I’m 19 years old, and found out about my ADD/ anxiety disorder in grade 11 (age 17) When I was growing up going through elementary school and part of High School I always thought that something was up with me. I was new to the high school that i went to, not knowing anyone else. It was hard because at the beginning of high school I was viewed as being one of the “popular/pretty girls” but once people “got to know me” I was forgotten about. I was then viewed as being the really “shy” girl. But inside I never felt that I was a REALLY shy person. I was always worrying about what other people thought of me.
I wouldn’t really be able to carry a conversation sometimes because I would “tune out” not even knowing that I was doing it. I couldn’t concentrate in school, I always thought that maybe I just got really bored easily, or that I just didn’t have a whole lot of interest in most of the subjects. I would also overanalyze situations making them into a bigger and more complicated problem then what they really were. There’s also so many other small things with having add that most of you have also experienced.
It wasn’t until my younger brother got tested for add, and i read about the symptoms, that i new that i probably had it as well. I went through the testing process, and found that i have a milder case of add as well as an anxiety disorder. Since then I have been taking medication, and after a bit i noticed a difference. I can go through life without worrying about every little thing. I have more confidence in myself because of that. Concentrating is still a bit of an issue, but it’s definitely improved alot.
Although i wish i didn’t have add/anxiety, im always happy that I found out that I had it when I did. It’s taught me alot on my life, and in the life of others. I view people more differently now, I have great friends, and life has just turned around. It still is difficult at times, don’t get me wrong, but its better, and getting better.