DISCLAIMER:
This information was culled from several books about ADHD and
is geared towards symptoms in adults. This list is provided solely as a
source of information, and is not meant to help people self-diagnose. This
is not meant as an all-inclusive list of symptoms of the disorder (some
believe it is a gift rather than a disorder).
Keep in mind that everyone has these symptoms on occasion.
Even in people with the disorder, symptoms and their intensity vary. Don't
self diagnose. If you believe you may have ADHD, see a psychologist or
psychiatrist—one who is an expert on ADHD.
Many mental health professionals don't know much about ADHD
and it's often misdiagnosed. Also, be sure to get several recommendations
before selecting a doctor as many unscrupulous professionals are seeing
ADHD diagnosis and care as a money-making opportunity and are passing
themselves off as experts. ADHD care may become the weight loss clinics of
the 21st century!
1) Impatient, and restless. The restlessness is a symptom
of hyperactivity disorder which is often, but not always, associated with
ADHD.
2) Poor listening skills.
3) Difficulty with boring tasks, such as balancing a
checkbook. That doesn't mean that it's tough to do, but that they often
choose not to do it due to boredom.
4) Often have "an inordinate craving for sugar."
5) Easily distracted—constantly monitor the scene—notice
everything going on around them. (Make good detectives.)
6) Short, but extraordinarily intense, attention span—not
definable in minutes, hours or months. While their attention span, or the
time something keeps their interest, is typically short, they can totally
absorb themselves in a project that interests them. (Usually called "hyperfocus".)
7) Often have difficulty holding jobs for extended periods of
time. This can be due to symptoms of ADHD: Boredom—quit or fired due to
a lack of social skills, such as being too direct or having a short
temper. Or the tendency of ADHDers to just quit, even if they have nothing
else awaiting them. (Impulsive.)
8) Disorganization. Their desks, homes, bedrooms often look
as if a bomb went off.
9) Make snap decisions. (Impulsive)
10) Flitting from project to project.
11) They have an exaggerated sense of urgency when on a task,
and boredom when they feel as if there's nothing to do.
 12) Often
report multiple marriages or extremely intense, but short relationships.
13) Extremely prone to drug and alcohol abuse. (As well as
other addictions such as food and sex.)
14) Extremely independent—prefer to think for
themselves—don't take direction well - can be extremely defensive.
15) Often go to store for milk, bread, and eggs and come home
without them (or with a new car).
16) ADHD kids often are TV addicts and don't enjoy reading.
If they enjoy reading, they must be very interested in the subject.
17) Tend to daydream more than other people.
18) Often fail or have poor grades in school, even though
they're often considered intelligent, gifted, or genius.
19) May be prone to depression.
20) Have strong swings of emotion and conviction.
21) Make faster decisions than "normal" people.
22) They are frequently the spark plugs of society—the
movers and shakers.
23) It's estimated that as many of 90 percent of the people
in American prisons are ADHD.
24) It is estimated that over 50 percent of the worlds most
successful entrepreneurs are ADHD. A large percentage of the world's
geniuses are ADHD.
25) Many of America's founding fathers had ADHD.
26) They are impatient and get frustrated easily.
27) They don't suffer fools gladly—very blunt—very
direct—wear their emotions on their sleeves—don't beat around the bush
- notorious for critical and stinging comments. (Part of the lack of
social skills and impulsiveness.)
28) Live for today—seldom concerned with the
future—rarely have savings accounts.
29) Very flexible & open minded—can change strategy on
a moments notice—extremely quick thinkers.
30) Often considered extremely funny.
31) ADHD kids tend to get in a lot of trouble.
32) Often have incredible bursts of energy, usually followed
by periods of very low energy.
33) Usually don't enjoy games such as chess, preferring games
that allow them to go for the jugular vs. long strategy.
34) Not afraid of risks, make great military officers.
(Patton is believed to have been ADHD.)
35) Hard on themselves and others. (For proof check out: alt.support.attn-deficit)
36) Have broad based interests and voracious curiosity.
37) They tend to get creative and find new ways of doing
things.
38) Great at coming up with ideas for new businesses, even
starting them, but not running them.
39) Extremely creative individuals - Often charge off in new
directions. (Suspected ADHDer Thomas Edison was notorious for "going
off in 10,000 different directions.")
40) Hyperactivity is often present and may show itself in
fast talking, fast walking, fidgeting etc.
41) Their tendency to get bored easily, combined with a low
frustration level, quick temper, and impulsive behavior is the reason they
usually can't hold a job for long. They often quit a job even though they
don't have another one lined up.
42) They aren't motivated by the expectations of parents,
teachers or bosses. But if something interests them, a book, a new career,
a new relationship, they, much more than other people, will become totally
absorbed in them.
43) Because their minds "zap" from item to item,
they often find solutions to things that can't be handled by
"normal" people. Einstein (a suspected ADHDer who failed math
and dropped out of high school) got his theory of relativity in a
"flash of insight."
44) Have difficulty thinking in linear ways - they think in
random ways - while both types may arrive at the same answer to a problem,
the ADHDer often uses strange, creative, ingenious methods of getting to
the answer.
45) Tend to start projects but never finish.
46) Tend to interrupt people a lot—often don't allow people
to finish sentences.
47) (A quote from a well-respected high school teacher;)
"Every time I've come across a suicidal adolescent, it's been a very
bright, or gifted, or genius child with ADHD. They can't handle the
dichotomy of knowing they're brilliant, yet unable to handle
schoolwork."
48) Often feel as if they're in a fog. It's related to the
mental state right before sleep. They are in an "open", and
therefore distractible, state of consciousness.
49) Often have problems in life due to a low self-esteem from
their failure in youth.
50) Often capable of doing more than one thing at a
time—function better under pressure.
51) "People who make faulty assumptions about them don't
realize the incredible, tremendous effort they have to expend just to keep
these problems in check."
52) "ADHD brains and neurosystems are just wired
differently."
53) When studying, their brains are often moving too fast to
catch important things.
54) ADHD seems to improve with age, but never goes away.
55) Being diagnosed is often a life changing experience.
56) "Adulthood is a challenge. They are functional-dysfunctionals
capable of disaster or hitting the jackpot."
57) They're animated—high
strung—persuasive—visionaries.
58) Depending on the individual's outlook, ADHD can be
severely disabling or a blessing.
59) Like fingerprints, no two ADHDers are alike.
60) Their unique mental abilities make them more likely to
excel at certain careers:
Sales, detective work, entrepreneurs, and—pay close attention
editors—writers! (Just to name a few.)
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