[appleblaster]

Can I ever relate to that.......
laughter and jokes were always my coverup. being "diagnosed" at 36, my family couldn't believe it b/c I didn't dare tell my parents I was having this problem b/c being codependent, I did not want them to think I was 'defective' for any reason.

But yeah, I can relate to the whole "if you just applied yourself" notion. I thought I was applying myself! And I really was trying.....struggling to stay with it. I could write my name on a test then complete the first two questions/problems then struggle the rest of the time to pull my head out of the clouds.

I would imagine how difficult college would be...and being the youngest of 5 children I was sheltered so going out into the "real" world was more of a challenge than I could handle. Although I know I did the best I could at the time, I often wonder what my life would be like if I had been diagnosed as a teen and put on meds in high school. But I couldn't imagine my family understanding ADD. It wasn't very common in small towns in the 80's so my family most likely would not have understood the gravity of the situation. That's such a shame b/c just knowing its a disorder helps one's self-esteem and takes that "loser" feeling away.

I don't particularly like the fact that I need meds but they really do bring me closer to achieving what i'm capable of, clear the fogginess and make me more optimistic that I can contribute something of value to the world.