There is a ‘rule of thirds’ when diagnosing Attention Hyperactive Deficit Disorder: One-third of children who are diagnosed with ADHD grow out of it, one-third continue to display symptoms in adulthood, and the remaining third represents those who are undiagnosed, able to mask their symptoms just enough to get by. I was the latter.
The (non)diagnosis
When I was 11, a psychologist pulled me out of class to evaluate me for the school’s gifted program. She brought me to a white-washed room, and sat me on a ‘big person’ chair across from her at a long conference table. For over two hours, I answered countless questions, reordered pictured tiles, and matched abstract shapes. I thought the whole thing was quite fun, but after it was over I didn’t think much more of it.
When my results came in a confidential envelope, my parents raved about my IQ scores, which allowed admission into the gifted program. However, they failed to mention to me, or even acknowledge themselves, that a discrepancy in my scoring patterns had been highlighted. A discrepancy that suggested I had a learning disability.
My test results were eventually tucked away in a folder in my parents’ filing cabinet. It wasn’t until I was in my early twenties that I looked at them again. Searching for answers that might explain my recent difficulties at university, I read the document in a different light. My psychological evaluation from 15 years ago would end up becoming my Rosetta Stone, confirming long-harboured suspicions and frustrations that I might have ADHD. ‘A relative weakness was indicated on tasks measuring her ability to attend to details, visual memory, and the ability to concentrate… she is impatient and anxious to complete the tasks.’
What is it?
ADHD is a neurobiological condition that affects the part of the brain that controls attention, impulses, and concentration. It affects 3-7 percent of children in the UK, and although it was thought that the disorder is outgrown in adolescence, recent research has shown that ADHD often exists into adulthood. Common symptoms are:
While everyone experiences these symptoms occasionally in singular form, having ADHD is a constant and unwavering conglomeration of them. Nevertheless, our culture has associated a stigma with the disorder. ADHD frequents casual conversation as an adjective (‘ you’re acting ADHD’ ), is often believed to be a fake mental condition, and is commonly misdiagnosed and over diagnosed in America.
ADHD and the PHD
Growing up, I always knew my brain worked a bit differently than others. I had a difficult time focusing during class, but I taught myself to fill in the missing pieces, and worked hard to make it look like I was paying attention (even though I was not). With my parents’ persistence that ‘nothing was wrong’, I persevered and did well in school. My coping methods continued to work through my undergraduate years, however, they fell short in graduate school.
In class, I struggled to pay attention to lecturers and peers, despite being interested. I had no confidence in seminars because I found it impossible to form my own opinions during a discussion. If I dared to take part in class conversation, I knew that my scattered attention span limited my ability to bring up a constructive –or even relevant– point.
Just because words were coming out of my mouth, it did not mean that my focus was channelled. My mind would abruptly jump elsewhere before I could finish vocalising a thought. I really struggled using the right words at the right times, and I often lost track of what I was saying mid-sentence. I frequently had to apologise and ask to be reminded of what I was talking about in the first place.
Now, when you apply these unfortunate tendencies to the intensive reading and writing required of postgraduates, it is no surprise that my methods of ‘faking it’ began to fall short. The nature of graduate school made me recognise that I was unable to control, or even follow, my own thought patterns. I shared my concerns to my GP, and she recommended that I track the frequency of my distractions. At the follow-up appointment, I came back frustrated with my efforts, ‘You asked me to pay attention to how often I am getting distracted, my problem is that my distraction is so normal to me, I don’t even realise when my mind diverts to something else.’ She agreed to refer me.
The whole process from referral to diagnosis took five months. During that span, the doctor concluded that I was among the third of children whose ADHD diagnosis slipped through the cracks. To prove her suspicions, she pointed to my bouncing leg, and said that I was intermittently fidgeting the whole time I was sat in my chair. My diagnosis, she explained, would be the start of a 6-month period of ‘self-reflection’. When that was over, I would have the option to try medication. Meanwhile, I began to identify with the fact that ADHD was an explanation of my behaviour, not an excuse.
Photo from the July, 1925 issue of the Science and Invention magazine. It was claimed that the “Isolator Machine” helped focus the mind when reading or writing. Thankfully, in this modern day and age, I have other options.
In my next instalment, I will talk about the positive changes I experienced after my diagnoses and discuss some tips I have learned along the way for helping one focus, especially in the graduate school environment. Meanwhile, if you suspect that you may have ADHD, or any other learning disability, act like a graduate student. Do your research, then talk to your GP. It’s not so scary to start getting the help you need, especially when the first step is already second nature.
Images 1 & 2: Authors own; Image 3: Science and Invention Magazine , 1925.
Krystenblackstone.
March 31, 2017
identity , mental health , phd , PhDilemmas , Real Life
August 3, 2020 at 9:45 am
I manged to go and be inrolled in 5 different schools (0th to 10 th class). In the first one my parents took me out because I had reading/writing problems, hence teachers and school administration suspected inferior IQ… I scored an IQ indicating that I should be ~ 13 years old and not 9 years old. In highschool, thou nature and science was my favoured subjects I managed to get the best scores in writing/oral-presentation of my native primary language, which I did not master in writing and reading before the age of ~ 13 years old.
