I’m 42 years old and have recently realized I have ADD. I was diagnosed a couple years a go as type 2 bi-polar, but that diagnosis has never felt right to me. Whenever I went in to see the psycologist, he would ask how I was doing, I told him I was depressed. I told him I just can\’t seem to get up and get my house clean. Like I’m paralyzed. He finally put me on Ritalin to give me a boost (among a bunch of other meds I was already taking).
That got me curious. I started reading about ritalin, and came across a lot of information about adult ADD. As I read the symptoms, it fit like a glove. I couldn’t believe it. The next time I went to see him I told him about it and he just kind of poo poo’d the whole thing, saying it was all in the same area of the brain or something stupid like that, and sent me away until the next appointment.
Finally, I had mismanaged my money so bad that he dumped me because I was behind on my payments, so I went to someone else, because I couldn’t stand the idea of not having my Concerta. It had made such a difference in my life. Well the therapist I went to felt it was ADD as well and we are now working on it. I read as much information as I can, and am moving forward in my life, instead of sitting there doing nothing with a diagnosis of bi-polar.
Things are not perfect, but at least I can start making changes. ADD is something you can do something about. The future (most of the time) looks bright now. I have not been officially diagnosed as ADD, but I don’t think it matters. If the shoe fits, wear it!
The funny thing is, I raised a step son with AD/HD. I would have never thought, as a female, that I had it too. I was so shy and quiet, but school was hell for me. I never went to college because just getting out of highschool was all I could handle. I tell people all the time “I still don’t know what I want to do when I grow up”. Maybe I’ll figure it out now.
Thanks for all your stories.