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A life lived in chaos

Last updated: Tuesday, October 05, 2010

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On Monday evening Carte Blanche Medical highlighted ADHD in adults. Watch the video here. Adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder can destroy relationships, sabotage careers and cause havoc in ones life yet most people with this condition remain untreated b ecause its one of the most misdiagnosed disorders. Could adult ADHD b e at the root of your problems? By Joan van Zyl and Danl Blaauw for You Pulse Magazine

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When a psychologist told Cape Town systems programmer Danil du Toit* (50) 10 years ago that he had ADHD, he refused to believe her. Danil had been hopping from one psychologist to another for 20 years in a bid to find out why neither his life nor his career showed any progress.
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I noticed at school something wasnt right, he says. I did well in primary school but afterwards my marks would take a dive whenever I was in a stressful situation, for instance when I moved on to high school.
Debbie N andini P humza M andy M ichele

At university Danil really came unstuck. Even though he was a bright student, he just couldnt settle down to study. I would jump up and make tea, come back and read a sentence then find something else to do, he explains.
Sandra M enzi F illy N elisiw e C larissa

He nearly dropped out of university a few times due to excessive exam stress. He even sought advice from thecampus cousellor, to no avail. Eventually it took this gifted man four years to complete his three-year degree. After university he worked in the field of personnel management where he did well until he was promoted and was given a series of new responsibilities. It made him so anxious he couldnt tolerate the job any longer. After a few sessions with a career advisor and a psychologist he decided to try computer programming.
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Most people finished the programming exam long before 5 pm but I sat there until 9 pm, he recalls. Danil enjoyed the new job but his supervisor often complained about his slow working pace. I would drift off or get sidetracked by an unimportant part of the task and spend all my time on that. Once again he looked for help and saw various psychologists, one of whom finally identified the problem as ADHD. Even though he didnt want to believe her, he followed her advice and went to see Peter Collis, a Cape Town clinical psychologist who specialises in ADHD. Peter told me to write down everything that bothered me, Danil says. When I returned with the list he ticked them all off: every single one was a symptom of ADHD. More than 20 years after first seeking help I was eventually diagnosed. It was an incredible relief, a real aha moment. Although Danil admits its occasionally still a battle he now successfully manages his condition with the help of medication, adjustments to his lifestyle and occasional therapy sessions with Collis or a psychiatrist. An Idols' story Popular Idols finalist Graeme Watkins (27) and his fiance, Kim Coppen (24), have had a relatively easier journey with ADHD. Both were very young when diagnosed
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A life lived in chaos: Health24: ADHD

had a relatively easier journey with ADHD. Both were very young when diagnosed with the condition and so they were able to develop their own coping skills from childhood. But school was still challenging for both of them. They were often bullied by other children and called stupid. Kim says ADHD runs in her family. Mom Margie, father Trevor and brothers Neil and Greg all have the condition. Kims parents chose to put her on Ritalin until Grade 12 (she now manages without it) while Graemes parents decided not to give their son medication for ADHD. After leaving school Graeme started theatre training and life improved. He has a passion for music and drama and says people with ADHD focus well on things they enjoy a lot. Graeme is hyperactive. While we talk he fidgets in his seat, his eyes wander and his foot taps gently on the floor. Like many adult ADHD sufferers hes an almost obsessive perfectionist. In this way he ensures his ADHD doesnt hamper the quality of his work. He still doesnt take medication but tries to manage his condition with a strict low- GI diet and daily exercise at the gym to get rid of excess energy. At best a relationship with an ADHD sufferer is a challenge. So its impressive how this couple has made their relationship work for seven years. People with ADHD are inclined to overreact emotionally, Kim says. Thats why were really careful about what we say to each other. When we argue we know how far we can go. For them even sleeping arrangements are a challenge. Like some people with ADHD Kim is sensitive to light. Graeme has a sleeping disorder (also typical of people with ADHD) and cant fall asleep without watching TV. The solution: Kim sleeps with an eye mask and earplugs while Graeme watches DVDs on his laptop. Every night he puts on the same DVD Die Hard 4. If its a movie he hasnt seen before, hell watch it to the end and easily stay up all night. Graeme and Kim know they are very fortunate to have been diagnosed as children. Why? Because if ADHD is not diagnosed and follows you undetected into adulthood it can be devastating. In fact the life of an adult with ADHD can be a chaotic battlefield with careers and relationships the most significant casualties. The reason, psychologist Peter Collis says, is impaired control in your life and actions. There are three main symptoms: Impaired concentration you cant focus and often forget things. Impulsiveness you react without thinking and your emotions govern your reason. Hyperactivity you cant sit still and must keep moving. If you have to sit still you fidget, squirm and tap your foot. All three symptoms are not necessarily present. Danil and Kim, for example, have attention deficit without hyperactivity, the form of ADHD thats sometimes called ADD. How do you know its ADHD? The good news is adult ADHD can be effectively treated. But doctors often miss the condition, says Dr David Benn, a child psychiatrist at the ADDNovaClinic in Johannesburg. They see only the ADHD complications such as depression and anxiety and not the underlying problem. Formal diagnostic criteria are currently being prepared for adult ADHD, but in the meantime you can take a look at the list of symptoms below. Remember we all exhibit these symptoms from time to time and to be diagnosed with adult ADHD you have to show symptoms continual and over a long period of time. It must disrupt your day-to-day life, Collis says. Also, you cant develop ADHD as an adult. Its something you carry with you from childhood, Dr Benn adds. Do you easily feel emotionally overwhelmed? ADHD sufferers are like tortoises born without a shell, Collis says. The tiniest thing can provoke an excessive emotional reaction. Its as if the emotion takes over your entire being and you cant see it in perspective. Sufferers also have little emotional and social intelligence and struggle to read the emotional messages of others. Do you struggle with relationships?
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A life lived in chaos: Health24: ADHD

