Expert: Christine D. DeLoatch, MA CCC-SLP - 3/19/2010

Question
hello,
First of all i request to read my lengthy question and reply to my problem.
I am 22 year old from india. Since in india there is lack of awareness about ADD, it took me time to notice that i could be one with ADD. In past my lack of attention was always believed to be due to lack of concentration or lack of interest. So my first question is whats major difference between ADD and lack of concentration. I mean, i am not attentive it may be because i don't study or do work with concentration and solution is to improve concentration ?
Ok now coming back to ADD, i have lot of symptoms of ADD. I visited lots of site and did online test here http://counsellingresource.com/quizzes/adhd/index.html with result of 100. I know Online test are not reliable but i just did it for getting quick review of my situation. Apart from symptoms mention on test or most of sites, i will like to discuss some specific problems with me
1.While writing, i mostly tend to eat words. Even when i write a small paragraph i always miss one or more words. I notice the mistake only if I re-read the paragraph and if i don't Re-read it then mistake goes with out notice. So it most of times changes whole meaning of the sentence and sometimes sentence meaning gets funny. It happens most of the time. If such incidents doesn't happen then it always come as pleasant Shock to me
2. One of the biggest problem i am facing right now is the way i am making wrong decisions. When i take decision, i know i am taking right decision but with in 2-3 days i lost interest and like move to other things. My whole childhood is example of that, i have changed at least 10-15 different sports. Each time thinking i will do thing whole my life and lose interest within few days and then next sport. Even now, at 22 age, i am making same mistake. I join Reading room for studies and left it after 2 days. I join Gym and left it after 15-20 days. Even i thinking of changing of career, since i am bored with current one.
3. Even in office i easily make silly mistakes and i only realize them when my employers client call to compliant about of my mistakes. Mistakes are like Wrong party name or wrong amount or wrong details
4. I can't sit still .My body is always in motion, while studying or doing some thinking. I mean my body is motion when i am siting, always moving ahead and back.
5. As i mention earlier i have all symptoms like easily distracted, all day dreaming, lack of  concentration, like to doing thing which is easy,etc etc

sorry for lengthly question. i hope you do reply. I am really disturbed since my parent are not financially good and they are thinking my habit of changing career is just excuse for not to work or lack of concentration. I am some opinion before i went for professional.

Answer
Dear Ankit Gindoria,

Thanks you for asking me your question.  I did read your entire question.  

First I must apologize for the delayed response.  I do apologize.

I want to say that receiving the diagnosis of ADD or ADHD means that you have demonstrated an on-going lack of concentration, (and distractibility, inattention, and other characteristics) that make either schooling or work very difficult.  

One of my friends used to like to call it attention to detail disorder.  I think that explains all the little frequent mistakes you make on e-mails, paperwork, etc.  What is more telling, is that you have not made a routine of reading over your written work to be sure it has no errors.  I do not do this either, because I, frankly, don't think about doing it- except when I answer questions on this site, because they have a built in preview page. I also forget to do spell check, even though I know spelling is not a strength for me.

Most people aren't as forgetful as people with ADD are. One morning after I was diagnosed, I watch myself go back inside the house 3 times before being able to leave for work, because I forgot something and later remembered. Being forgetful can be very frustrating.  

I also call ADD - attention dys-regulation disorder, because some kids can play video games for hours and some adults can read a book non-stop for days or get involve in a project intently for 2-3 days straight.  We call it being 'hyper-focused."  This is not good either, because we usually forget to eat, forget appointment and previous commitments.  We get stuck.

What our brain does it look for stimulation of the Pre-frontal cortex.  So right now you seek it physically - by moving all the time and mentally by changing jobs so that thing are new or novel.  That is also mentally stimulating.  That is the reason that ritalin and other medications are taken - because the medicine stimulates that area of the brain that is not function well. People who drink lots of coffee and tea are stimulating that area of the brain looking for more alertness and concentration.

Most people don't need 'to work on concentration.' I just develops on it's own.  Like we really don't teach children to walk.  They want to get around faster; They already have the muscle strength they need; They are interested in what's above them; They have already mastered sitting up, crawling and pulling up - so the take a step.  

We don't tell them, "First of all these things are called legs.  They can take you places. In order to walk, you are going to have to balance on one leg for a little while, while you swing the other leg in front of you and place it on the ground.  You are going to do this over and over again until you get to the place you want to go."  The only children or adults that need teaching are those that have something wrong with them, either a birth injury or accident.  

There is a part of the brain that develops called the pre-frontal cortex that is like and "internal supervisor or boss."  When it functions correctly, it is like a voice that tells you what to do first, next and last.  It reminds you of events that are coming up.  It tells you that in order to make it to your appointment, you will have to stop (not at the time of the appointment, but well before the appointment to give yourself time to get there), put away the project or paperwork you are working on now, and get any materials you need for the appointment.

When you don't have this 'boss' inside your head, you are constantly forgetting things, and are late for things and just plain stressed.  You can become depressed because you feel like you are letting people down, and that you are not productive.  You can even develop anxiety.  

'A lack of concentration,' is a vague symptom.  It doesn't say how it affects the person.  People with ADD have a very hard time in life.  They frequently change jobs - sometimes they quit, sometimes they get fired or a combination of the two.  Disorganization is one of the biggest complaints for those of us with ADD.  Also I would say that for a person with ADD, "Life is EFFORTFUL."  Little things like making decisions seem to take about 3 times as long for us than it does for other people.

I hope that I have helped you better understand the disorder known as ADD or ADHD.  If money is a challenge, I would strongly suggest that you look into a book called, Healing ADD - by Dr. Daniel Amen.  He has lots of good everyday suggestions that may be very helpful, that you could start doing right away, like exercising more regularly and some herbs that might help as well.  

I personally liked his book, but it is not an endorsement.  Read and do the strategies at your own risk.  I'm not responsible for any outcome - positive or negative.  

I do hope that you better understand that that you will most likely, continue to have these challenges, no matter what job you go to.  Changing jobs isn't the solution, working on your difficulties is.  You also need to know that immaturity is a characteristic of ADD also. (I tell myself - I don't want to or I'm too tired). I have decided now that I too have this characteristic. in some areas of my life. Despite my wise decision to become a lay expert. I choose to spend money that I should use to pay bills. I am not always very responsible with my things either; So now I am working on talking to myself about changing my thinking so I can manage better, because the stress and depression are weighing me down. It's been very difficult to just be happy in my own skin lately.  I want to have time to spend with friends instead on being consumed by guilt that I haven't completed the paperwork by the deadline.  

I hope this all makes sense to you.  Please feel free to respond to this e-mail and let me know what you decided to do about your challenges.  You are apparently, ready to start working on them because you are noting the patterns that you see in yourself.  That is always a positive place to start. Many blessings to you,

Christine