I just found out that I (or my spouse or child) have/has AD/HD. Now what?
Step One: Relax.
AD/HD isn't a "new" problem you have to deal with; it's a condition that you
(or your spouse or child) have been trying to manage for most, if not all, of your life. Now with a proper diagnosis in place you're better prepared to try to locate the resources that are best suited to your unique needs.
- Once you've identified and tried out some of the tools available to you, you'll probably notice that you're performing a little better at work or in school, or that some of the stressors in your relationships are reduced.
- Consider joining a support group (live or online). You'll meet other people who have more experience with living with ADHD and feel less isolated. You'll also find that your own experiences may be very valuable to someone else.
- Visit our links and blog pages for some excellent resources.
- Check online for local groups in your area.
- Check with your local library, your physician and/or your school to identify other experts near you who may be helpful.
Step Three: Experiment. Maybe you're a person who does very well with a paper "day planner" calendar tool. Maybe you're the type who prefers to use a PDA or smart phone for scheduling. Sometimes changing the time of day you take your ADHD medication can improve your focus at work. One nice thing about ADHD is that you can test out different alternatives with very little "down side" if the changes don't work out well for you.- You can't manage what you can't measure. Keep a journal to track the things that matter to you like your work performance, stress level, etc. so you can see how a given change is impacting you.
- Change one thing at a time. If you switch medications the same week you swap out your Franklin Planner for a Blackberry phone, it's hard to determine which change is having what effect on you.
- Start with the small lifestyle changes, e.g. studying early in the morning instead of in the evening or using noise-cancelling headphones at work to minimize distractions. Then see what impact you can gain from changes to your diet, adding exercise, etc. While medication can be a very valuable tool, making these kinds of behavioral adjustments can reduce your reliance on it and/or increase its effectiveness for you.
Step Four: Keep some perspective. AD/HD has been described as a "situational impairment." The same high-energy, rapid-paced, curious and creative thought process that may make activities like bookkeeping or studying difficult for you probably also makes other activities like public speaking or working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment that much easier for you. One would be hard-pressed to say that AD/HD has hurt someone like Robin Williams, who's famous for his lighting-fast and usually ad-libbed comedy. Don't frame your AD/HD only as a problem to be managed -- recognize it's also a unique characteristic that can be developed and used to your advantage! Some famous, successful people who've learned how to use their AD/HD to their advantage include:- Terry Bradshaw (Actor, Sports Commentator, former NFL player)
- Ty Pennington (Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Host)
- David Neeleman (CEO of JetBlue Airways)
- Ed Keeter (The Guy Who Wrote This)
- It's also widely believed, but not confirmed, that both Albert Einstein
and Thomas Edison may have had ADHD.
Think it's only guys who get AD/HD, or who manage successful careers by
incorporating AD/HD into their style? Here are a few famous, successful
women with AD/HD as well:
- Ellen DeGeneres (Comedian, Talk Show Host)
- Whoopi Goldberg (Actress, Comedian)
- Solange Knowles (Singer/Performer)
- Agatha Christie (Author)
- Lindsay Wagner (Actress / "Bionic Woman")
- Cher (Singer, Actress)
- Anne Bancroft (Actress)
- Mariel Hemingway (Actress)