Q: I am having a bad time. When I was a kid in public school, I was told that I had attention deficit disorder. With some extra help from my teachers and student support staff, I was able to finish school and graduate with my friends. But life has not been great since I left school. I flunked out of university and I have not been able to keep a steady job. Is there any help for adults who have ADD?
A: You can probably get help from your local mental health clinic and certainly most psychiatrists will do what they can to help you, but you are not likely to find many programs specifically designed to help adults unless you move back into the city. Even there, it might be difficult.
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But don’t get discouraged. A number of famous people were believed to have ADD, including Thomas Edison and Albert Einstein.
People with ADD appear to be most successful when they have a passionate interest. Einstein floundered after university, picking up a job in a German patent office. He kept himself going with his theory of relativity, an all-consuming passion. Once he had successfully committed his theory to paper, he was offered a job and began successfully participating in the world of science.
People with ADD can be successful. One man took his interest in all things mechanical and built a successful small engine rental and repair shop. Another latched onto his father’s farm and turned his interest in swapping and trading in the classifieds ads into a multimillion-dollar corporation.
Until you are able to find the passion you need to help you move forward, keep in touch with your mental health clinic. The psychiatrist there may have a prescription or two to help you. Apart from that, build as much structure into your life as you can.
You likely need to have your life more organized than your friends. Keep your bedtimes and wake-up times regular. You need regular meal times and clearly defined recreation activities. The more that you can organize your life now, the better your chances are for success when you get your next job.
Jacklin Andrews is a family counsellor from Saskatchewan. Contact: jandrews@producer.com.