After various travels and jobs the year after high school I started in University. Thou I had plenty of different jobs meanwhile studying… retrospective the job as one of the first bike-taxi-drivers in my capital city was deffently my favourite one… probably because of the non-ties and physical exercise, mostly positive interpersonal human contact and good relative easy money.
It took me in total 8 years to graduate in 2008 with an A-score as Master of Science in Geology.
After university until 2014 I realized that what one is not taught in university is most important thing at a workplace… hence how to interpersonel interact after non-written rules… In 2014 after nummerous jobs that I lost – not do to lack of knowledge in applied science – but do to lack in knowledge in applied “non-logic” workplace rules, hence confrontations.
Since then I have lost an additionaly two jobs. The latter in 2016 with a major stress and depression lockdown. I have not been doing much – workwize since.
Best regards Another skilled human with late- diagnosed ADHD
October 19, 2020 at 12:15 pm
I just read your post. I am pursuing my PhD, for which I should be working right now, but of course I am distracted … searching how people at Graduate School got diagnosed, found out about ADHD or ADD. I hope my psychologist listens to me, whether I have ADD or not , this killing syntoms are here making me to struggle every day on making any progress. I have been reading about the topic and relating it to some life-time patterns. I really hope to get some help after months of depression and anxiety. Do you have some test and/or stategies to find out if I can have it? Maybe I am just a terrible procastinator.
November 28, 2020 at 2:30 am
Hi, Devin, I also read your post when I should be working on my graduate program thesis. Can relate a lot to your story. I was undiagnosed in 2012 at the age of 32. I was given the result of having combined ADHD with Primarily Hyperactive and Impulsive ADHD & Primarily Inattentive ADHD (formerly called ADD). By the way, I am doing a graduate program Chicano (Mexican American)studies. I am focusing on learning disabilities students in higher education. I would like to stay connected, so here is my email hope to hear from [email protected]
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When Cindy first found me through a Google search, she described herself as an “anxious PhD student.” She was in her second year of her Social Work PhD program and had struggled with writing for as long as she could remember. In fact, like so many other ADHD PhD candidates I’ve worked with as an ADHD dissertation coach , she felt that she’d developed trauma around her writing. She felt she had the tools and mechanisms in place she needed to succeed, but wasn’t sure how to use them. She needed help!
Now, a year later, she’s prepared to teach her first class a month before it starts, she’s submitted 4 co-authored papers, and she’s making progress on her dissertation every week. This is how she got there.
As an ADHD PhD candidate, Cindy was struggling with some challenges that might be recognizable to you.
First and foremost: there’s the isolation. This was an issue for many PhD candidates even before the Covid outbreak , but now that more and more work is being done from home many feel alone, abandoned, and like they’re working in a void. Naturally, this affects their mental health. But it’s even worse for ADHD PhD candidates. We ADHD-ers work best when we feel a sense of connection and, most of all, when we have accountability. This is something that a mentor or ADHD writing coach can offer, but is hard to achieve with self-imposed systems.
In addition to these common ADHD PhD challenges, now that her program had moved online Cindy also experienced a breakdown in her systems which were related to location: going to campus and going to the library. Here, too, having a mentor could help.
In addition – like many academics, AND people with ADHD – this brilliant woman had built conditioned patterns that went back to the feeling that she didn’t actually know what she was doing. This made it hard for her to keep working on her solo-authored papers and made her incredibly concerned about her upcoming dissertation work. She felt she wasn’t good enough. Like everyone else knew what they were doing even without a coach or mentor. She felt like everyone had gotten the memo on how to write things like the literature review, except her.
And then, of course, there are the memory issues. Cindy felt that she had a million ideas for research and her dissertation. But every time she stepped away from an article she had worked on, she forgot all about it. Trying to remember what she had been doing and what the next steps were was so exhausting and time-consuming that she’d rather not go back to old projects and preferred to start something new. She did that until her pile of unfinished papers got so out of control that it became yet another source of discouragement for her.
If you are an ADHD PhD candidate, I’m sure you feel the same. But this is where an ADHD dissertation coach can help.
Despite all these challenges, Cindy had one thing to help her succeed. She had decided that she was going to do this, whatever it takes. She was ready to face her challenges head-on and work with me, her ADHD PhD mentor on achieving her goals.
Well, after a while, at least…
You see, after our fifth meeting, she fell off my radar. And I didn’t hear from her until six months later when she reached out to see if I would still work with her. And of course, I would!
I understand how hard it is to maintain consistency. And I also know how difficult it is to reach back out after you’ve not spoken to someone for such a long time. So not only was I happy to hear from her, the ADHD PhD coach in me was very impressed!
Cindy figured out that what she really needed was regular meetings with a mentor. So I gave her two time slots per week and we’ve been working together ever since.
During our ADHD dissertation coach meetings, Cindy sets clear goals for herself that are achievable in the 3-4 days when we don’t speak. What’s more, at my urging she has started theming her days (Sun-Mon for dissertation, Tues-Wed for work, Thur-Fri for other academic writing). And with that one strategy, she got clarity on what she was doing with her time!
Together, we have introduced this and other tools to get a handle on her workload. And these have allowed her to make consistent progress every single week.
And as a bonus: this progress has helped her feel more confident about her writing practice!
Meanwhile, in our dissertation writing coach sessions, we’ve also been working on her note-taking systems. When you have ADHD, you can’t rely on your memory. And you especially can’t do that when you work on a four-year project. Something you read today is not going to stay with you until the end of your dissertation!
