You will need to grieve over the years that you had no anwers for the depression and anxiety you were expieriencing. I know when I was first diagnosed, I was angry it took so long to figure out why I was the way I was. And worse no one actually getting it.. Youi may feel that way right now. However havibg this information is a good thing because with this diagnosed you will be able to figure thing out that made no sense before. You will be a great resource for your daughter since she is ADD/ADHD and will understand her struggles . It sounds like your husband is very supportive which is great thing becasue if he in your corner it will so much easier for you than trying to fight to be understood. It takes a few days to a few weeks to come to terms with being ADD especially since you went 34 years without knowing. . After your anger (which depression is turned inward) you will begin to see some of the gifts of ADD/ADHD . With our unusal way of looking at problems sometimes we come solutions that fit that most "normasl" could not think of. We are a very creative, intitutive bunch, . We are also many of us are a forgiving bunch. Since we are not perfect (frankly who wants to be). We don't expect any one to be perfect. We even into our adult hood like to play; so I can see you and your daughter having fun at the park. Some of things to be carefuil about is stay away from gambling or credit cards because we can many time be impulsive. Turn your dreams into creations, I find that I can write or paint thing due to my daydreaming / Start reading some books about learning what ADD is all about and first of all don't think of yourself as defective. YOU ARE NOT!!! you just many of us think differently. One book considers us the old hunters versus the planters who never take a risk . Just think differently and you will be a successful wife and Mother . Good Luck. and if you need to keep intouch.

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Thank you for your kind words. I told my boss today about the diagnosis, and he said he plays up to that with the work he has me do. He said it is my creativeness and flexibility that he counts on. You are right about being angry. For all this time I have thought that my distractedness was a character flaw. I see signs in both my daughters. One of my best friends told me that this should be no surprise, to look at how I understood his 7 year old son (who is severely ADHD) and related with him so well. My husband understands to a point. Right now it is about getting our family functional. Our relationship has been strained for so many years. He thought the things I would do (or not do) were due to piss him off or laziness. He has left it up to me to talk to my psychiatrist about meds and to make the decision on my own. We haven't told our oldest about her diagnosis yet (she sees our family/child psychologist next week) so I haven't said anything to the girls yet. I have only explained her brain is wired differently. I don't understand it much myself yet...

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Is a book written for children called You mean I'm not Lazy or Stupid. I founnd it while doing a report for my BSN and wrote a paper on ADD/ADHD. What I like about it is honestly written with solutions for children. As children many of us felt misunderstood and knew I was so different in my thinking than everyone else. I was very much a tomboy and loved to rough play . I prefered boys to being with girls because they got dirty.. I also relate to especially the" Problem " child who usually has gotten into trouble because they had a hard time following directions, sitting still, and very free with their mouths. Who else knows their struugles better than us. I still am a risk taker something my husband loathes,but have learned to control my impulsives. However I still am very distractable. It does get easierI promise. And I enjoy my daughter now much more as she got older. I hated and still do playing with dolls; but I am still a gas in the park. I was also diagnosed late in life and I am 51 but still by husbands standards I live life very actively , passionately . Medications due help ; but be forwarned if you are very creative and flexible it may change because they do help you to focus and I found I am more creative when not medicated and more off the cuff. Nice to meet you (Judi)

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