I am 41 years old and I just figured out that I have Adult ADD. It explains my whole life of not being able to live up to "my potential".... it explains .... well :) EVERYTHING. I am a very optimistic, hopeful, and positive person (thank God!) -- b/c many a times I felt such pain and suffering -- always disappointing my friends/family -- I turned to alcohol as self-medication -- got very depressed and suicidal, felt much social anxiety -- went to therapy undiagnosed so many times throughout of my life -- my "hope" and my optimism kept me afloat. I've been called "crazy" and "lazy". Just this morning my mother noticed that I remembered to take out the trash and said to my dad "Oh look, Michelle is getting better everyday!" (b/c I've been working on my ADD :) I could never figure out why I couldn't "make things happen". I consider myself extremely intelligent and bright as does everyone who meets and/or knows me.... but I have never "lived up to my potential". My mother and father many times have said to me that maybe I needed to get on disability b/c I couldn't seem to live in the "real" world. I still have my Christmas tree up in July and I keep forgetting to buy light bulbs -- even when I'm switching the one or two I do have working in the house to different areas. Obviously not lazy. :) It takes more effort to do that than to go buy light bulbs for God's sake!!! of this all my life without knowing that it wasn't really my fault -- that I wasn't a loser, etc.... my optimism kept me from giving up -- and now I am relieved and extremely excited about the new adventure I have in front of me ----> living happily and successfully with ADD. Why in the world -- with all the therapy was I not diagnosed ADD? I'm still not diagnosed.... although my doc just gave me a rx for Straterra (that isn't working -- maybe a few positive effects noticed)....

I'm relieved and very excited to know that I am ADD. My name is Michelle and I have Adult ADD. Now :) what am I going to do about it? Well :) I will tell you what I'm NOT going to do.... and that is suffer. I'm not going to feel the pain and suffering anymore. I'm not going to give up on my dreams and goals.... I am 41 years old and I feel as if I have a new lease on life.

I live in a very very small town and there are no Adult ADD experts around. I'm very worried that I will not be able to be prescribed the proper medication. I have no way to get to a larger city for this. So -- I'm bummed out about that.... but in the meantime I am going to find out all that I can and I am going to re-learn and re-teach myself how to live and cope with ADD. How to laugh about it and not to feel anymore shame or guilt.

I hope to get to know some of you and I hope with this website forum learn some of the tips and tricks!

With much Gratitude! Michelle

Quote