That’s why it’s so important to develop a system that not only allows you to store notes, but is also great for recollection of thoughts and quotes.
During our mentor sessions, Cindy and I have experimented with software like OneNote , Notion Notion , and Obsidian to figure out how to build a system that works for her. And now, she feels that the ideas she has and the literature she reads actually prepare her for the long process of writing the dissertation.
In conclusion: Cindy is a rock star. She has an incredible work ethic and is someone I respect and appreciate.
However, her transformation wasn’t completely unique. I’ve helped many ADHD PhD candidates like Cindy achieve similar results!
If like Cindy, you want to get a handle on ADHD PhD problems such as isolation, impostor syndrome, and memory issues – do what she did! Just schedule a meeting with me to get access to your personal ADHD PhD mentor! I’m here to help.
Do you want to know more about how I can help ADHD PhD candidates write their dissertation? Just click the button below!
My name is Susanne and ever since I taught myself to read at age 4 I have had a passion for the written word. Over the last five years, I have developed a set of systems to help myself and others be productive and make work of our writing passion. Whether it’s fiction or non-fiction, I’m here to help! Check out the about me page to read more.
Care, motivation and zeal: the support every writers should have.
Her expertise, generosity and involvement – together with her openness to costumize her services – makes her the perfect person to collaborate with.
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If you already have a master’s degree in your healthcare profession, should you continue on for a terminal degree? Understanding the distinctions between a Doctor of Health Science (DHSc) degree, a Master's degree, and a PhD is crucial for making an informed decision. As a graduate school focused exclusively in the health professions, we have the expertise to help you decide what degree might be best for your career and life goals.
Understanding the DHSc Degree
A Doctor of Health Science (DHSc) degree is designed for healthcare practitioners and leaders who aim to enhance their knowledge, assume leadership roles, and drive innovation in the healthcare industry. You also may want to obtain a doctoral degree before your professional organization (e.g., PA) mandates an entry-level doctorate, to compete with peers or peer professions in similar roles, or to prepare for entry into academia. The DHSc degree focuses on the practical application of theoretical knowledge, preparing graduates to address real-world challenges in healthcare settings.
Masters or Doctorate: Key Differences
Master's Degree in Healthcare
A Master's degree in healthcare, such as a Master of Public Health (MPH) or a Master of Health Administration (MHA), is typically pursued by those looking to gain specialized knowledge and skills in specific areas of healthcare. These programs usually take two years to complete and are designed to provide a deep dive into particular fields.
Doctorate in Health Science (DHSc)
A DHSc degree, on the other hand, is designed to prepare healthcare professionals for advanced leadership roles, research, and teaching positions. This program is ideal for those who wish to combine clinical expertise with leadership and research capabilities. The program is not a research doctorate program and does not involve a dissertation.
DHSc Degree or PhD: Which is Right for You?
PhD in Health Sciences
A PhD in Health Sciences is a research-intensive degree aimed at those who wish to pursue a career in academia or advanced research. This degree focuses on creating new knowledge and contributing to the academic field through original research.
DHSc Degree
In contrast, the DHSc degree is tailored for healthcare professionals who wish to integrate clinical practice with leadership and research. It balances theoretical knowledge with practical application, making it a versatile choice for those looking to advance their careers in various healthcare settings.
Deciding between a Master's, a DHSc degree, and a PhD in healthcare depends on your career goals, interests, and the type of impact you wish to make. The DHSc degree stands out for its balanced approach, combining leadership, clinical practice, and research, making it a versatile and practical choice for advancing your career.
The question of "masters vs. doctorate" and "is a PhD/doctorate worth it" ultimately comes down to your professional aspirations. If you are looking to enhance your clinical expertise while gaining leadership and research skills, the DHSc degree offers unique advantages. And with MGH Institute of Health Professions offering a top-tier DHSc program , you can be assured of receiving a high-quality education founded on principles of interprofessional collaboration and practice in the delivery of healthcare and health professions education.
Take the next step
Effective strategies for tackling ambiguous tasks..
Posted August 3, 2024 | Reviewed by Abigail Fagan
Do you have a tough time getting unstructured projects at work or school completed on time? Many people with ADHD can manage smaller tasks that are concrete and uncomplicated. But, when faced with multiple steps or unclear directions, they aren’t sure how to organize things and where to get started. Many of my clients tell me that they feel like ‘professional procrastinators.’ Some folks may pull all-nighters, turning in work bleary-eyed and exhausted in the morning. Others begin something easily only to feel overwhelmed midway through and quit. These patterns create cycles of stress , disappointment and self-criticism that can be defeating and demoralizing.
Living with ADHD means living with consistently inconsistent motivation . In fact, one study found a correlation between inattentive ADHD and procrastination . Another study found that the more substantial the symptoms of ADHD are for somebody, the higher the likelihood there is of experiencing procrastination along with anxiety and depression . When people have ADHD, naturally lower amounts of dopamine and norepinephrine in the brain also contribute to inconsistent attention patterns. These typically result in procrastination, overwhelm freeze and task paralysis.
