Do you think you or that high strung spouse of yours has Adult Deficit Disorder (Adult-ADD)? Well, you may be right. Many adults were simply misdiagnosed, mislabeled, or ignored when they exhibited ADD symptoms in their youth. So here's your chance to see if your mess of a life - is a symptom of something else.
1. You scheduled your annual OB-GYN physical. There's nothing pressing - but you need to go. Hey, you only go once a year. But you forget all about your appointment, and this isn't the first time. You've rescheduled this appointment 3 times. Does this happen to you some of the time, a lot of the time, or all the time? You could be exhibiting a symptom consistent with ADD.
2. You have a project that is not due right away at work - but in a few weeks. It's pretty detailed oriented, so you know that you better get to it to soon to give it the attention it deserves. But you put it off - because you know it is going to require a major amount of your thought and attention. And you just can't concentrate on that right now, so you'll get back to it. Does this happen to you some of the time, a lot of the time, or all the time? You could be exhibiting a symptom consistent with ADD.
3. You are planning an event that requires a lot of organization such as a garage sale one Saturday. But the key to execution is organizing all the items to be sold, placing price tags, tacking up flyers, finding something for the kids to do while you are selling - its a lot. But you want to hold the sale - and you are having a very difficult time getting things organized for the sale. You're overwhelmed. Does this happen to you some of the time, a lot of the time, or all the time? You could be exhibiting a symptom consistent with ADD.
4. You wake up one Saturday after a long week at work. You wanted to sleep in, but you feel like there is something driving you to get up and get moving. So you unpack, sort, wash, and hang up your winter clothes in the closet. It's August. Does this happen to you some of the time, a lot of the time, or all the time? You could be exhibiting a symptom consistent with ADD.
5. You are in the longest meeting of your life. You go to the movies with your boyfriend. You listen to you mom's 20 minute speech on the phone about saving your plastic grocery bags or something like that. During each of these activities you were tapping your feet or fiddling with your hands. Does this happen to you some of the time, a lot of the time, or all the time? You could be exhibiting a symptom consistent with ADD.
6. There's a leak from your bathroom into your living room. The plumber comes to fix the leak, but you still have to clean, plaster, and paint where the leak was in your living room ceiling. What's worse is that you've got about 5 of these types of similar half-finished projects left to do around the house. Does this happen to you some of the time, a lot of the time, or all the time? You could be exhibiting a symptom consistent with ADD.
The bottom line is if you believe that you or someone you love has trouble finishing things, is restless, is disorganized, and is often distracted -- then he or she could possible suffer from Adult ADD. A visit to a medical professional will verify a diagnosis and treatment plan.
Why Get Treated For Adult ADD?
I'm sure people that suffer from Adult-ADD feel that this is just the way they are, and that perhaps they just don't have enough interest in what they were doing so they ditch it. But that's because they know no other way. There is another way of living. Of being able to finish what you start. Of relaxing. Of being able to focus. And for people with Adult-ADD, drug therapy can change all that.
Lisa Angelettie, M.S.W., is a psychotherapist, author, and an online advice authority. She has been helping people make smarter life choices since 1998. Visit her for Advice & Counseling, or take a free Depression Screening today. Subscribe to the growing self-help ezine "Better Choices".
