 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
| A recent study by researchers at Harvard found that 4% of American adults continue to suffer from symptoms of attention deficit disorder (ADD). Many of these people have no idea that ADD is causing many of their problems. Individuals can have ADD with or without hyperactivity. Whether someone has ADD has no relationship at all to their intelligence level. In fact, people with high intelligence often suffer more from ADD, because it may never be diagnosed as a child. When you were a child, your teachers and parents may have seen that you did well in some subjects, and so they did not identify the ADD, instead saying things like "You need to try harder."
Here are some signs that you may be suffering from ADD:
|
 |
|
Your relationship partner often complains that you're not listening |
|
|
People have often told you that you are an underachiever in school |
|
|
Your grades in school were uneven, with good grades in classes that you liked, and poor grades in subjects that you found dull |
|
|
You have great difficulty finishing boring and tedious tasks |
|
|
You feel like a failure, or you have low self-esteem |
|
|
You have poor time management skills and may lose track of details |
|
|
Your personal finances are a mess |
|
|
You tend to blurt things out in social situations, then regret it |
|
|
You feel restless and squirmy during long meetings, especially when bored |
|
| Of course, there are many other potential reasons for any of these difficulties, so a careful examination by a trained professional is necessary for an accurate diagnosis.
You might be interested in filling out this questionnaire before your appointment if you wonder if you have ADD. Again, note that even if your responses on this questionnaire are suggestive of ADD, other emotional problems could be causing the symptoms, so we should carefully examine potential alternatives when we meet.
ADD can be effectively treated through a combination of psychotherapy and/or medications. Often people with ADD have emotional difficulties, such as anxiety or depression, as well. We can work together to make an accurate diagnosis, help you with self-understanding, and problem-solve to increase your productivity and coping skills.
|
|
|
|
|
