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April 06, 2006
An ADHD Life: My Introduction
Sitting at the keyboard, starting to write my first blog entry, I am a bit anxious. What can I write about that will be sufficiently captivating and compelling so you will return to this website and read my future writings? What can I tell you about ADHD, the ADHD world and living an ADHD life that will be meaningful and will resonant with you? That is the question. That is the challenge.
To start with let me introduce myself. I am Cynthia Hammer, a 62 year old woman, mother of three grown sons and wife for 37 years of a general surgeon, who happened to live the first 49 years of her life with undiagnosed ADHD.
I had always felt a bit different, somewhat of an outsider, but I never thought anything was that "different" about me, Getting the diagnosis of ADHD by my son's pediatrician was quite devasting. I had to keep telling myself, nothing has changed, I only have a name for what has always been. And, unlike other diagnoses, where the prospect is often for a worsening of the condition, the diagnosis of ADHD came with the promise of a better future.
In fact, the physician who diagnosed me, said, "I envy you. You will be starting a whole new life." These words turned out to be prophetic, but not until several years later. In the meantime, I had to struggle through grieving and self-conciousness, as I realized there was something different about me, something wrong with me. I felt like I had the letter A branded on my chest (not for Adultery like in Hawthorne's Scarlet Letter, but A like in ADHD) I felt that everyone knew I had ADHD and I felt ashamed. I became aware of all my ADHD-type faux pas, all the problems I had caused myself and others in the past because of my untreated ADHD.
Now I look back in wonder at these earlier emotions now, but that's how things were when I first was diagnosed. Until next week....
Posted by addresources at April 6, 2006 08:19 AM
Comments
Hi Cynthia;
My name is Robert, and I am a 50 yr old male with ADHD. I live in NYC, and I found out about my condition back in 1993. Hard to believe it's already been about 13 yrs.
My salvation has been a support group for adults in nYC that I go to (http://www.maaddsg.org).
Why? Because I am in an environment where I can see & hear (first hand) what new developements are taking place.
Support groups (that are well known & run) can provide much needed information & support.
Since there is no "cure" yet (in fact, medical science isn't even close), we have ot do the best we can given the resources available to us.
Your fortunate in that yuor husband is a Doctor, and probably is able to provide a stable home environment (financially speaking).
Not all add adults have that, unfortunately.
Posted by: Robert at June 11, 2006 03:50 PM
I am amazed to finally find an adult at both your ages that will talk about there ADD/ADHD. I was diagnosed at 48 yrs. of age and went through some difficult adjustment - you probably know the "I am defective and my brain betrayed me" type thoughts and then the feeling of "my God now I understand! I am not lazy, crazy or stupid". I have my own business and for the most part I am doing great. The paper part of it is painful and of course I procrastinate on it. I am really frozen in this department and I hate that part of myself. Some impulsivity, but I try hard. Some times I am not allowing myself to believe in my gut /intuition and that I believe is very strong in ADDers. Anyway, I hope more adults will chime in on this because I would like to hear of their experiences and how they cope. Thanks for the affirmation of another adult/adults.
Posted by: Karen Barr-Goselin at September 14, 2006 12:14 PM
I am a mother of a 7yr old boy who has ADHD. He developed this after suffering a viral infection of the brain. He has quiet few other issues to deal with also. It is very difficult to understand how to help my son. My husband and I are trying to get all the education we can involving this disorder so we can better help our son. He has recently been put on the new Daytrana patch and seems to be doing pretty well on it. The doctor has increased his dose from 10mg to 20mg. We are hopping that this will increase his ability to do his school work. As of now he participates in school very little if any at all. I hope this will touch someone who is going through a situtation that is similar.
Posted by: Heather at October 19, 2006 09:21 AM
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