ADHD Children Grown Up

Posted by maggiebaker on Sep 3, 2010 in General | 0 comments

What are ADHD/ADD children like when they are 25, 35, 45 and beyond? ADHD/ADD affects the whole child’s thinking and feeling, especially their self-esteem. The earlier it is diagnosed and treated (medication and talk therapy), the better the result FOR A LIFETIME!

Here is Charlotte’s story. She was not treated until she was in her 50s. As a child she was what her mother affectionately (kind of) called her, “lovely little tornado.”
She could not sit still long enough to play a board game like Monopoly. When she went to the beach for a day she insistently wanted to know what she was going to do when they left the beach and what they were going to have for dinner, NOW!

In school she had her hands up constantly. She blurted out answers. If she got into a fight with another girl? She’d pull her hair and even punch her in the face.

By the time she was in fourth grade she had a reputation. She got blamed by teachers and kids for misbehavior she didn’t do.

In seventh grade her parents threatened to send her away to school unless she shaped up. No more rude and defiant behavior (little did they know how much she was suffering inside).

After her parent’s ultimatum fear ruled her every move. She forced herself to study all the time. She stayed away from other kids to keep out of trouble. Smart, she started to get top grades for the first time. The positive affirmation from teachers and her parents intoxicated her. Charlotte spent her high school years in the library.

She went to medical school and became a successful pediatric surgeon. Her hospital administration dismissed her because she refused to write up her surgery notes. She finally got thrown out of the hospital for non-compliance. At 56 she was diagnosed and started medication and talk therapy.

Does Charlotte’s story sound extreme? Would this story happen now? Hopefully not. We know so much more about ADHD/ADD today. We know the symptoms (lack of focus, whirlwind drive, distractibility, procrastination, disorganization) will continue into adulthood.

ADHD/ADD treated early the minimizes the severity of the symptoms. The interpersonal and self esteem problems that Charlotte suffered are minimized or just don’t result when a child learns to focus and is relieved of the driving force of hyperactivity.

The “take-home” message is clear—if you suspect you or your child, relative or friend have the typical symptoms of ADHD/ADD: distractibility, impulsivity, inattention, disorganization, hyperactivity, low self-esteem, then GET HELP!

You are only a google search or a click away from finding an expert in your community that can help put things right.