Do I have ADD?

Maybe you’ve been asking “Do I have ADD?”  But you’re not sure.  I love Attention Deficit people.  They are exciting, interesting, and intelligent.  I have two ADD children and they make life exciting.  So if you think you might have ADD I hope this article will help you.  There was a time when attention deficit problems were considered to be problems for children and adolescents.  However, it is also a diagnosis for adults.  Perhaps you suspect that you have attention deficit symptoms.  Psychiatrists state that there are eighteen symptoms.  Below you will find the four general symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder.

Attention Span

One of the hallmarks of attention deficit problems is difficulty maintaining concentration.  this might mean having problems being easily distracted.  Sounds, visual stimuli, really almost anything can be distracting.  This means doing tasks that require concentration are more easily done in isolation.  Unfortunately, it is not very practical to work in isolation in many job or school settings.  For some people, it is also difficult to maintain sustained concentration.  Dr. Daniel Amen, in his book Healing the ADD Brain discusses concentration.  He suggests that when some ADD people try to concentrate their focus gets worse.  Because of this, some will avoid engaging in tasks that require sustained attention.  This can definitely affect performance at school, at work, and at home.

Organization

ADD and ADHD dramatically affect organization and one’s ability to stay organized.  Although many people struggle with organization, disorganization is typical of attention deficit people.  People with attention deficit problems may have a desk or work area that is messy and unorganized.  They also may have difficulty keeping up with things.  They may be prone to losing their keys, wallet, etc.  Attention deficit people can also be forgetful.  This can affect completion of tasks and follow through on things.  They can also be guilty of procrastination.  This can have an impact at work, school, and home.

Impulsivity

One of the most noteworthy attention deficit symptoms is impulse control.   ADD impulsivity can create significant problems.  This can be seen in children who can’t stop touching everything.  Impulse control is a problem for children and adults.  An impulsive adult might have difficulty with waiting their turn to talk in a conversation.  They might interrupt others.  They might also have difficulty with curbing impulsive actions or behaviors.  This impulsivity affects effectiveness at work or school.  It also might complicate dating or marital relationships.  Unchecked impulse control can also create financial and family problems.

Hyperactivity

Many people with ADHD outgrow the hyperactive piece.  However, many adults do not.  It is possible for ADD or ADHD to go into remission.  Research suggests that 21% of people with an ADD diagnosis will go into remission.  Unfortunately, that means 79% will have their symptoms throughout adulthood.  Hyperactive symptoms can persist in adulthood. This may mean someone is very fidgety, or cannot stay still.  It may seem that they need to keep moving.  They may talk excessively.  They can also seem restless.

This is not an exhaustive list of the diagnostic symptoms for ADD/ADHD.  If you are interested in the full list you can find it here.  If you have variations of these four symptoms, you or your loved one might have attention deficit struggles.   As a Burlington NC counselor, I help people in coping with ADD problems.  I would love to assist you in managing your ADD or ADHD struggles.   To contact me click here.