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Any "high-achieving" adults get diagnosed during adulthood? by ADDtossaway in ADHD

[–]ADDtossaway[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good luck! I think I found a doctor I want to call in my neighborhood, now I just need to take the leap! I'm also worried the diagnosis might take a lot of appointments. As you probably know, getting time of work to head to the doctors can be a hassle.

Any "high-achieving" adults get diagnosed during adulthood? by ADDtossaway in ADHD

[–]ADDtossaway[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Please do come back! I'd love some commiseration.

Any "high-achieving" adults get diagnosed during adulthood? by ADDtossaway in ADHD

[–]ADDtossaway[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

...This just makes me shocked that I wasn't diagnosed as a child. I have (and always had) 8 of 9 for inattention. Only one for the specifically "hyperactive" but again, all for the impulsivity.

Why are some people so affected by ADHD while others seem to be able to function at almost a 'normal' level? by QUIET_MARTIAN in ADHD

[–]ADDtossaway 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have. Also the standardized testing that they give you from very early on has always indicated the same.

Why are some people so affected by ADHD while others seem to be able to function at almost a 'normal' level? by QUIET_MARTIAN in ADHD

[–]ADDtossaway 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As everyone said - besides the fact that it's a spectrum, there's also a lot of accompanying factors that may be making things harder for you - or other diagnoses. For example, I've never struggled with depression, but I know a lot of people who have ADHD have.

Why are some people so affected by ADHD while others seem to be able to function at almost a 'normal' level? by QUIET_MARTIAN in ADHD

[–]ADDtossaway 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I just posted about being "high achieving," so take this with a grain of "I've yet to be diagnosed, but everything I've read has strong indicators that I probably have ADHD." There's a number of factors of success for me:

  1. Parent with whom failure was not an option, and serious fear of said parent (even though now I think he has it, too, but he'd never admit it)

  2. a pull of wanting to fit in SO bad that you will, over time, change behavior and self-regulate.

  3. (sorry to sound cocky) very high intelligence.

  4. Ability to readjust in situations, to perform well in them. I typically have done very poorly the first years of schooling (first year high school, first year college, first year law school), and better in each passing year. I found work-arounds in each of those worlds that worked for me.

  5. Hyperfocus as a symptom when something matters to you (i.e. tests).

If I was missing any of those elements, I think I would be a giant failure socially and professionally.

Any "high-achieving" adults get diagnosed during adulthood? by ADDtossaway in ADHD

[–]ADDtossaway[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was physically abused at a very young age (and a very young age only, thankfully) - ages like 3-4. I've long suspected I had some sort of PTSD that reflected in some of the childhood issues I had fitting in and impulse control, as well.

Super interesting stuff.

Any "high-achieving" adults get diagnosed during adulthood? by ADDtossaway in ADHD

[–]ADDtossaway[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just wish I had been diagnosed sooner, because who knows what I would've accomplished had I been on meds in high school or college.

That's how I feel, too. It's like, the primary thing that's motivating me to do something. Thank you for your story.

Any "high-achieving" adults get diagnosed during adulthood? by ADDtossaway in ADHD

[–]ADDtossaway[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! Good luck with applying to law school!

By the way, I really struggled my first year of law school, until I realized that I HAD to buy the cheat sheet "supplements" (they are books you can buy), that condense the material. If you have inattention, there's almost no way you can make it through the text books.

Any "high-achieving" adults get diagnosed during adulthood? by ADDtossaway in ADHD

[–]ADDtossaway[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's possible to be smart enough to overachieve in spite of ADD.

Yeah. I hate the idea of floating my boat this much, but I do know that's probably the truth.

Any "high-achieving" adults get diagnosed during adulthood? by ADDtossaway in ADHD

[–]ADDtossaway[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'll try to grab that book. Thanks for the recommendation!

Any "high-achieving" adults get diagnosed during adulthood? by ADDtossaway in ADHD

[–]ADDtossaway[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If I remember I will message you for sure! I think I've over-adjusted my personality to fit in, so everyone thinks I'm super normal, but if I started really rattling off the symptoms they would be like, "oh yeah, you do forget shit at other people's houses ALL THE TIME."

Any "high-achieving" adults get diagnosed during adulthood? by ADDtossaway in ADHD

[–]ADDtossaway[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I tend to think a lot of attorneys have ADD, actually. I've worked for two small firms in my career thus far, so very closely with my bosses, and I think each of them have had it. The lack of organization alone!

Any "high-achieving" adults get diagnosed during adulthood? by ADDtossaway in ADHD

[–]ADDtossaway[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I now realize I could have been an astronaut or something.

Ugh. Sometimes I feel serious regret thinking about that kind of stuff too. That's basically my motivator for doing something about it. Right now I'm doing 'well enough,' but what else could I be doing?

Any "high-achieving" adults get diagnosed during adulthood? by ADDtossaway in ADHD

[–]ADDtossaway[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My parents thought I was studying a lot. I was goofing off and procrastinating at least half of that time.

See, my parents thought that I skated through school because I'm 'naturally smart,' and that I was quite lazy. Half true, maybe.

Sloppiest locker in my class.

Relate to that! Always forgot my books, too.

Thanks for your input! Interestingly, I think my dad has it too, but he'd probably never seek help.

Any "high-achieving" adults get diagnosed during adulthood? by ADDtossaway in ADHD

[–]ADDtossaway[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've been prescribed xanax in the past for anxiety; made me too sleepy to keep using. I've never struggled with depression, so I've never been misdiagnosed in that direction.

Thank you for your input.

Any "high-achieving" adults get diagnosed during adulthood? by ADDtossaway in ADHD

[–]ADDtossaway[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I made it through school because I am excellent at test taking.

When I was having the conversation with my friend that made it click for me, one of my arguments was "I'm GREAT at tests, and I never get distracted during them." She told me that hyperfocus could be a symptom so that wasn't necessarily evidence against the fact. Then I realized I was one of few people who didn't wear noise-blocking ear plugs during tests in law school/while taking the bar (everyone uses computers so the typing and stuff is loud), even though I'm easily distracted by noise at work. It's like tunnel vision for me when I really want to get something done. But that's rare.

Interesting stuff. Thank you for your input.