It’s tough for anybody to work up excitement to do an unappealing task. But, with ADHD and the ‘Now/Not now’ brain, it can be even tougher. If somebody with ADHD is interested in a topic, an activity or conversation, they are all in. If not, it’s much harder to work up any enthusiasm. There are two types of motivation: extrinsic and intrinsic. Extrinsic (also known as external) motivation refers to doing something to obtain an outside reward. You renew your license so you can drive: the privilege of driving is your reward. Intrinsic (also known as internal) motivation refers to goals that we set for ourselves. You want to write a good report for your team at work because you feel satisfied and responsible afterward.
Unstructured projects—whether they are for work, home or school—can paralyze people of all ages with ADHD. A lack of clarity about what you are supposed to do, how to proceed and where to begin can thwart the best of intentions. Plus, the ambiguity of a task makes organizing materials, planning for time and prioritizing what matters most seem impossible: it’s all just one big shapeless blob. When the pressure of a deadline or the threat of something bad happening creates a crisis mode in your brain and body, you will rush madly to complete something, buoyed by elevated levels of adrenaline and cortisol. Then, depleted and exhausted afterward, people vow to do things differently next time, only to repeat the cycle again.
Improving motivation starts by finding a reason to do something and then clarifying what needs to get done by chopping the blob into smaller parts. Interest fosters motivation, so what can possibly engage you in this task? It might not be the inherent pleasure in completing it and that’s fine. How can you link doing parts of this project to something that matters to you? How can you set up small, earned rewards along the way? What are the components of this task?
The greatest barrier to initiation is your perception of the task. You may understand the need to do something but lack the interest, skill or focus to do it. Make tasks small enough that beginning them is within your reach. For example, instead of worrying about the entire research project, make it a goal to just work on the intro or hypothesis. Consider how long you can concentrate and for how long: then create work periods based on that information. Build in short and longer breaks, using timers and notes to get you back to what you were doing.
You also don’t have to work alone. Ask a friend or colleague to be a Zoom buddy, body double or accountability partner. These will help you get moving on the task at hand. You don't have to do everything on your own, especially the hard stuff.
The size of the task affects initiation, a critical element of motivation. If a task seems insurmountable, it’s much more difficult to start it. This is especially true for neurodivergent thinkers. So, break things down into chunks and start small. If you still can’t begin, then the task is still too big. Make it smaller.
One of the challenges of unstructured tasks is the lack of clarity about what they actually entail. Beginning with a brain dump will help you meet this challenge. Once you have everything in a list, you can actually see what’s necessary to do. Then it is possible to arrange items that relate to each other and clarify your goals. This creates a map for you of the general territory of the project. Check in with your boss, a colleague or a professor to make sure you’ve understood and laid an effective foundation.
Next, find something in this list that interests you. Then, armed with one of your goals, decide how long you want to work on it and what your incentive will be. For example, you may like to concentrate for 45 minutes and then want to take a short break and grab a cup of coffee. Leave yourself a note about what you were doing so you can return right to it.
In addition to initiation, focus is another important element of motivation. People with ADHD and chronic difficulties with inattention have some areas where they can pay attention with no problem. They lack attention for uninteresting tasks.
Focus is a dynamic process of what is critical to notice or do. It is the spotlight of your attention. You can improve focus by noticing where it is and where it’s not. If you have a tendency to drift off while working or studying, create a plan for recovering focus when you catch your attention shifting away from the task at hand. It’s often helpful to create a workspace for yourself that lacks distractions, like a quiet room without a TV or other digital temptations. Make it a habit to leave your phone and other devices out of arm’s reach to give yourself the best chance to stay focused on your work.
It may take some trial and error to come up with an approach that works well for you. Notice what helps you start and stay engaged. Do more of what works and be kind to yourself if you have to regroup. A growth mindset means trying, evaluating and pivoting without shame or judgment. Start small and pay attention to your successes!
Volkow ND, Wang GJ, Newcorn JH, Kollins SH, Wigal TL, Telang F, Fowler JS, Goldstein RZ, Klein N, Logan J, Wong C, Swanson JM. Motivation deficit in ADHD is associated with dysfunction of the dopamine reward pathway. Mol Psychiatry. 2011 Nov;16(11):1147-54. doi: 10.1038/mp.2010.97. Epub 2010 Sep 21. PMID: 20856250; PMCID: PMC3010326.
Niermann HC, Scheres A. The relation between procrastination and symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in undergraduate students. Int J Methods Psychiatr Res. 2014 Dec;23(4):411-21. doi: 10.1002/mpr.1440. Epub 2014 Jul 3. PMID: 24992694; PMCID: PMC6878228.
Sharon Saline, Psy.D. , is a clinical psychologist and an expert in how ADHD, LD, and mental health affect children, teens and families. She is the author of What Your ADHD Child Wishes You Knew .
Sticking up for yourself is no easy task. But there are concrete skills you can use to hone your assertiveness and advocate for yourself.
Women and girls have historically been overlooked when it comes to ADHD. Now experts understand that many girls and women do indeed have ADHD. It just looks different, and estrogen has a big role in how it plays out and in how we treat it, which becomes especially important once we hit the menopause transition. For women with ADHD–and many are just being diagnosed for the first time in midlife–the fluctuation and decline of estrogen levels can make their condition much harder to manage, which is something that has historically been completely overlooked. This week we dive into it all with internationally recognized authority on ADHD, Kathleen Nadeau, PhD.