Because someone with ADHD is so impulsive you quickly lose your temper, dont listen to others, blurt out responses and dont communicate well, Collis says. Its bad news for your personal relationships. People who are diagnosed with ADHD when theyre older often have a divorce or two behind them. They often end relationships impulsively or start affairs. Do you suffer from depression or anxiety? Most adults with ADHD suffer from one or more additional conditions too, particularly anxiety and depression. Other conditions often associated with ADHD include bipolar disorder, sleeping disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder and drug abuse. Its no wonder then that doctors so easily misdiagnose adult ADHD. If you complain about depression your doctor is going to treat you for that and probably miss the underlying ADHD. Is your working life a mess? If you have adult ADHD youre probably late for work most of the time, terrible with time management, you procrastinate and get tangled up in unimportant detail. As a result your performance is dramatically impaired and your productivity is often very low because you work so slowly and may try to compensate by being a perfectionist. Do you abuse alcohol and drugs? Many people with ADHD abuse drugs, prescription medication or alcohol, Dr Benn says. Its often a form of self-medication because substance abuse provides the stimulation they desperately seek or help them cope with depression and anxiety. Among the criticisms levelled at Ritalin is the theory that it can turn one into a drug addict. But the latest research shows the opposite is true: the risk of becoming an addict is far greater if your ADHD goes untreated than if youre treated with medication at an early stage. Do you get bored quickly? Most people dont enjoy mundane chores, but people with ADHD have an active aversion to such tasks, Collis says. Thats why the home of someone with ADHD is often messy and untidy. But give them a task that s timulates them and theyll focus on it with no effort at all. Boredom and ADHD dont go together well. Sufferers are starters, not finishers. They often begin a new project or even career but dont see it through. Do you get a lot of speeding tickets or cause car accidents? Hyperactive people love speed and often drive too fast. People with attention deficit struggle to concentrate on driving and the road. Do you become stressed out when multifunctioning is required? Often people with ADHD function very well at work until they are promoted. Then they fall apart because they cant keep all the balls in the air. The same can happen with parents. A mother with ADHD can possibly handle her first child well but when the second arrives a breakdown threatens. Does someone in your family have ADHD? ADHD runs in families. If you have it chances are high that one or more of your siblings also suffer from it. Many adults realise they have ADHD only when their kids are diagnosed. * Not his real name (This is an edited version of a story that originally appeared in YOU Pulse / Huisgenoot-POLS magazine, Summer 2009/2010. Buy the latest copy, on newsstands now, for more fascinating stories from the world of health and wellness.) Read more: Coping with adult ADHD

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Your Comments
Preshen tip of ADHd govender my son had ADHD I took him for hip hop Krumping class and
2010/10/06 Comment #1

he is excelling in it

2010/10/06 Comment #2

Hugo ADHD Wow .... It seems like this article was written about me. I was completely oblivious that I could have ADHD... All the signs are there! What am I supposed to do ? I don't have money to waste on a psychiatrist. I'm stressed out about the part not being able to cope when you are promoted...? Hope I will be able to handle it ! mm... does this explain why I am so clumsy as well... I always seem to spill stuff all over the place. WTF! This stupic text box does not allow me to type more than this Hugo ADHD arggg... spelled stupid wrong !

2010/10/06 Comment #3

dylan wow
2010/10/06 Comment #4

hugo, i feel you, i can relate to a lot said in this story, but remember all the cool kids are ADHD

Hugo ADHD
2010/10/06 Comment #5

Yeah ! I'm cool!

Nica
2010/10/06 Comment #6

Recently diagnosed I thought for years that I suffered from depression, but was diagnosed 2 months ago with ADD. I'm 33. It explained quite a lot about especially school, university, structured employment and my feelings of not being able to cope with life. I think a lot of people have these symptoms without having ADD, so a professional diagnoses is the way to go.

