Anna always felt as if she could never catch up. She was always behind, the bills did not get paid, she was sometimes late to pick up the kids, her house was a mess-she was not able to get one single thing completely done all day! And the class she was taking to try to expand her mind-instead, it was overloading her mind. She would read a page in her book and then it would be maddeningly erased from her memory! What was wrong with her? Was she going crazy? Or was she just stupid?

Anna could very well have Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). ADD and ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) are terms that have been bandied about for years now as difficulties facing many children. Lately, there has been a growing awareness that adults can suffer from the disorder as well. The national organization, C.H.A.D.D., even changed its name to Children & Adults with ADD. It conservatively estimates that two to five million adults have ADD.

Many adults can find it hard to hold jobs and relationships. They can't focus and are hopeless at paperwork, or any task requiring sustained concentration. They experience mood swings, have short tempers and find it difficult or impossible to plan ahead or be organized.

Adults with ADD may also suffer from depression or addictions. The build-up of years of frustration and the repercussions to their careers and relationships can be very demoralizing. When an adult is diagnosed, it can serve as an "ah-ha!" and vindicate her as she realizes that she is not crazy or intellectually "slow." Treatment, therapy and behavior management tools can help the adult to succeed.

There is no clear-cut test for ADD, but an experienced physician may examine your medical and family history, request feedback from those close to you and possibly administer psychological tests to determine if you might have ADD.
Children with ADD, especially when they also possess the hyperactive component, are often treated with medication. Ritalin and other stimulants are most often prescribed. Proponents of Ritalin say that the drug enhances dopamine flow in the brain and increases impulse control and attention span.

Dr. Kathleen Nadeau, director of Chesapeake Psychological Services in Bethesda and author of many books on ADD, says: "One minute you're bouncing off the walls and driving your coworkers nuts. A short time later you're reading a complex report and writing an assessment for your boss. The difference is Ritalin."

Despite the wide use of Ritalin in treating children and the years of history behind it, the use of stimulants to treat ADD is still very controversial. Find a doctor you trust and elicit feedback from other adults who have ADD. (Information on support groups can be obtained from your doctor, therapist, or your local C.H.A.D.D. chapter.)

What causes ADD? Unfortunately, there is no clear-cut answer to that question yet. According to C.H.A.D.D., it may be caused by an imbalance, or deficiency in certain chemicals that govern behavior. Heredity is often a factor, as are birth complications (such as receiving oxygen at birth). Still, even though we can pinpoint patterns and traits that indicate ADD in a person, the exact causes remain an enigma.

There is a movement underway to offset the negative connotations of being labeled "ADD." In an article titled The Flowers and the Thorns, Dr. Peter Jaska writes: "There are many positive qualities associated with ADD, such as high energy, creativity and daring." Dr. Jaska mentioned a video called "Outside In" that celebrates 150 people with ADD who have managed to put a positive spin on their ADD traits and have enjoyed great success. He wrote that it is slated for PBS (I'll seek more information on this for you). He further comments:

"After a lifetime of struggles, frustration, failures and loss of self-esteem, many individuals with ADD need to recognize, appreciate and use such potential strengths to benefit themselves." He uses the metaphor of flowers to show the positive offset to thorns.

Dr. Kathleen Nadeau also likes to focus on the positives. In her article titled ADD in the Workplace, she writes: "A study of successful business entrepreneurs today will show a great over-representation of individuals with ADD. People in sales, inventors, politicians, comedians, pilots, entertainers and all manner of other high profile people have strong ADD characteristics.

"So why do some in the business community hold a largely negative view of people with ADD? Because of that 'disability frame' which has been placed around them. Because so many work environments today-with windowless cubicles in noisy workspaces-are so intolerable to those who are more distractible or who are more sensitive to environmental stressors. Because we live more inactive, stressed, time-pressured lives these days. Because many managers don't know how to recognize the strengths of these often highly intelligent and creative employees, who may also have difficulty with time management or mundane, detailed paperwork."

There are ways adults with ADD can overcome some of the typical challenges. Organize yourself! Use daytimers, to-do lists, reminders and any and all forms of organization that will reduce your chance of forgetting important tasks. Learn to prioritize and if possible, seek the positions that allow you to focus more on your strengths and reduce the type of work that can frustrate you (like lots of tedious paperwork!)

Here are some tips from Dr. Nadeau's magazine, Attention.
The Top Ten Traps At Work

Distractibility - Use headphones or a white noise machine to muffle sounds; face your desk away from the line of traffic.

Impulsivity - To stop blurting out comments in meetings, learn to take notes and write down what you're thinking of saying.

Hyperactivity - Engage in "intentional fidgeting" by taking notes during meetings; bring your lunch and exercise during your lunch break.

Memory problems - Live by the rule "Do it now or write it down;" set your beeper or timer to remind you of times to make a phone call or leave for a meeting.

Boredom - Do the boring stuff at the high energy times of the day.

Time management problems - Many adults with ADD tend to cram too many things into each day. Try to consciously under-commit your time.

Procrastination - Build in rewards for completing undesirable tasks; ask for closer supervision. Procrastination flourishes in secrecy!

Difficulty with long-term projects - Break the project down; review your progress regularly with your supervisor.

Paperwork - Look for ways to streamline your paperwork; develop a filing system that is easy to use.

Interpersonal difficulties - It's not what you say but how you say it…
think first!

Do you now suspect you might have ADD? Try taking a detailed survey on www.add.org (click on questionnaire).

To learn more, check out these suggested resources:

You Mean I'm Not Lazy, Stupid or Crazy! - Kate Kelly and Peggy Ramundo

ADD in the Workplace, Choices, Changes and Challenges - Kathleen G. Nadeau, Ph.D.

Driven To Distraction - Dr. Edward Hallowell and Dr. Ratey.