Undiagnosed Adults with A.D.D.

According to webmd.com, approximately 4% of the US adult population, or an estimated 8 million adults have attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Unfortunately, very few adults are identified or treated for it.

Many of these adults have lived with the symptoms all their lives never realizing they had something that is treatable. Many have lived their whole lives thinking they are stupid, or slow, or just not like other people. They don't understand why they don't think like other people or can't remember things like everyone else seems to. They don't understand why they speak out of turn blurting things out or have trouble behaving.

Most adults never find out they have ADD or ADHD until they have a child that is suspected of having it by their teacher. Once the adult takes the child in for screening, they begin to see the same symptoms in themselves.

In my husband's case, I recognized the symptoms. I then, looked it up online and began to read to him the checklist. He broke down in tears once he realized that this was something that could possibly have changed his life had it been detected as a child. On one hand he was relieved to know there was a name for what he's experienced, and a cure, but at the same time, he felt cheated out of years of his life. These were years that should have been fun and happy that were instead filled with disruptive behavior in school, trouble relating to his parents, and later girlfriends. College was excruciating for him since it required so much more concentration. Once he graduated, the working world was just as tough.

I'm happy to report that we were able to get him to our family doctor and he's taking the prescription drug, Strattera. I can see a world of difference in him. He was apprehensive about taking it at first because he was afraid that it would alter his personality too much. He didn't want to become an emotionless zombie. I assured him that I would make sure that didn't happen. He has been very pleased with the results as well.

I urge you to read over the list of symptoms and if you, or someone you love, exhibits many of these symptoms and the symptoms have caused them challenges or troubles in their health, relationships, work etc. then please make an appointment to have it checked.

• An internal sense of anxiety

• Impulsive habits such as spending habits

• Frequently distracted during sex

• Frequently loses or misplaces personal items such as car keys, purse or wallet, brush or comb, etc.

• Unable to give attention to detail

• Family history of ADD, learning problems, mood disorders or substance abuse problems

• Difficulty in following the proper channels or chain of commands

• Unable to obey rules resulting in frequent traffic violations

• Impulsive job changes

• Difficulty in maintaining an organized work and/or home environment

• Chronically late, always rushed or in a hurry

• Frequently overwhelmed by normal daily tasks

• Poor financial management resulting late payments

• Procrastination

• Spending excessive time at work due trying to make up for inefficiencies

• Inconsistent work performance and/or work attendance

• Sense of underachievement

• Frequent mood swings

• Trouble sustaining friendships or intimate relationships

• A need to seek high and higher stimulation activities, bores easily

• Tendency toward exaggerated outbursts

• Transposes numbers, letters, words

• Tendency toward being argumentative and/or highly opinionated

• Addictive personality toward food, alcohol, drugs, work and/or gambling

• Tendency to worry needlessly and endlessly

• "Thin-skinned" - having quick or exaggerated responses to real or imagined slights

Left untreated, ADD/ADHD can totally disrupt a person's life. It can affect their career, their relationships, their financial stability and their health. The more time that elapses with it left untreated only adds to the chaos and the damaging effects.

In their career, they may experience difficulty in concentrating, handling multiple tasks, listening attentively, and relating to their boss and/or co-workers. They may have difficulty meeting deadlines, being on time, or forgetting appointments.

In their relationships, they may feel that they are picked on for being untidy, unorganized and seemingly inattentive in conversations. The person with ADD/ADHD often blurts out hurtful things. They also are unreliable for matters involving dates, times, or organization.

With regards to finances, the person with ADD/ADHD has trouble remembering to pay bills on time, balancing a checkbook, keeping up with receipts or balances on credit cards. They are also prone to impulsive spending.

The person with ADD/ADHD can have difficulty with compulsive eating, drug and/or alcohol abuse. They are forgetful in remembering to eat properly or take medicine timely.

The following celebrities are listed as having ADD or ADHD. I've only included celebrities that are still alive today. Many believe many of the great inventors, public figures, etc. of our past suffered from ADD/ADHD. A link is provided below if you want to see the list of those believed to have had it.

Harry Andersen - (1952-present) - Actor, Comedian

Terry Bradshaw - (1948-Present) - Football Quarterback

Jim Carrey - (1962-present) - Actor, Comedian

Prince Charles - (1948-present) - Royalty of England

Cher (1946-present)- Actress, Singer

Bill Cosby - (1937-present) - Actor, Comedian

Tom Cruise - (1962-present) - Actor

Kirk Douglas -(1916-present) - Actor

Danny Glover - (1947-present) - Actor

Tracey Gold - (1969-present) - Actress

Whoopi Goldberg - (1955-present) - Actress

Dustin Hoffman - (1937-present) - Actor

Bruce Jenner - (1949-present) - Olympic Gold Medalist, Athlete, TV Personality

"Magic" Johnson - (1959-present) - Basketball Player

Michael Jordan - (1963-present) - Basketball Player

Greg Louganis - (1960-present) - Olympic Gold Medalist (Diving), Author

Ozzy Osbourne - (1948-present) - Actor, Singer, Entertainer

Nolan Ryan - (1947-present) - Major League Baseball Player

Will Smith -(1968-present) - Actor, Rapper, Entertainer

Suzanne Somers - (1946-present) - Actress, Author

Steven Spielberg - (1946-present) - Director, Filmmaker

Sylvester Stallone - (1946-present) - Actor, Director, Producer

Robin Williams - (1952-present) - Actor, Comedian

Henry Winkler - (1945-present) - Actor, Director, Producer, Author

Stevie Wonder - (1950-present ) - Musician