I'm a classic case. Every symptom but (thank God) substance abuse. I don't pay attention unless I'm interested. If I try to focus, I am only focusing on my focusing, which doesn't help at all. I don't read fiction because I can't keep track of what's going on. Even while watching movies, I have to ask my wife to explain plot developments. I was clueless in grade school and high school. All the other kids would show up with some required, signed paper (they seemed to have gotten the memo) and I didn't even know what the paper was. I daydreamed nearly all day long. Despite being intelligent and creative, I have lagged all my life in areas of achievement. At 56, I'm working alongside 30-year-old peers. I have trouble following directions and I can't -- honestly can't -- keep up an attention span during business meetings. When someone asks me for input, I don't know what to say because I haven't been listening (very humiliating). I also hyperfocus: When I do develop an interest, I immerse myself in it wholly and develop expertise in a short span of time. My tolerance for frustration has always been abysmal. I don't know how other people manage to face frustrating stimuli and NOT curse, grumble and fly off the handle -- such a state of mind seems utterly unreachable. My self-esteem is poor, even at an age when I should have dealt with all my childhood demons. I'm unassertive most of the time and apologize constantly. I've struggled with anxiety, irrational fears, marriage problems and depression. Often I've hopped from job to job. During my 32 years of marriage, we've moved (sometimes cross-country) 14 times. Despite having a blessed life in general, I feel life is passing me by. I worry that when my time comes to a close, I will have terrible regrets about all I haven't done, despite being gifted on many levels. I'm haunted by Oliver Wendell Holmes' statement that most people go to the grave "with their music still in them." In short ... this problem is a drag.

My symptoms include severe anxiety, I tend to isolate myself when faced with issues and don't want to offend or challenge. I have started college 3 times and have yet to fininsh. I was diagnosed after my 2 youngest daughters were in 3rd and 4th grade, and weren't learning very well at school as well as basic life skills at home. So once the physician diagnosed them, I started to remember some of my childhood issues and how they affected how I never felt like I fit in anywhere or had a clue of what was really going on. Even after medication, I finished my first quarter of college as a medical assistant with a GPA of 3.57 but couldn't handle all the pressures of being a mom, wife, student and was so focused on studies that everything else was falling to the way side. So I took a leave. I felt like I was about to have a nervous breakdown, which wouldn't be the first time. I am very smart and literate but stink at math. I am very creative but seem to get so close to finishing a project. When painting for example, I will decide why finish? I think by the time I'm almost done, I've already decided that I want a new style or color so why finish that top corner anyway? I am highly disfunctional and the meds seem to intensify my concentration which doesn't help much if I'm concentrating so much on one task that nothing else gets done. Organization is a huge issue. I do not work, I could get hired for alot of jobs but then there would be expectations and I would have to deal with the pressure of always living up to them. Hard to cope with the fact that I have never finished anything as far as self worth goes, and maybe even am bipolar and undiscovered because I avoid situations that set me off.

I was diagnosed with ADHD as a child. Once I turned age 11 they had to take me of Ritalin. They said it would have a reverse reaction from what it was meant to do. I went on with my life as an adult without medication. I noticed at the age of 40 that I was having problems. These problems consisted on not being able to sleep, irritability, concentration problems. I seek medical advice. Now I am having problems finding a drug that will, help me sleep and get rid of my depression, anxiety, etc. I am so hyper. I feel like the energizer bunny. I have no desire to do the things I need to do, like clean my house, car, and such. I just wish I could sleep like a normal person. That would make my moods better with the right amount of good sleep.

I am a nurse and it became a joke among me and the other nurses that I had ADHD. I had a difficult time sitting still, concentrating on charting and writing care plans. I rarely could sit at a desk long enough to complete a task, which made me wildly popular with the aides, I was always helping them. When I changed jobs and was required to sit for long periods of time to write reports I became keenly aware of my inability to concentrate on the task at hand. I took some online quizzes which suggested I speak to a Physician; I did and was officially diagnosed.

My issues really began in high school, where I'd always hear how I was wasting my potential. I would skip school most days just because I was fascinated by some other thing. I am 28 and have had at least 30 jobs. I can't ever get caught up enough to be on time or to actually sit and study. I've always been all over the place.