Important safety tip: Have your doctor test your thyroid function. Mine was low for about 40 years before they caught it. I do have ADD, but when I was slightly over corrected in my thyroid dosage, I felt more organized, alert, etc.

Once they lowered the dosage ( too much risk of osteoporosis, heart problems), ADD symptoms became prominent again. I think I'm saying that if you have hypothyroidism, it can exacerbate the ADD symptoms and if it's undiagnosed, it's going to be harder to control the ADD symptoms.

My ADD wasn't diagnosed until I was 49 ( I'm 51 now) and probably wouldn't have been if it hadn't been for the thyroid problem.

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My daughter was diagnosed with ADD a year ago, and I started reading and researching, after reading Driven to Distraction I realized that I had ADD as well, I knew I was dyslexic but ADD never occurred to me.

I went and saw my daughters doctors who confirmed the diagnosis. I have just started on Strattera and waiting for it to start kicking in, I feel so relieved as it explains my whole life and I now know that I am not just ditzy and unattached from life. Go to a Dr and put your mind at rest

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I'm 44 and I found I had AHDH 2 years ago when one of my children was diagoned with it and I started reading about this disorder. After reading a lot, I'm happy that I managed instinctively/uncounsciously to find my own coping mechanisms , finish my MA Degree and have a successful career (having no idea that such a disorder existed). I see our problem in the following technical way:

- The "normal" people are born with a chip/module in their brain that allows them to switch to an "AUTOMATIC MODE" whenever they are supposed to sustain attention (even in boring environments). Then they can keep an uncounscious control over the attention, which keeps them on track out of distractions.

We (ADHDers) have a "MANUAL MODE", which requires our concious control over the attention we pay. We have councious control over the attention, which implies that we have to keep monitoning our attention, otherwise (if we don't feel interest or motication) we can get easily distracted.

Having a "MANUAL MODE" has advantages and disadvantages. ADHDers actually have a broader atention spam than the "normals" (in the two opposite extremes...). We can go from a totally absent-minded/distracted status to a highly-focused/concentrated state (hyperfocus), depending on the interest and motivation we have. Our "normal" friends have a "factory-fixed" automatic setting of their "AUTOMATIC MODE", which is very confortable and practical (you just swicht on the module and that's all), but limited to the "factory-fixed" setting . They would never become so distracted like an AHDH, but they cannot either become so focused like a hiperfocused ADHDer, when is really interested/motivated. Our Hyperfocus ability can be our best friend and our worst enemy depending on the way we use it. I'd continue with this if I get any feedback guys and become "motivated", my hiperfocus is finishing......

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Please continue. I think that most ADDers have the ability to achieve much higher goals than the common person.

Hi, I am Ralph Myers. I have been a support group director for the Adult ADD groups around Denver Colorado, from 1990 to 1995. I also wrote a newsletter "ADDvantage" for three years. Though I am still listed in the back of Hallowell's books, I am no longer involved in ADD services, but I still get a call or two every few weeks.

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One of the most helpful books for me when I was newly ADD diagnosed was about ADD Women written by Sari Solden. It helped convince me that I truly had ADD...what a relief to find a reason for so many life struggles!

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Do you know an experienced ADD Coach in the Louisville area?

Thank you,

Larry Williams Quote:

Rhonda Pawlan said: As an ADD coach, I always advise people who suspect they have ADHD to get a formal diagnosis by a psychologist or psychiatrist who deals with many ADD patients. If you are diagnosed with ADD, medication is typically the first line of treatment since it helps 80% of the population. Then I suggest self-education by reading all you can about it. Of course, my final recommendation is to work with an ADD coach for a while because pills don't teach skills! Rhonda Pawlan, M.S. AD/HD Coach

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i believe my husband has ADD. he's definitely not hyperactive,yet he has the memory of a gnat(to put it kindly). he's incredibly intelligent yet never finishes anything he starts. anything he 'puts his hand to' he does well, but he never masters anything.he wants to talk to people and have friends,but he disconnects within seconds. people think he's shallow-but he's NOT. i love him dearly but to be honest, his refusal to seek help is putting a real strain on our marriage (i did talk him into going to an ADD support group once but the only outcome was buying himself an expensive pda/pdd??? which he got bored with and stopped using before it was paid for). how can i help him???if i write notes he gets mad,if i remind him of things he 'yeses' me to death and then never does it. i've become a nag for his own well being. our 15 year daughter has ADD symptoms but is doing great b/c she's willing to work on strategies that help her organize and remember. how can i be supportive without being 'mommy/nag'? thanks

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