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Description
Living with Attention Deficit Disorder (A.D.D.)

Although I was nineteen before I was actually diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (A.D.D.), I knew that something was preventing me from performing as well as I could on standardized tests and in essays.  Yes, those two areas were where I struggled most and still struggle most in my life.  I never scored very high on those standardized tests, but did well enough to escape much notice from those in education.  I also did not do too well on any sort of essays or long papers, but did well enough there to avoid much notice.  I never knew that I had something that was affecting my educational performance.

Only when an English professor in college grew a little concerned did I realize that maybe there was a reason for the way I performed in certain classes.  She knew I was a good student, but I always did a little below average in my essay writing.  She was the first one to ever suggest that I get evaluated for Attention Deficit Disorder.

Because I was on the cusp of adulthood at the time, I actually got my evaluation test done in a children’s development center.  After taking the tests needed to determine what was ‘wrong’ with me, I was officially diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder – Inattentive.  To avoid writing all that, I’ve personally shortened it to simply A.D.D.  I can probably do that…since I am not the least bit hyperactive.

That is the reason many females do not go diagnosed (sometimes ever) with A.D.D. or A.D.H.D.  It is because many females do not display hyperactivity, unlike boys, and go unnoticed, sometimes throughout their whole life.  I was fortunate enough to have a professor who wondered about my performance enough to suggest getting tested.   It is thanks to her that I know about my disorder and am currently undergoing treatment.

Since being diagnosed, I have undergone medication and therapy.  I find that both are very useful and have helped me in successfully completing college.  With the aid of medication, I am able to focus more on tasks that need to be done.  With the aid of therapy, I am able to find ways to monitor my behavior and work on ways to make living easier.

Living will always be a little more difficult for me.  I am not that strong with executive functions, so I will just be a little slower when it comes to performing them.  It is going to take me longer to learn how to drive.  It takes me longer to complete work than it does for others.  It just takes me longer to do many things that others do not struggle with.  But, I do not mind.  I am used to the fact that I just need to take a little more time to do things.  Overall, I am functioning just fine.

I could do without procrastination.  Yes, that is another thing I struggle with.  I often find myself wanting to do more fun things, such as hanging out online or watching TV rather than doing homework or chores.  But, I know that work has to be done, so I do take the time to do work, then do something I enjoy.  Sometimes, that doesn’t work too well because I do end up avoiding work, but I’m working on that.  That will always be something I struggle with.

Despite the fact I struggle with writing, tests, and procrastination, I do find time to do something that perhaps people don’t expect of me: write.  I don’t like writing for papers, but I do enjoy writing for fun (when I have the inspiration).  And, when I show my work to others, I am told I have talent.  Although it may take me a few tries to get my work to be the best it can be, I am still a decent writer.  If nothing else, I write to entertain readers.  I am proud of that.

Although I do not know where I got my A.D.D. from (some believe it is hereditary and others believe it is a problem within brain chemicals), I am all right with the fact that I have it.  I do not fight it anymore nor do I use it as an excuse (well, not all the time).  Whether I got it from another family member or whether I got it from something wrong with chemicals in my brain, I have A.D.D. and I am functioning just fine.

Description
Living with Attention Deficit Disorder (A.D.D.)

Although I was nineteen before I was actually diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (A.D.D.), I knew that something was preventing me from performing as well as I could on standardized tests and in essays.  Yes, those two areas were where I struggled most and still struggle most in my life.  I never scored very high on those standardized tests, but did well enough to escape much notice from those in education.  I also did not do too well on any sort of essays or long papers, but did well enough there to avoid much notice.  I never knew that I had something that was affecting my educational performance.

Only when an English professor in college grew a little concerned did I realize that maybe there was a reason for the way I performed in certain classes.  She knew I was a good student, but I always did a little below average in my essay writing.  She was the first one to ever suggest that I get evaluated for Attention Deficit Disorder.

Because I was on the cusp of adulthood at the time, I actually got my evaluation test done in a children’s development center.  After taking the tests needed to determine what was ‘wrong’ with me, I was officially diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder – Inattentive.  To avoid writing all that, I’ve personally shortened it to simply A.D.D.  I can probably do that…since I am not the least bit hyperactive.

That is the reason many females do not go diagnosed (sometimes ever) with A.D.D. or A.D.H.D.  It is because many females do not display hyperactivity, unlike boys, and go unnoticed, sometimes throughout their whole life.  I was fortunate enough to have a professor who wondered about my performance enough to suggest getting tested.   It is thanks to her that I know about my disorder and am currently undergoing treatment.

Since being diagnosed, I have undergone medication and therapy.  I find that both are very useful and have helped me in successfully completing college.  With the aid of medication, I am able to focus more on tasks that need to be done.  With the aid of therapy, I am able to find ways to monitor my behavior and work on ways to make living easier.

Living will always be a little more difficult for me.  I am not that strong with executive functions, so I will just be a little slower when it comes to performing them.  It is going to take me longer to learn how to drive.  It takes me longer to complete work than it does for others.  It just takes me longer to do many things that others do not struggle with.  But, I do not mind.  I am used to the fact that I just need to take a little more time to do things.  Overall, I am functioning just fine.

I could do without procrastination.  Yes, that is another thing I struggle with.  I often find myself wanting to do more fun things, such as hanging out online or watching TV rather than doing homework or chores.  But, I know that work has to be done, so I do take the time to do work, then do something I enjoy.  Sometimes, that doesn’t work too well because I do end up avoiding work, but I’m working on that.  That will always be something I struggle with.

Despite the fact I struggle with writing, tests, and procrastination, I do find time to do something that perhaps people don’t expect of me: write.  I don’t like writing for papers, but I do enjoy writing for fun (when I have the inspiration).  And, when I show my work to others, I am told I have talent.  Although it may take me a few tries to get my work to be the best it can be, I am still a decent writer.  If nothing else, I write to entertain readers.  I am proud of that.

Although I do not know where I got my A.D.D. from (some believe it is hereditary and others believe it is a problem within brain chemicals), I am all right with the fact that I have it.  I do not fight it anymore nor do I use it as an excuse (well, not all the time).  Whether I got it from another family member or whether I got it from something wrong with chemicals in my brain, I have A.D.D. and I am functioning just fine.