| I was 57 when I found a name for what made my | | | | or Dr. Hallowell and Dr. Ratey. You can start |
| life different. I discovered Attention | | | | your search on the Internet at the ADDA Web |
| Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) reading | | | | site, , or at the CHADD National Resource |
| "Shadow Syndromes" by Dr. John Ratey. His | | | | Center, If you have difficulty reading (many |
| description of the Inattentive type of ADHD | | | | people with ADHD do), look for audio books. |
| was a revelation. I went "Wow! That's it !" | | | | |
| It explained so many things about my life. | | | | Get a medical evaluation. It's important to |
| | | | find a doctor with ADHD experience, and not |
| I did quite well in school, but I know I | | | | just any doctor. A knowledgeable doctor will |
| could have done better if I had been able to | | | | look for other potential problems like |
| control my dreamy brain. Life was a blur. I | | | | depression and anxiety, and will help you |
| was always a little out of it, wondering what | | | | find the best treatment. Medication can be |
| was I missing. I was never in on the joke. I | | | | very effective for controlling key ADHD |
| thought that when I grew up I would be able | | | | symptoms. |
| to plan, to get organized, to stop | | | | |
| procrastinating and get things done. | | | | Eat well. As we grow older, our bodies are |
| | | | less efficient at absorbing the nutrients we |
| It didn't happen. As an adult I continued to | | | | need. Eat four or five small meals a day |
| be spacey and lost in my own world. My big | | | | containing both protein and carbohydrates, |
| problem was communicating. I never knew what | | | | the essential ingredients your brain needs to |
| to say. I had ideas rushing around in my | | | | function at its best. |
| head, but when I opened my mouth they all | | | | |
| evaporated. | | | | Exercise within your capacity. Go for walks |
| | | | in the park, on green grass, under trees. |
| My children grew up but I didn't seem to have | | | | Green space is good for ADHD. Treat your |
| much to do with it. I had difficulty paying | | | | grandchildren. Take them with you to watch |
| attention to them. I would respond absent | | | | the squirrels, listen to the birds, kick dead |
| mindedly, instead of with my full attention. | | | | leaves in the fall and watch the flowers come |
| | | | up in the spring. |
| They did grow up and now I have a lovely | | | | |
| granddaughter. Now knowing how ADHD affects | | | | Tackle the chaos. A big problem with ADHD is |
| me and with medication and coaching, I can | | | | disorder. You may have piles of stuff, paper, |
| pay attention to her, and we have great | | | | old clothes. The clutter drains your energy |
| conversations. | | | | and weighs on your conscience. It's worth |
| | | | making the effort to clear it up. If you find |
| Yes, I still have piles of stuff and I | | | | this difficult, and you probably will, ask |
| procrastinate, but now that I am connected to | | | | for help, a friendly neighbor, a daughter or |
| the world, I can mange life as it comes. | | | | even a grandchild someone with patience and a |
| | | | sense of humor. The presence of another |
| If my story resonates with you, you might | | | | person, what we call a body double, can make |
| have ADHD too. Do you think you're too old | | | | the task easier. |
| for ADHD? Never! | | | | |
| | | | Tips for managing ADHD |
| We've learned a lot in recent years, and one | | | | |
| of the most important things we've | | | | 1. Learn about ADHD |
| discovered, is that ADHD often does not go | | | | |
| away as you grow up. The good news is that | | | | 2. Get medical support |
| now there are many things you can do about | | | | |
| it, so let's look at where you can start. | | | | 3. Eat well |
| | | | |
| Read to understand ADHD. Learn all you can | | | | 4. Exercise with grandchild |
| about ADHD; what it is, and what it isn't. | | | | |
| Many good books share what we've learned. | | | | 5. |
| Look for wonderful authors like Sari Solden | | | | |