I think it’s possible for a few people to be hyperactive (“ADHD”) as a child but not actually ADD and then outgrow the ADHD as they get older. However, you cannot outgrow ADD. I know someone who was hyperactive as a child, but she grew up and seems to have overcome it. (granted, she’s still only 19, so we do still have yet to see how her life pans out—she is in college). Her room always seemed messy at home (though she shared it with her sister), but she still seems to have it together better than me, organizationally and what-not.
I, on the other hand was hyperactive as a child, but I also have ADD, and I guess I show some symptoms of adult ADHD, like talking too much. I will talk someone’s ear off, and then seconds later be like “gosh darn-it, why can’t I just shut up!”
I can relate, Electryone. ADD affects my whole life. Even now, at 25, ADD is the bane of my existence. My head feels foggy and confused. I forget everything. My room is always messy, and I’m constantly leaving messes throughout the rest of the house that drives my sister (who does NOT have ADD – far from it) crazy. I have poor time management. I feel like I can’t accomplish as much as I should be able to because I waste so much time on distractions. Oh yeah. I’m constantly getting distracted by everything. If the TV is on, forget it – nothing is getting done until it goes off. I just can’t focus on anything else. It’s like whooooomp—-eyes glued, forget the world. I try to explain it to my family by comparing my TV problem to alcoholism, like “You can’t expect an alcoholic to live in a bar without being drawn to drink. Likewise, I cannot live in a house with a TV without being drawn to watch. The TV (in moderation) is fine for some like alcohol is fine for some, but you don’t keep offering an alcoholic alcohol and you don’t keep blasting the TV when an ADD-er is trying to get stuff done.”
My ADD has cost me so much time (looking for things, trying to get back on track, etc) and money (late fees, lost items, etc) I can relate, mosaicmoose. It also makes me feel like a loser. It makes me feel worthless at times. It makes me feel like a burden and a nuisance. I just can’t figure out how to open the curtain and see clearly. I know my depression (a common co-morbid condition) only makes it worse, harder to focus, but, ironically, fittingly, I forget to take my medicine at times. My depression medication seems to work, but I just wish they had one of those once-a-month pills (or even shots-I’m that desperate) for ADD that would just fix the problem, clear it up like in those allergy commercials, but my world is still fogged. I’m still overwhelmed by everything going on and just trying to keep up with everyone else. My mom is very supportive, but my performance is usually not good enough for myself. I could do better… ...if only I could just fix this!
(When I was younger, I was shy and didn’t say much, but at school they always wanted the essays to be long and verbose. Now look what they’ve done! I’ve written a whole essay where you’re probably just supposed to put comments!)
