Students bouncing off the walls, fidgeting non-stop, struggling to learn, talking incessantly, excessively daydreaming , lacking  a clear train of thought, generally disruptive, and having papers falling out of their backpacks and clothes all over their floors. This is a student experience of ADHD, but…

Betty* came to see me when she was 55 years old. She was the mother of two young adult daughters.. The daughters had experienced trouble in school. Betty came to therapy because she felt like something ‘wasn’t right,’ and she was so tired of trying to juggle her life.

 Her history revealed lifelong difficulty with attention, concentration, organization, task initiation and follow through, procrastination, decision-making, and time management. These symptoms had plagued her through school, jobs, parenting, and managing her home. No wonder she felt so tired! 

 Betty had been told she ‘didn’t measure up,’ ‘didn’t work to her potential,’ and ‘could do better’ so many times she absolutely believed these things about herself.

Betty has an inattentive form of ADHD – it’s subtle because there is no obvious physical hyperactivity. This is a more typical presentation in girls and women and, therefore, is more easily overlooked by teachers, parents and doctors.

Through counseling, Betty’s whole life changed – at 55! It was truly remarkable.  She dove into education on her condition, chose to begin medication, and implemented lifestyle changes to accommodate her needs. (Turns out, her daughters got diagnosed too which radically changed their lives as well!)

Her whole understanding of herself, how and why events in her life had played out as they did – it all took on such significant new meaning. Her sense of identity and self-worth dramatically improved as she could see herself clearly.

The primary problems in life arise when those with brains wired with (what we happen to call ADHD) are trying to fit and function exactly like those without ADHD.