New ADHD Diagnosis Discovery?

People are diagnosed with ADHD in all stages of life and so this new discovery can happen at any point.  So finally all those crazy thoughts and actions have a reason behind them.  Yet some people do not have such an easy time accepting the news of being diagnosed with Attention Defecit Hyperactivity Disorder. One woman, after the age of fifty, had just been told by her doctor she had Adult ADD and didn't know how to accept the news.   This came as devastating news to the woman - she'd probably had negative preconceptions of the disability.  However, this doesn't have to be bad news.  Having a reason behind unexplainable and seemingly unchangeable behavior should come as a relief.

Once you know something about yourself that you don't like, you should be able to make the proper steps toward changing.  For instance, I used to always forget to put the milk away after using it.  Now, because I am aware of my weaknesses due to ADHD I can work on them. I leave the refrigerator door open while using the milk to remember to put it away. (This turns out to be just fine for energy efficiency because opening and closing the door takes more energy than the few seconds to pour the milk.) Power to change should come with knowledge, unfortunately it doesn't always happen that way. Sometimes you have to build your own strength - but you can learn how to do this!

• Stay positive.  Nothing is worse than devastation - negativity breeds depression and ignorance.
• Remember knowledge is power - the more you know, the more things will make sense.
• Look for strength - that means find something positive about this news that can make you feel good about yourself. Such as the acute sense of hearing that is so distracting when there is silence also allows you to hear better than others.
• Turn negatives into positives. - Instead of focusing on how terrible something is, why not try focusing on how this terrible thing will better you; What can you learn from this? How can this lesson or news make you a better person? (Or insert any word in place of better) EG: smarter, stronger, or a more (powerful) person.

I have had my entire life to come to terms with the fact that my brain works in a different way than others. Although I have felt the dooming realization that this will never go away, I don't know what it would be like to have such news provided to me after so many years of life.  But knowing there are techniques to improve symptoms of ADHD and medications to take, the diagnosis doesn't have to seem dooming.

So why does this seem like terrible news? Depending on the type of Attention Deficit, the symptoms can sound different. But basically, you go to the doctor to tell him/her about how tired you feel, how difficult everything seems, about how difficult it is to focus -- and stay focused -- perhaps expecting him/her to tell you to get more rest, maybe you're stressed, depressed, whatever. You weren't expecting to hear that you have a disorder.  The word sounds so condemning; "Disorder." Even one of the definitions of the word seems to have negative connotations, basically meaning "a lack of order or regular arrangement." But that doesn't have to be negative, it's just different. Thus the reason I mention my brain working in a different way than normal - the brain just sends signals in a different way than others. After all, we are all different, why couldn't that apply to brain function as well? Besides who is to really say what is normal? And wouldn't it be boring if we were all the same? But this diagnosis is not the end of the world nor a good reason to hold any amount of depression over the issue.

Once the initial shock of being diagnosed with ADHD passes, realize how insulting it is to someone already diagnosed when you tell them the "bad" news.  I once saw a woman begin to cry when she was told that she had ADHD, as if someone had just told her she had cancer, I was surprised and appalled.  While growing up this was just another part of my personality - not the beginning of a battle between life and death. You're still the same person coming out of the doctors office as when you went in - but with more knowledge.

So make sure to live proudly.  Don't ever let anyone make you feel like less of a person for knowing something more about yourself.  New discovery? well, instead of fearing the worst, just accept that now you know where to begin on the search to figuring out how to live.  Self-maintenance anyone?

There are thousands out there like me with their own stories and I hope that my words will bring encouragement to all who need it. Because life isn't just about one thing.  I'm all about the human race pulling ourselves out of ignorance and helping each other; trying to make a change for the better so we can all enjoy life and everything wonderful the world has to offer.