Could It Be ADHD?

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I speak with many people who are surprised when I ask if they have ADHD.  “Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder” (ADHD) is the official name for the condition, but it can be misleading. It’s possible to have ADHD without hyperactivity, and it’s also possible to have intense focus, under the right circumstances.

Red flags for ADHD:

  • Your level of achievement is not consistent with your intelligence and talents.
  • Things that seem easy for most people are often hard for you.
  • You feel like you have to work twice as hard as most people, to get the same results.
  • You have come to think of yourself as lazy or flawed.
  • You feel disorganized.
  • You procrastinate until the last minute.

It may surprise you to know that people with ADHD:

  • Often experience hyper-focus, and may have difficulty transitioning away from enjoyable, engaging activities
  • May not be hyperactive
  • May experience emotions more intensely
  • Often have a poor sense of time
  • Often have sleep disturbances
  • Can perform very well and achieve great things

If much of this sounds familiar, you may want to explore the following resources:

http://www.helpguide.org/articles/add-adhd/adult-adhd-attention-deficit-disorder.htm
https://add.org/adhd-test/

Perimenopause and ADHD

ADHD symptoms are affected by estrogen levels. It’s possible to have very mild or “under the radar” ADHD, and then when estrogen levels start dropping during perimenopause, ADHD symptoms become noticeable and/or problematic for the first time in a woman’s life. Often, she will not even consider ADHD, and instead just attribute it to stress.

Why is it important to know if you have ADHD?

If you’re wondering about ADHD, I strongly encourage you to seek an evaluation. Treatment can be life-changing; even just understanding the cause of your struggles can be life-changing. It’s definitely possible to manage ADHD symptoms and how they affect your life. Letting go of the self-blame and accepting that your brain works a bit differently can liberate you to approach things from a different, more effective perspective.