Kathleen Nadeau, PhD, is founder of The Chesapeake Center and is a frequent lecturer on topics related to ADHD. She is the author or co-author of over a dozen books related to ADHD, including her latest on older adults, Still Distracted After All These Years. The Chesapeake Center - ADHD, Learning and Behavioral Health (www.thechesapeakecenter.com) is now one of the largest private ADHD specialty centers in the US. Dr. Nadeau is now focused on the development of the Chesapeake Advanced ADHD Training Institute (ChAATI) to provide master classes for mental health professionals in the diagnosis and treatment of complex ADHD. The introductory seminar series featuring Dr. Nadeau will be available in the coming months through www.chaati.com.
https://www.additudemag.com/menopause-symptoms-adhd-survey/
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Has anyone done a PhD here? If so, how do you manage to stay on track?
I'm currently finishing my Master's thesis and my supervisor has asked me if I'm interested in a PhD. I've thought about a career in academia, because I love researching, learning, and talking about research. However, I've been struggling so much with my Master's thesis. It's so hard for me to stay on track. I keep getting distracted from my goal, spending hours and days on things that aren't important and neglecting things that are. I feel constantly overwhelmed with all the possible choices and paths I could take. Once I'm in the zone, I can't stop working because I love it so much, but managing my inner chaos enough to actually get into the zone is really hard.
Because of my struggles with my Master's thesis, I already thought a PhD isn't for me, but now I saw that my university has a PhD posting that combines all of my research interests and now I'm intrigued.
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What is adhd, what are common symptoms of adhd in adults, how to get a diagnosis for adhd as an adult.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder in children, but it can affect adults, too. While research and online ADHD quizzes may help you understand certain symptoms of ADHD in adults, this article will help you learn what steps to take to get an official ADHD diagnosis.
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder, which means it impacts brain development and functioning. While ADHD is most commonly diagnosed in childhood , ADHD symptoms can persist into adulthood and diagnoses can happen later in life. An estimated 2% to 7% of adults worldwide have ADHD [1] Ginapp CM, Macdonald-Gagnon G, Angarita GA, Bold KW, Potenza MN. The lived experiences of adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A rapid review of qualitative evidence . Front Psychiatry. 2022;11:13:949321. [2] Williams OC, Prasad S, McCrary A, et al.. Adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a comprehensive review . Ann Med Surg (Lond). 2023;85(5):1802–1810. .
ADHD impacts the executive functions housed in the frontal lobe of the brain, says Billy Roberts, a licensed independent social worker, certified ADHD therapist and clinical director of Focused Mind ADHD Counseling in Columbus, Ohio. “These functions include the ability to plan ahead, filter out distractions and sustain focus, maintain effort and energy toward goals, self-regulate, recall things in the short term (also known as working memory) and organize oneself,” he says.
While researchers haven’t identified an exact cause of ADHD, certain genetic and environmental factors may play a role. These factors include:
There is no known cure for ADHD, but a combination of treatments can help reduce symptoms and improve quality of life. These treatments include:
Regardless of age, people with ADHD have structural differences in their brains compared to people without ADHD. With that said, symptoms can present differently in children and adults. “One major reason is that the ‘adult world’ has a different set of expectations and social standards than the world of childhood,” says Roberts.
Additionally, ADHD symptoms in adults can be varied and complicated, and “even if someone has many symptoms that seem like they are caused by ADHD, there can still be other causes,” notes Jennifer Minami, M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Loma Linda University School of Medicine.
ADHD symptoms typically fall into two categories: inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity. Adults can have mostly inattention symptoms, mostly hyperactivity-impulsivity symptoms or a combination of both. Some of the most common symptoms of ADHD in adults include the following.
Adults with ADHD often struggle to maintain focus and tend to avoid tasks that require extended mental effort. Inattention may manifest as zoning out in conversations or meetings or getting easily distracted during tasks, says Roberts.
Procrastination is one of the hallmarks of ADHD, with studies suggesting it’s the most common functional impairment for diagnosed adults. According to Roberts, adults with ADHD not only tend to put off tasks, but they may also struggle to get projects over the finish line.
“This starts to create much more significant problems in adulthood when individuals are expected to remember to pay bills, follow through on tasks at work and engage in longer-term projects,” adds Dr. Minami.
Adults with ADHD can experience memory problems, with research finding decreased performance in short-term memory tasks. Indeed, according to one small study, participants with adult ADHD said they were often teased or criticized for their forgetfulness [3] Beaton DM, Sirois F, Milne E. Experiences of criticism in adults with ADHD: A qualitative study . PLoS One. 2022;17(2):e0263366. . “During childhood, being forgetful may have fewer consequences because a child has an adult figure who helps them remember things and organize themselves,” says Dr. Minami.
“ADHD in adults can bring on chronic feelings of underachievement, being lazy or not living up to one’s potential due to procrastinating or not completing work while having the skills and knowledge to perform better,” says Dr. Minami. In studies, adults with ADHD have reported academic or workplace underachievement, often finding it hard to stay on task, multitask or return to a task when interrupted.
In one review, adults with ADHD reported feeling misunderstood or rejected in social contexts, often struggling to pick up on social cues [4] Bjerrum MB, Pedersen PU, Larsen P. Living with symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in adulthood: a systematic review of qualitative evidence . JBI Database System Rev Implement Rep. 2017;15(4):1080-1153. . A tendency to interrupt others or react with intense emotion, according to Dr. Minami, can also make it challenging for adults with ADHD to navigate certain social situations.
