As an adult, how do you cope with your ADD?

Question:

I have a good friend who has been diagnosed with ADD as the result of a head injury. She was extremely high functioning before her accident. No she complains of being easily distracted. She is very depressed because she has lost her job. Any tips?

Answers:
In my opinion, I think your friends problem is just more than ADD. One of the essential criteria for that diagonsis is that ADD needs to be present in the pre-teen years. Rather, I think she is experiancing the effects of a traumatic brain injury which can cause problems with concentration, and make one more apt to become depressed.

Traumatic Brain Injury affects each person differently but what you have described thusfar would seem to be what I have observed among other individuals. There are other difficulties that may be apparent too, just maybe not really realized at this time such as organizational abilities, memory problems, and planning.

There are compensatory strategies that can be learned and different types of technology that can help one work around these problems, but not cure them.

Depending upon the seriousness of her condition, I would encourage her to undergo a neuropsychological evaluation. This is a specialized psychological area that looks at issues related to cognitive difficulties. It could be arranged through her doctor. It wiould help point out her strengths and weaknesses, which be good to know for employment reasons.

Another avenue for her to investigate is applying for Vocational Rehabilitations through either Dept of Labor, or Human Service Center. The program goes by different names, but it's purpose is to help eligible people with disabilities prepare for, obtain and maintain employment. There are many services that may be available to her depending upon her employment needs. I can not say what they would be as each person's situation is different and some states administer it differently. But it would be to her benefit to at least look into it.

Many times people with TBI/Learning Disabilities/ADD apply for the wrong types of jobs because those jobs are commonly occuring. However, upon a closer examination, they require one to have good concentration/ability to multi-task in a fast paced work envirnement/good memory and divide ones attention to the different stimuli around them. This would be an area where a Voc Rehab Counselor would be helpful in pointing her towards jobs that fit.

I write from both professional and personal experiance. I am a former VR Counselor, who has ADD and also a learning disability that causes many of the same difficulties that someone would have with a TBI.

I hope that what I am saying is helpful. Use what fits, and what doesn't just throw away. In any event, I wish you and your friend well.

Medication and meeting with a therapist has helped me learn to manage my AD/HD. I suggest that your friend meet with a psychiatrist or neurologist to discuss treatment options.

Yeah, ADD is rough. you can be highly intelligent but still struggle with trying to function in this world. here are a few tips you could check out:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article...

Most people with ADD are getting help from a doctor. She needs all the support she can get from friends and her doctor.

As an adult, how do you cope with your ADD?

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