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Post by Stephanie Burton on Nov 7, 2010 12:52:09 GMT
Hello,
I am currently in my third year of my psychology degree and am completing some research into ADHD in adulthood. I am looking for life experiences of individuals and would appreciate anyone taking part with the following questions, feel free to answer some or all of them.
What has been the biggest challenge you have faced in adulthood having ADHD?
What is the most useful strategy you have to manage ADHD symptoms?
If you were diagnosed in childhood, what were the implications of this? for example was it helpful, did you receive support or did you encounter any stigma associated with the diagnosis?
If you were diagnosed in adulthood, what were the implications? Positive or negative.
Finally, recent research carried out in Cardiff has been in favour of ADHD having a genetic basis, what do you feel are the implications of this recent evidence?
If you would like to respond but would rather not post your answers online my email address is stephanie3.hill@live.uwe.ac.uk
I look forward to hearing from you, thank you.
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Post by stephanie burton on Nov 7, 2010 13:18:51 GMT
Just one more thing.
If you have encountered any stigma associated with having ADHD in adulthood where did you experience this and in what environment? thank you
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Post by snickerz on Nov 7, 2010 13:36:18 GMT
alot of the stigma is due to people not realising adults suffer from adhd
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Post by stephanie burton on Nov 7, 2010 13:51:03 GMT
Thank you for your comment. This is something I have heard that adults with ADHD encounter. Where do you feel awareness needs to be raised and who with?
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Post by snickerz on Nov 7, 2010 14:08:13 GMT
I think awareness needs to be raised with the medical proffesion starting ground up with GP
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2010 10:41:09 GMT
Q1: What has been the biggest challenge you have faced in adulthood having ADHD?
A1: Finding a job and a boss that understands or accept adhd in adults. Had an awful time at previous employer when i found out (3 yrs ago age 27) that i had ADHD. They used it as a reason to manage me out of the job and did little to support me. I went off work with stress (first time ever had to do that) and ended up quiting. Also, getting used to medication (its limitations and side effects).
Q2: What is the most useful strategy you have to manage ADHD symptoms?
A2: Find "work" you are wither good at or enjoy and make that the biggest part of your job (where possible). The things i enjoy are 20% easier to get stuck into and always lead to me producing very high quality and quantities of output which my team or boss are impressed by. Doing something thats dull or slow or hard (not in your skill set) leads to long periods of no work, poor work and frustration by you and people around you. Also, stop and pause for 5 mins at intervals each day and try to engage with the team you work with as medication can make you over focus on work and ignore those around you. You also can sue the time to reflect on progress, things to do and to give your brain a rest.
Every one tells me to make notes or lists as i gorget things or simply unconciouslessly filter out requests of me that i dont find interesting or if i am thinking of (itching to get back to) other tasks. I still dont as i never use the notes and is a chore in itself to make notes. But i see that it can be useful...
Q3: If you were diagnosed in childhood, what were the implications of this? for example was it helpful, did you receive support or did you encounter any stigma associated with the diagnosis?
A3: I never even considered (nor did anyone else) that i may have ADHD - if i knew or was told and helped, i would have secured better grades as my reports do say i was chatty, easily distracted and lost focus easily. I would have also had less stress and upset in my first jobs after university as i spent many years doing jobs i hated and rubbing boss up wrong way. I also could not understand why i was struggling or not getting on well. I would have chosen jobs more strategically and have a better looking CV. I also may have had help early on to prevent bad habits such as poor handwriting, fast talking, risk taking etc - may have reduced impact and visability of ADHD to others.
Q4: If you were diagnosed in adulthood, what were the implications? Positive or negative.
A4: I was dx in adulthood and it was mainly positive as made sense to me and others. But took a while for people close to me to make allowences and work with it. Also, it led to me having to find out wha t i like or dislike and what i was good and bad at by being honest with myself. I had to also accept my limitations in work and accept what i would not ever be able to cope with or manage which was hard. It also made me reflect on my childhood and the missed opportunities due to the not knowing i had ADHD.
Q5: Recent research carried out in Cardiff has been in favour of ADHD having a genetic basis, what do you feel are the implications of this recent evidence?
A5: For now, this will make little diffference as the stigma and opinion of ADHD is still to great (negative). Until a formal test (biological) is found that proves ADHD and it has the same standing and acceptance as Dyslexia nearly has - the genetic evidence will not change much. But it does give some confidence to those who have it that it is real and not as simple as how you were brought up. (is a part of it for some i think - parenting).
Q6: Have you encountered any stigma associated with having ADHD in adulthood where did you experience this and in what environment?
A6: As mentioned above, in work - seen as a hassle - almost not accepted or believed. Made an outsider or someone with special needs and different. Reality is my adhd is the inattentive form and on the tests i scored as having boarderline (minor) ADHD symptoms. The fact i had a 2:1 hons degree in Business and a successful school background made little difference. An association of ADHD and lack of intelligence or capability is assumed and therefore you are seen as inferiour - when in fact my IQ and many different school. uni and work based tests for jobs show me as well above average. I often outperform most colleagues and friends in most areas - family and friends say they see me as v intelligent and creative and most would not have thought i had a "condition" inc ADHD - other than i speak fast, do everything at a million miles an hour and often start work but leave it incomplete.
D
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2010 11:59:31 GMT
What has been the biggest challenge you have faced in adulthood having ADHD? LTRs. So that's jobs and family. The family puts up with me - partners and employers don't.
What is the most useful strategy you have to manage ADHD symptoms? Making lists - the act of writing can push information into long term memory (coz short term is a disaster).
If you were diagnosed in childhood, what were the implications of this? for example was it helpful, did you receive support or did you encounter any stigma associated with the diagnosis? NA If you were diagnosed in adulthood, what were the implications? Positive or negative. Negative - I went from being an oddball into being a disease (not my opinion.....I think I'm more sociable and easy going). The stigma of mental health runs deep in society.
Finally, recent research carried out in Cardiff has been in favour of ADHD having a genetic basis, what do you feel are the implications of this recent evidence? The ADHD research community has accepted the genetic origin (for most) for years so it wasn't news like it was to the general public. It might make a difference to some who see ADHD as just bad behaviour but overall it's still a mental health problem and they're still taboo.
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Post by Stephanie Burton on Nov 8, 2010 13:38:39 GMT
Thank you all for your responses so far, they have been really helpful. Keep posting as it really helps to learn about personal experiences.
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