crazyblue
06-19-2004, 08:56 PM
hey all. i am a 21 year old college student that was just diagnosed with ADD. i've always been struggling jsut to barely make "average student" status all my life. but i was actually happy with it. i just was subordinated in to believing that i couldn't do any better. since being diagnosed, i've realized that i can be something better that just ordinary. unfortunately, i still can't resolve in my mind why anyone would didn't try to diagnose me with this earlier. i keep thinking that one has ever noticed any significant trait or ability in me to believe that i could ever be thought of a more than, and why should they start now? it's like realizing that you've been at the butt of every joke for years and just realized that until now. has anyone gone through this? what should i do? are there any good stragegies to reclaim my self-esteem?
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apinecone
06-20-2004, 11:16 AM
has anyone gone through this? what should i do? are there any good stragegies to reclaim my self-esteem?
Well, I guess I sorry but happy at the same time about your ADD Dx: to paraphrase you "it's about time!" But you have alot of that (lifetime speaking) and now you know and (1) can compensate for it and (2) won't have to spend your whole adult life or any major part of it 'not knowing'. Often, way adult-ADD Dx'd people, like me, think: "what could my life been like if I'd have known sooner!!" Presumably "better", but that's up to you to a certain extent, so to that extent: listen up and pay attention, dude!! :rolleyes: [couldn't help myself; sorry]
Pay attention to how this 'new' thing in your head 'works' [it's not new but you are new to how it works, so understanding how it works and how it works in you, I think is a main key to 'what should I do'. If you haven't read some expert material, that's a good place to begin. I recommend "Driven to Distraction" by Dr. Hallowell, who is an MD with ADD himself, which helps ALOT, I think.
As for self-esteem, here's some points that might help your perspective: (1) you can't change the past, but you CAN learn from it, so do that to the best extent that you can; (2) there is nothing "wrong" with ADD per se; if you feel it's a 'stigma', YOU are wrong-- stigma is in the eye of the beholder, so if that's a problem, try educating THEM; (3) be aware that this stigmatic effect can put you at an unfair disadvantage, so learn more about your 'rights' and how to better handle 'public' awareness about your condition; (4) learn how to take advantage of the advantages that having ADD itself might give you and also how to prevent or reduce the negative effects (like being forgetful/late, over-concentrating on things, etc.)-- these will help over time in both more win-win and less lose-lose ways.
And network-on-your-support-system; misery loves company, so you don't feel like the lone ranger all the time, right? ;)
Well, I guess I sorry but happy at the same time about your ADD Dx: to paraphrase you "it's about time!" But you have alot of that (lifetime speaking) and now you know and (1) can compensate for it and (2) won't have to spend your whole adult life or any major part of it 'not knowing'. Often, way adult-ADD Dx'd people, like me, think: "what could my life been like if I'd have known sooner!!" Presumably "better", but that's up to you to a certain extent, so to that extent: listen up and pay attention, dude!! :rolleyes: [couldn't help myself; sorry]
Pay attention to how this 'new' thing in your head 'works' [it's not new but you are new to how it works, so understanding how it works and how it works in you, I think is a main key to 'what should I do'. If you haven't read some expert material, that's a good place to begin. I recommend "Driven to Distraction" by Dr. Hallowell, who is an MD with ADD himself, which helps ALOT, I think.
As for self-esteem, here's some points that might help your perspective: (1) you can't change the past, but you CAN learn from it, so do that to the best extent that you can; (2) there is nothing "wrong" with ADD per se; if you feel it's a 'stigma', YOU are wrong-- stigma is in the eye of the beholder, so if that's a problem, try educating THEM; (3) be aware that this stigmatic effect can put you at an unfair disadvantage, so learn more about your 'rights' and how to better handle 'public' awareness about your condition; (4) learn how to take advantage of the advantages that having ADD itself might give you and also how to prevent or reduce the negative effects (like being forgetful/late, over-concentrating on things, etc.)-- these will help over time in both more win-win and less lose-lose ways.
And network-on-your-support-system; misery loves company, so you don't feel like the lone ranger all the time, right? ;)
Bmwilliams210
06-20-2004, 01:35 PM
I am 16, just diagnosed and If the meds work it will be great. I wish I could have received help earlier. My mom said she should have noticed when I played little league baseball back in elementerary school as in the outfield I would not be paying attention and watching other things. I wish she could have because I could be driving right now if I could get good grades. But at least its done now and not too late before I am out of highschool. Colleges hopefully will see a change from freshman/sophmore years to Junior/Senior years.. Maybe that will help scholarship wise... The self esteem part.. I think ADD should not get in anybodies way in life....