While research shows hyperactivity is a more visible symptom in children, adults with ADHD can experience restlessness and difficulty relaxing. This restlessness may also lead adults with ADHD to get up when they’re expected to remain seated, says Roberts.
If you suspect you may have ADHD, speak with your general practitioner. While they will not give you a formal diagnosis, they can connect you with a specialist.
“The best way to find out if you have ADHD is to seek a comprehensive evaluation by either a psychiatrist, psychologist or psychiatric nurse practitioner who specializes in ADHD,” says Dr. Minami.
The ADHD diagnostic process typically includes an evaluation of:
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) , an adult may be diagnosed with ADHD if they have had five or more symptoms of ADHD for at least six months.
Even if some of the above symptoms feel familiar to you, “diagnosis of ADHD in adulthood is a complex process because the person diagnosing will need to be able to tease out what is true ADHD from other conditions that can impact focus or self-control,” says Roberts.
So why is it that some people don’t receive an ADHD diagnosis until they’re older? Roberts says diagnosis in adulthood can happen when ADHD is overlooked for various reasons. For instance, he says, some children compensate with perfectionism or high intelligence or they have a good support system at home and at school. “Once individuals with ADHD reach adulthood, they might find that their current situation creates a tipping point and their previous ways of coping with attention issues are no longer effective,” notes Roberts.
Because certain conditions (such as anxiety or trauma) can have similar symptoms to ADHD, it’s important to talk to your doctor if you’ve been diagnosed and medicated for ADHD but do not feel like you are improving—this could be a sign of a misdiagnosis.
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While an online self-assessment can be a starting point and perhaps encourage you to speak with a specialist, it’s only a first step. An online ADHD quiz or AI-powered chatbot can help educate you about ADHD and even offer suggestions for what to do next, but it’s best to leave diagnosis—and treatment—to the professionals, such as psychiatrists, psychologists and neurologists.
It’s important to remember that answering “yes” to many self-assessment questions doesn’t guarantee a diagnosis, says Dr. Minami. Additionally, she says, self-diagnosis can lead to a narrow view on treatment approaches because ADHD is often associated with other psychiatric comorbidities. In other words, adults diagnosed with ADHD commonly experience depression and/or bipolar, substance use, anxiety and personality disorders.
“We want to improve the quality of life of individuals through lower stress, better relationships and work and school functioning and greater confidence and self-esteem by accurately identifying the root causes of what’s going on and then working on an appropriate treatment from there,” says Dr. Minami.
Learning you have ADHD later in life can give rise to a mix of complex emotions, including anger and regret after years of feeling misunderstood. It can also provide hope and solace. “An adult ADHD diagnosis often leads to feelings of relief and validation,” says Roberts. “After a diagnosis, a door becomes unlocked and the key was knowing that so many struggles were due to an overlooked neurological condition and not a result of willpower or some character flaw.”
While many ADHD symptoms can be seen as roadblocks in an adult’s life, they can also be considered strengths. In one study, which included adults seeking psychological help for their diagnosis, participants noted several positive ADHD characteristics. For instance, high energy, creativity, the ability to think outside the norm and the frequent pursuit of new experiences can lead to positive outcomes at home and in the workplace [5] Nordby ES, Guribye F, Nordgreen T, Lundervold AJ. Silver linings of ADHD: a thematic analysis of adults’ positive experiences with living with ADHD . BMJ Open. 2023;13(10):e072052. .
To find a qualified mental health professional who can evaluate you for ADHD, you can start by asking your primary care doctor for a referral. You can also visit CHADD’s professional directory to find the right local specialist for you.
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Nicole McDermott has worked in the creative content space for the last decade as a writer, editor and director. Her work has been featured on TIME Healthland, Prevention, Shape, USA Today, HuffPost, Refinery29, Lifehacker, Health, DailyBurn, Openfit and Sleep Number, among others. She loves to lift heavy things, eat healthy foods and treats, stock her makeup bag with clean beauty products and use not-so-toxic cleaning supplies. She's also a big fan of wine, hiking, reality television and crocheting. She lives in Connecticut with her husband, son and dog.
Deborah Courtney is a licensed psychotherapist with a private practice in New York. She integrates evidence-based, trauma-informed treatments with spiritual healing approaches to honor the connection between mind, body and spirit. Specifically, she utilizes eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR), somatic experiencing (SE), ego state therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and reiki. She’s featured in various media forms promoting holistic mental health and wellness and is a speaker on the topics of trauma, holistic mental health treatment, self-care and mindfulness. Courtney’s other endeavors include creating the EMDR Journey Game, an internationally sold trauma treatment tool, and running her socially- and emotionally-minded day school for children in upstate New York. She’s excited to soon release an online learning platform to make holistic mental health education accessible to a mass audience.
Breaking , more commonly known as breakdancing, made its debut as an Olympic sport this week at the 2024 Paris Games , with 17 B-girls and 16 B-boys making their way to France with the hopes of securing a gold medal.
On the first day of competition, viewers from across the world were treated to a different kind of introduction — not to the sport itself, but one of its athletes.
Though she was a long way from winning a gold medal, likely no breaker Friday captured the imagination of the international audience more than Rachael Gunn, an Australian breaker who competes under the name “Raygun.”
