I’m not advising you not to take medication.
But I want you to know that Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) doesn’t make anything impossible.
I was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 25. When the doctor announced this, I wanted to tell him that he was crazy.
“Hold your tongue, the man’s a psychiatrist,” reprimanded the voice in my head.
And then I remembered:
Concentration never was my strong suit.
I was in grade one and we had to draw 12 disciples. Why that was necessary was beyond me. I grabbed the closest pencil – a pink one – and scribbled three figures. A fat one, a stick figure and one resembling nothing I had ever seen. My teacher was not impressed.
The comment on my first school report still rings true: “Scissor cutting abilities still unsatisfactory.”
I could never focus on a single activity for a long period of time. When math was being explained, I would fidget with my pencils.
“Don’t fidget, dear. You’ll lose focus,” warned the teacher.
“Trust me. If I don’t fidget, I’ll have to jump rope while you’re talking. How would you like that?” I wondered.
My parents were fairly strict and good manners got the upper hand. Somehow, I managed to sit still and made it through primary school.
High school was challenging. I simply couldn’t keep up with Mathematics in higher grade and switched to the standard grade version.
When I realised that I took a lot of time to memorise school work, I fixed it by studying more. Not once did I think that the cause of my attention deficit might have been a medical issue. My goals were set and I put in the hours needed to reach them. Yes, I was a nerd. When I passed matric with distinction, it paid off.
I studied law and, once again, knew that I had to put in more hours than my classmates. The symptoms of ADHD were ever-present, but I was still unaware of my condition. I simply worked (and prayed) harder to compensate for my impaired ability to concentrate. Vitamin B tablets and baroque music helped me to study more efficiently.
At the time of my graduation, I was still unaware of my ADHD. When I was diagnosed with the disorder, I had an “a-ha!” moment. Many of my past struggles finally had an explanation.
I realised that the human mind is a wonderful tool. It has the ability to perform, regardless of the difficulties it may run into. Not being diagnosed until the age of 25 was a blessing. It forced me to accomplish what I had without medication. There was no diagnosis to serve as an excuse when I fell short of my own expectations. ADHD has never made anything impossible. It has presented me with challenges. I trust that these challenges enabled me to build some character.
Today brings with it the start of a new school year. Maybe you or somebody you love suffers from ADHD. Know that we’ll all be just fine. Sometimes we might need a little more time to get things done. If you have to go the extra mile to do get ordinary things done, do it. It makes life’s rewards so much sweeter.
Symptoms of ADHD:
For patients younger than 16, a minimum of six symptoms must be present for at least six months.
For patients 16 and older, a minimum of five will be sufficient.
These five or six symptoms must be from the same list of symptoms as shown below, for example six inattention systems alone or six hyperactivity and impulsivity symptoms.
Inattention symptoms:
• Often fails to give close attention to detail or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork/at work
• Often has trouble holding attention on tasks or play activities • Often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly
• Often does not follow through on instructions to finish schoolwork or duties in the workplace • Often has trouble organising tasks and activities
• Often avoids, dislikes or is reluctant to do tasks that require mental effort over a long period of time (such as schoolwork or homework)
• Often loses things necessary for tasks and activities (pens, pencils, school books, wallets and keys)
• Is often easily distracted
• Is forgetful in daily activities.
Hyperactivity and impulsivity symptoms:
• Often fidget with or taps hands or feet, or squirms in seat
• Often leaves seat in situations when remaining seated is expected
• Often runs about or climbs in situations where it is not appropriate (adolescents or adults may be limited to feeling restless)
• Often unable to play or take part in leisure activities quietly
• Is often “on the go” acting as if “driven by a motor”
• Often talks excessively
• Often blurts out an answer before a question has been completed
• Often has trouble waiting his/her turn
• Often interrupts or intrudes on others (for example butts into conversations or games).
The following conditions must be met for a patient to have ADHD:
• Several inattentive or hyperactive-impulsive symptoms present before age 12
• Several symptoms present in more than one setting, such as at school/work and at home
• There is a clear evidence that they interfere with, or reduce the quality of, social, school, or work functioning.
