[ Member Story - Accommodate, Don't Medicate ]

When I was younger, I always had trouble in school. I would usually start out really well and then burn out as time went on. When I was about 16, my grandmother found a magazine article on ADD and gave it to my mother. Since mom always felt there was something more to my problem than a learning disability, she was willing to give ADD testing a shot.

"Fortunately, I found much of the help I needed…"

Unfortunately, at the same time I started receiving testing -- getting hooked up to electrodes, having my brain waves monitored -- my second dad (who had adopted me) stopped paying for all of our medical insurance. After that, things were a mess for a while. I went to live with my dad, who didn't believe I had ADHD, and then I went back to live with my mother and ended up on Ritalin and Dexadrine -- neither of which helped me.

Fortunately, I found much of the help I needed through my school and their program called Accessibilities. Through this program I get more time to take tests, access to books on tape, note-takers, and other helpful things.

Challenges

What's been the hardest part of this condition? I don't really have a condition, do I? Seriously, I guess the hardest part is getting bored and not finishing everything. Also I need to not let the "little stuff" get to me. And while I wish I could concentrate better sometimes, I'm not going back on medication.

"Please realize that you have great intelligence to tap into…"

But ADHD isn't all about problems, it's also helped me. I've learned to look at a person before their "problem" and not the other way around. Society seems to have that backward sometimes. I've also realized that I can't please everyone. To this day, my mother still remembers something I said when I was younger: "But mom, I'm not you, I can't do things exactly like you."

Inspirations and Advice

My inspiration is this: knowing that I'm called crazy until I'm rich. That's why I need to make money, so people will start to call me eccentric instead. It would help if I accepted help more often. I'm kinda stubborn at times.

Advice? Hmm, don't eat the brown M&Ms. Ahem, seriously, please realize that you have great intelligence to tap into, you just have a tougher time going about it. Don't give up on school, even if it gives up on you -- get them to accommodate, not medicate you. You may think that going to a class for seven or eight hours a day is boring, but saying, "Would you like fries with that" for the rest of your life is a lot worse.

The member story above may have been edited for clarity.

From WebMD: Not too long ago, most people thought children outgrew ADHD during their teens. Now doctors know this disorder often lasts into adulthood. In fact, 50% of children with ADHD continue to have symptoms as adults. Various studies estimate that between 1.5 million and 14 million American adults have ADHD.

People with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder have trouble controlling their behavior. They often have trouble finishing tasks, planning ahead, or just sitting still for more than a few minutes. The problem seems to be poorly timed or inappropriate release of chemical messengers in the brain. This creates a confusing swirl of thoughts and images that makes it very hard to concentrate. Sometimes, ADHD may come with emotional problems, as well.

Nobody knows what causes ADHD. But some things definitely don't cause it. Research has ruled out diet, too much sugar, too much TV, or bad schools. Until more is known, it's more productive to deal with ADHD than to waste time trying to figure out what might have caused it.

"From WebMD" is taken from previously published WebMD content and has been medically reviewed by WebMD physicians.