Adults with ADHD struggle to fit in, function

Mental-health therapist Rob Eldridge, second from left, runs an attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder support group for adults.

[Linda]

Yea, but the question is: Can I get Social Security Disablity, so I can sit at home on my butt all day and get money from the benevolent taxpayer?

[Topper]

It's all about getting "certified"....And having an official excuse for being an ass......

And here is a suprise...Kids who weren't made to behave, grow into adults who don't behave...[Oppps I mean "have social skills"]...
....And have kids they don't teach to behave...Etc Etc Etc.....

[Student]

Despite his engineering degree, support-group member Don Vreeland hasn't worked in the field since 1997. He was fired from a product-engineering job, he said, because of poor social skills that can accompany the disorder.

How about a non engineering job?

[Erin]

I do believe adult adhd is real-I have been diagnosed. But you can work, function, etc...It just takes A LOT more effort than most of us. I am almost done with my nursing degree. Took me 5 years but as a mother of a toddler-I am okay with that:)

[addtoo]

Student wrote:

Despite his engineering degree, support-group member Don Vreeland hasn't worked in the field since 1997. He was fired from a product-engineering job, he said, because of poor social skills that can accompany the disorder.
How about a non engineering job?

Where does it say he's unemployed? The article states he's not employed in the engineering field.

[addtoo]

Erin wrote:

I do believe adult adhd is real-I have been diagnosed. But you can work, function, etc...It just takes A LOT more effort than most of us. I am almost done with my nursing degree. Took me 5 years but as a mother of a toddler-I am okay with that:)

I'm an adult with ADD and I agree that it takes a LOT of effort. But most people will do what they need to do to adapt and be successful. For example the man working outside of the field in which he has a degree.

It's unfortunate that the previous posters chose to insult the group of people who were doing just that - getting help to succeed despite their disorder. Noone in the article spoke of wanting to stay home and recieve disability payments or really anything else from anyone else. The hatefulness that people have for each other is disheartening.

[Frank South]

Thanks for this nicely written article, Amy. As an ADHD Adult with ADHD kids, I appreciate your thorough, compassionate approach to this subject. Another great resource for ADHD help and information is ADDitudemag.com .

[adhd parent]

This is very real! My child is very well behaved and always has been at home and in school. He just has this disorder and can't focus on everyday tasks. Even things he loves he just can't maintain the focus it takes to function at the same level as most other children. We just deal with it and he will deal with it for the rest of his life with out a government hand out I might ad.

[columbus adult]

thank you for this article. i have this, and i work two jobs (I'm only including this for the first three posters). I struggle daily with getting to places on time, finding my keys and cell phone, and trying to not blurt things out.

[Just Listening]

adhd parent wrote:

This is very real! My child is very well behaved and always has been at home and in school. He just has this disorder and can't focus on everyday tasks. Even things he loves he just can't maintain the focus it takes to function at the same level as most other children. We just deal with it and he will deal with it for the rest of his life with out a government hand out I might ad.

How many drugs is he on? If he can't focus in school I hope he never drives.

[Michael]

Just Listening wrote:

<quoted text>How many drugs is he on? If he can't focus in school I hope he never drives.

shut the hell up an actually post something worth reading

[Just Listening]

Michael wrote:

<quoted text> shut the hell up an actually post something worth reading

Sounds like someone hasn't had their coffee.

[Michael]

why do people have to make fun of people who are different ADHD isnt something made up its a real thing and it affects a great deal of people and there familys/friends people wonder whats wrong with the world today..... its jerk off's who think its cool to make fun of something or someone they don't understand

[Believer]

To those of you with you negative comments. Maybe you have the disorder also since you can't seem to FOCUS on one decent comment. I had no significant problems in school or work. I went to college after high school and lived aways from home.I always had friends but didn't realize I had the disorder until my teenage daughter was diagnosed. It presents itself in different ways with females and I had always coped with it and made adjustments within myself to adapt to society but my house was always messy and I lost things and bills got paid late. By the way I have been on my job for over 20 years and have never received disabilty or welfare. So learn and think before you speak. If you don't know about a topic don't comment.

[tharvey]

A disease that's unique only to North Americans, almost unknown in Europe.
Could it be something else?

[Huh]

"I'm so focused on an idea that I don't want to say hi to someone I pass in the hallway and forget it," he said. "But I don't want to seem rude."

This sentence in the article did not make sense. How is a person who is "so focused on an idea" considered ADHD? Sounds more like maybe OCD.

[Joe]

Huh wrote:

"I'm so focused on an idea that I don't want to say hi to someone I pass in the hallway and forget it," he said. "But I don't want to seem rude."
This sentence in the article did not make sense. How is a person who is "so focused on an idea" considered ADHD? Sounds more like maybe OCD.

ADHD has many facets one of them is focusing so intently on one thing that you lose focus of other things. It is not just shiny, shiny, the mind randomly moving from one thing to focus on to another. Many folks with ADHD can find some succes in their careers for the very reason, that they can focus like a laser on one particular task but have trouble with the multitasking that so much of today's work requires of us.

[Joe]

tharvey wrote:

A disease that's unique only to North Americans, almost unknown in Europe.
Could it be something else?

http://www.adhdeurope.eu/
yeah there is no adhd in Europe.
get a clue before you open your pie hole.

[Michael]

Huh wrote:

"I'm so focused on an idea that I don't want to say hi to someone I pass in the hallway and forget it," he said. "But I don't want to seem rude."
This sentence in the article did not make sense. How is a person who is "so focused on an idea" considered ADHD? Sounds more like maybe OCD.

people with ADHD have trouble focusing on multiple things so thinkinh hard about one thing is normal for them and if something gets in the way like they guy he doesnt want to say hi to he'll start thinking about that and forget about his primary task

[Get a Clue]

Joe wrote:

<quoted text>
ADHD has many facets one of them is focusing so intently on one thing that you lose focus of other things. It is not just shiny, shiny, the mind randomly moving from one thing to focus on to another. Many folks with ADHD can find some succes in their careers for the very reason, that they can focus like a laser on one particular task but have trouble with the multitasking that so much of today's work requires of us.

This is not ADHD. Read up on it and get educated!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attention-defici...

Predominantly inattentive type symptoms may include:
Be easily distracted, miss details, forget things, and frequently switch from one activity to another
Have difficulty maintaining focus on one task
Become bored with a task after only a few minutes, unless doing something enjoyable
Have difficulty focusing attention on organizing and completing a task or learning something new or trouble completing or turning in homework assignments, often losing things (e.g., pencils, toys, assignments) needed to complete tasks or activities
Not seem to listen when spoken to
Daydream, become easily confused, and move slowly
Have difficulty processing information as quickly and accurately as others
Struggle to follow instructions.