E Ritalin
2010/10/06 Comment #7

I'm 36 and was a fully functioning cocaine addict for years. Noone knew, because I did not take drugs to party, only to be able to concentrate at work, focus on tasks, and be less depressed withdrawn. About 3 years ago I was diagnosed as ADD and put on Ritalin. I have not touched coke since and have good work performance and social functioning. So yes, I agree that Ritalin does not create addicts, it can help to cure addicts who use drugs for self-medication.

morena
2010/10/06 Comment #8

the wonder of READING i think i have that though i'll need to see someone in that field to confirm it for me Welcome to the club: Where to get more info There are more detailed symptoms on wikipedia, under " Adult attention deficit hyperactivity disorder" : Procrastination Indecision, difficulty recalling and organizing details required for a task

Calliope
2010/10/06 Comment #9

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A life lived in chaos: Health24: ADHD

Poor time management, losing track of time Avoiding tasks or jobs that require sustained attention Dif& #64257 culty initiating tasks .... in my opinion it may be the result of our busy, stress-filled lifestyles. A regular afternoon having pressure point massage may be what you need, rather than meds. seepie
2010/10/06 Comment #10

ADHD Many a time I heard and read about ADHD and never really understood it or paid attention to it. Why should I ? Until recently it came to my attention that my grandchild suffers from it. Then it came out his father (my son) has got it. Then thinking back of my childhood days..this is why I suffered so much during my school years, but couldn't finish to matric and further. I was blessed to have had a job/s through my life up to 2008, but with many a day/times, I went through a day with crying.....

Virginia
2010/10/06 Comment #11

info something to think about

seepie
2010/10/06 Comment #12

ADHD ...As I was saying, my school/office days existed mostly of 'crying from within' and other days, tears were just rolling. I also lived through my years with a low self esteem, many a time realising '' I'm not (normal) like others.'' What's wrong with me? The days when I grew up, you never heard about ADHD. Can Employers may be addressed to ''if they notice/observe that there's something wrong with an employee, to rather assist such a person - come alongside him/her - show compassion? ....

seepie
2010/10/06 Comment #13

ADHD ...Although in the office/secular environment there's no time to 'feel' for the next person, let alone to assist someone. The one thing that worries me the most...about medication for ADHD...is.., its always a prescription for Ritalin...??? or Concerta. I get the 'shivers attack'' just hearing that name!!!! I looked up the meaning of Ritalin and the composition of these tablets, and the information and stigma to these tablets are horrific!! and dangerous -reading testomonies after effects.

Boss B ADHD
2010/10/06 Comment #14

At last someone can to my rescue. I have always wondered why I am so anxious, starting projects and never get to finish them, being a perfectionist, always get irritated when things don't happen the way I want them to and was an alcoholic until I became a Christian. For all this years the people who suffered the most is my family. My wife always told me that it seems like whatever she does in the house is not good enough, because I always want things to be done in a certain way (perfectionisi

Hein ADHD
2010/10/06 Comment #15

36 and using Ritalin. Diagnosed when my son was 6 and we are both using it. Do not believe the gossip around Ritalin! What a BIG positive change, pitty our elders did not know about ADHD 30 years back...

Anonymouse
2010/10/06 Comment #16

ADHD Hmmm, does reading medical and Wikipedia articles, updating Facebook, and surfing the web when one has to work also light up red lights??

2010/10/06 Comment #17

Fidget Rocking out with my C**K out I think i might be ADHD, couldnt finish the article without being insanely bored. . . getting bored of this comment too. I might not have a great job or a promising career, did not excel at school. Im enjoying life from one spontaneous moment to the other. Wohoooooo! Peace to all you non -ADHD peeps, you dont know what you

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missing Pieter
2010/10/06 Comment #18

A life lived in chaos: Health24: ADHD

Diagnosed five years ago The biggest help the past five years has been to use a simple and robust system of organizing my thoughts. It boils down to write down everything that comes up in my mind the moment it's there, otherwise it keeps on bugging me, and it takes only 3 or 4 things to bug me and I loose my concentration completely, can't function. Read the book 'Get Things Done' by David Allen. Not written for ADD, but the method he describes is simple and robust and it will clear your mind and free your creativity.

Pieter
2010/10/06 Comment #19

Diagnosed five years ago #2 A few more things that helped a lot: Cut out sugar and all sweets, all preservatives, follow a low GI diet, so no bread, buns stuff made from wheat and so on. The best book to understand ADHD, and I have read them all, is 'Scattered' by Gabor Mate. Forget the rest, they are just confusing. Read 'The Artists Way' by Julia Cameron, she describes what's needed to free your mind, and creativity. That's ADD people's strongest trait, although the book was not written for ADHD, it helps a lot.

keith x
2010/10/06 Comment #20

Mark
2010/10/06 Comment #21

Concerta I started taking Concerta about 2 years ago at age 49. It made a tremendous difference to my life but can no longer afford it as I am not on medical aid. My GP refuses to give me Ritallin instead which is a lot cheaper.

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