comes early).

 

[Jazzey]

I was actually unaware that you needed life-long treatment (do you?).

I think it may depend on the severity Briochick. I've known may people who were able to adjust to their diagnosis just by finding strategies to deal with the ADHD and I've known others who need to be medicated to assist with the ADHD and specifically, their focus.

I will say this though, all the people I've known with ADHD have always been amongst the brightest people I've known. I think that if you're able to think about how the ADHD affects you and, are able to find viable coping mechanisms Briochick, I think that this is half the battle. And again, you may need some assistance from a psychologist sometimes to help you with recognizing your specific issues with ADHD and find good strategies for them. As for it being a life-long treatment? Not necessarily (I think). If your situation is a little more severe, a psychologist who's trained in the area can easily help you spot your problem areas and help train you in finding strategies for your specific situation. Sometimes, depending on the severity, it can take a little longer to train in the coping strategies...And again, this is from personal experience as I have no medical background.

And again, I've never met two people with the ADHD diagnosis who've had the same issues with it. Every individual will have his or her problem areas, as is true for many other diagnoses.

 

[briochick]

*chagrined* Do we have to have issues with it at all?

I've been taught lots of coping mechanisms for the ADHD over the years but most of it goes to pot after about six months. A few things I've hung on to but it's hard to keep the things up when you keep forgetting what's supposed to help you remember.

I'm looking through all those resource links now. Thanks guys.

 

[Jazzey]

Well, Briochick, remember that I'm using the term "issues" loosely! ADHD and your coping mechanisms take lots of practice...but you'll get there