REQUIRED READING: Follow USA TODAY's coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympics
Raygun went 0-3 in her head-to-head competitions Friday — falling to Logistx of the United States, Syssy of France and eventual silver medalist Nicka of Lithuania by a combined score of 54-0 — and failed to record a point across those three matches, but for what she lacked in smoothly executed moves, she made up for in the hearts she won over with her demeanor.
Raygun’s short-lived Olympic experience made her a celebrity, one who people became even more enamored with once they learned more about her.
The 36-year-old Gunn, who was one of the oldest qualifiers in the breaking competition, has a PhD in cultural studies and is a college professor at Macquarie University in Sydney. Her research focuses primarily on breaking, street dance and hip-hop culture while her work draws on “cultural theory, dance studies, popular music studies, media, and ethnography.”
“In 2023, many of my students didn’t believe me when I told them I was training to qualify for the Olympics, and were shocked when they checked Google and saw that I qualified,” Gunn said to CNBC earlier this month .
Unlike much of her competition in Paris, Gunn took up break dancing later in life. She didn’t enter her first battle until 2012.
On Friday, a person who began the day as a little-known academic ended it as a viral worldwide sensation.
Here’s a sampling of the reaction to Raygun and her performance:
2024 PARIS OLYMPICS: Meet the members of Team USA competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics
I could live all my life and never come up with anything as funny as Raygun, the 36-year-old Australian Olympic breakdancer pic.twitter.com/1uPYBxIlh8 — mariah (@mariahkreutter) August 9, 2024
Give Raygun the gold right now #breakdancing pic.twitter.com/bMtAWEh3xo — n★ (@nichstarr) August 9, 2024
my five year old niece after she says “watch this!” : pic.twitter.com/KBAMSkgltj — alex (@alex_abads) August 9, 2024
I'd like to personally thank Raygun for making millions of people worldwide think "huh, maybe I can make the Olympics too" pic.twitter.com/p5QlUbkL2w — Bradford Pearson (@BradfordPearson) August 9, 2024
The Aussie B-Girl Raygun dressed as a school PE teach complete with cap while everyone else is dressed in funky breaking outfits has sent me. It looks like she’s giving her detention for inappropriate dress at school 🤣 #Olympics pic.twitter.com/lWVU3myu6C — Georgie Heath🎙️ (@GeorgieHeath27) August 9, 2024
There has not been an Olympic performance this dominant since Usain Bolt’s 100m sprint at Beijing in 2008. Honestly, the moment Raygun broke out her Kangaroo move this competition was over! Give her the #breakdancing gold 🥇 pic.twitter.com/6q8qAft1BX — Trapper Haskins (@TrapperHaskins) August 9, 2024
my dog on the lawn 30 seconds after i've finished bathing him pic.twitter.com/A5aqxIbV3H — David Mack (@davidmackau) August 9, 2024
My wife at 3AM: I think I heard one of the kids Me: No way, they are asleep *looks at baby monitor* pic.twitter.com/Ubhi6kY4w4 — Wes Blankenship (@Wes_nship) August 9, 2024
me tryna get the duvet off when i’m too hot at night #olympics pic.twitter.com/NM4Fb2MEmX — robyn (@robynjournalist) August 9, 2024
Raygun really hit them with the "Tyrannosaurus." pic.twitter.com/ZGCMjhzth9 — Mike Beauvais (@MikeBeauvais) August 9, 2024
Raygun (AUS) https://t.co/w2lxLRaW2x — Peter Nygaard (@RetepAdam) August 9, 2024
COMMENTS
Capitalize on Hyperfocus and Follow the Vibe. One benefit of having ADHD is the ability to hyperfocus on a task that is engaging or interesting to you! Some days, we can focus on one task, and the next day, the idea of working on that same task sounds so boring it's nearly painful. If you have the flexibility, channel your energy into items ...
It's OK to disclose and talk about your diagnosis (at your own pace and when you feel comfortable). Once you are done processing the diagnosis and have attributed behaviours and experiences to ADHD, explore discussing your diagnosis, and use it to support yourself and explain to others how it affects you. Progress looks different for ...
If you have the financial means to do so, consider these additional tips: • Use a meal box subscription to take some of the planning, decision making, and labour out of cooking. • Have groceries delivered. • Hire someone to clean your home every so often. • Have an accounting service file your taxes for you.
This article details the experience of a Professional Doctorate student (and full-time working parent) suddenly becoming aware that she has ADHD - being given a new, neurodivergent lens through which to see herself, and the additional challenges (and solutions) that it brings to a PhD journey. The article offers solutions for coping with a neurodivergent brain in a world generally designed ...
Ph.D. student with ADHD works to change minds — Harvard Gazette. Jennifer Kotler is a doctoral candidate in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. She developed severe ADHD at age 8, and learned to use her disability as a benefit, eventually focusing on public engagement and education around sexual violence.
Fortunately, there are numerous strategies and resources that can help graduate students with ADHD succeed academically. Here are eight empowering and effective ways to manage ADHD, whether you're personally impacted or providing support to someone who is: Time Management Tools: Utilize time management tools and apps such as calendars, to-do ...
Tools or Strategies for PhD Students with ADHD. While not all ADHD students need accommodations, many can benefit from additional time on tests, timers, to-do lists, daily planners, and wall calendars. Increasingly, ADHD students have also been practicing body doubling, where they work synchronously with another person to promote motivation and ...
