I am 60 years old and was diagnosed about 4 years ago with ADD. Didn't surprise me but what DID shock me was all the negative attributes that go along with ADD being undiagnosed your whole life. I have been having a hard time coming to grips with this. At about 18 I took an IQ test to try to get into Mensa. Although I missed it (but not by much) my IQ impressed me. Through grade school I always felt dumb (mind wandering, you know). So equipped with my IQ knowledge I have pushed myself throughout life always thinking I am SMART (the IQ test was proctored) why the hell can't I DO THIS? Well, now I know why but all I can see are my wasted years fighting windmills and watching other people that I swore were not as smart as me catch on to things much quicker and move ahead.
Is there anyone else in this "bitter" stage? There is also the challenge of other people not believing how truly difficult this is and blow it off. I have read approximately 20 books on the subject and what I'm sick of is one that says having ADD/ADHD is a GIFT and we should be happy. In fairness this was written by someone with ADD herself and it's possible she had it to a "lighter" degree. ADD Lite anyone? Well I would rather be normal than to have felt like I was on the outside looking in my whole life. Even if it meant giving up art.
Anyone else, with late diagnosis, struggling?