Personally, though, the hardest part is the emotional toll. ADHD has worryingly high rates of comorbidity with anxiety and depression (around 50%) with feelings of shame and low self-esteem being prevalent. Even before starting a PhD, those of us with ADHD are already battling imposter syndrome, low mood, and poor self-image.
In many ways, hitting the wall is a normal part of the grad school experience, but ADHD, whether diagnosed or undiagnosed, can amplify the challenges of graduate school because success depends heavily on executive functioning. ADHD expert Russell Barkley explains that people with ADHD have difficulty with some dimensions of executive function ...
Research has suggested that 4-5% of adults might have ADHD, with upwards of 90-95% of these people being undiagnosed and therefore untreated. ADHD is a protected disability in the UK under the ...
PhD student, Jennifer Kotler (Haig Lab) is first in a series of profiles in the Harvard Gazette featuring some of Harvard's stellar graduates. Diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) at age 8, Jennifer spent years combining multiple therapies to manage her symptoms and credits the help of her family and early ADHD diagnosis for her mission to help others who face ...
Adult ADHD is often not obvious because the public concept of the disorder is that ADHD is for small, hyper children, not intelligent adult graduate students who suddenly can't cope with their workload. Furthermore, ADHD isn't a state of being "abnormal.". I vastly prefer to say that I'm not neurotypical.
Solutions to enhance productivity. Now that I've received a diagnosis for ADHD, I've been working on finding solutions that can enhance my productivity, as well as self-care practices. Below is what I've found so far that works for me: • The mind is fickle, and I can trick it. Once I register that something is difficult, I automatically ...
ADHD and the PHD . Growing up, I always knew my brain worked a bit differently than others. I had a difficult time focusing during class, but I taught myself to fill in the missing pieces, and worked hard to make it look like I was paying attention (even though I was not). With my parents' persistence that 'nothing was wrong', I ...
I got an email asking if people with ADHD can successfully complete a PhD. Here is my answer. Submit a question here: http://bit.ly/2YYmlByhttps://www.patreo...
You are first, fuck the PhD. If you don't finish the PhD, don't give a fuck. Life is still beautiful and you will anyway find your way and be happy. Your PhD is not everything in this world. So keep that in mind. Sleep early. Do your best in dropping your work by 7pm, so can have some fun time everyday and end up sleeping at a reasonable time!
This may be why Chung and colleagues found that ADHD prevalence among adults in the Kaiser Permanente Northern California System increased by 123.3% from 2007 to 2016 (0.43% to 0.96%). Within the same timeframe, ADHD prevalence among children increased by 26.4% (2.96% to 3.74%). In general, ADHD prevalence has been increasing over the last five ...
Essentially you can be diagnosed with ADHD if you have significant symptoms of either or both domains. It's more common for women to have the inattentive type of ADHD. I have the inattentive kind of ADHD but I do have a few symptoms of hyperactivity when unmedicated, mostly just always wanting to be 'on the go' and being impatient with ...
1. Do a body check. "I always start with the body check," says ADHD coach and tutor Kit Savage. "You don't need to have a dedicated environment to study, like your bedroom or the kitchen ...
ADHD-therapist / coach - check your school's mental health resources Project management / planner / to do system - apps, bullet journal, calendar, etc. Happy to give my own recommendations or look up a few for yourself. You don't need to disclose this to your advisor or anyone else. You can if you feel you'd be supported fully.
First and foremost: there's the isolation. This was an issue for many PhD candidates even before the Covid outbreak, but now that more and more work is being done from home many feel alone, abandoned, and like they're working in a void. Naturally, this affects their mental health. But it's even worse for ADHD PhD candidates.
Here are a few ways to make it easier to manage your day-to-day life. 1. Use organizational and time management tools consistently. ADHD can make it very tricky to stay organized and manage your ...
Deciding between a Master's, a DHSc degree, and a PhD in healthcare depends on your career goals, interests, and the type of impact you wish to make. The DHSc degree stands out for its balanced approach, combining leadership, clinical practice, and research, making it a versatile and practical choice for advancing your career.
Key points. Unstructured projects can paralyze people of all ages with ADHD. The greatest barrier to initiation is your perception of the task. Improve motivation by creating a plan for ...
Kathleen Nadeau, PhD, is founder of The Chesapeake Center and is a frequent lecturer on topics related to ADHD. She is the author or co-author of over a dozen books related to ADHD, including her latest on older adults, Still Distracted After All These Years.
We're an inclusive, disability-oriented peer support group for people with ADHD with an emphasis on science-backed information. Share your stories, struggles, and non-medication strategies. Nearly a million and a half users say they 'feel at home' and 'finally found a place where people understand them'.
Send a note to Nicole McDermott, Deborah Courtney, Ph.D., L.C.S.W., M.A. and our other editors. We read every email. Thank you for submitting your question. Keep reading Forbes Advisor for the ...
Breaking, more commonly known as breakdancing, made its debut as an Olympic sport this week at the 2024 Paris Games, with 17 B-girls and 16 B-boys making their way to France with the hopes of ...
Pastor Dr. Leo D. Cyrus Sr. To Make a Financial Contribution to the Ministry: https://newhopebr.wufoo.com/forms/m1oypdt03s812g/ Cash App: $NewHopebc5856...