Before and After ADHD

I've suspected that I had ADHD for many years.   From my perspective, my mind has been racing for many years and I found myself flitting like a butterfly from one project to another, while never finishing any of them.

When I was working, my office was filled with piles of partially completed projects.  When my office space increased, the number of piles multiplied.  I wanted to be different - I TRIED to be different but instead I continued along the same path.  I periodically made progress in some areas and fell behind in others.  It wasn't a matter of time, it was focus.  Often, I didn't have enough time, but even when I did, I didn't have enough focus.  Because I was a conscientious employee, I worked hard to do my job, mainly to meet the needs of my students.

Then came the arrival of high blood pressure medications!  A pleasant byproduct has been a lessening of my ADHD symptoms.  I find myself able to focus!!   Initially, my mind was slowed too much, keeping me from being able to accomplish anything.  I didn't like the feeling.  In fact, I wanted to stop taking the medication. 

After about three weeks, my mind began to clear and I have found that my focus is so much better.  ADHD is not about will power, it is about an inability to regulate focus.  I much prefer being able to focus even if my mind is occasionally foggy.  I am able to listen to a conversation without my mind racing due to every little distraction in my environment.  I am able to listen to a sermon without my mind racing due to every little distraction in my environment.  I HAVE FOCUS!!!  I know that it is difficult to choose just the right dose for BP medications (or ADHD) but I am staying with them.  They will keep me healthier in the long run and I like being able to focus :)

This experience has caused me to think a lot about children with ADHD.  It's helped me to understand what it's like in a more concrete way now that I have experienced the before and after.  It has not helped me know whether it's better to medicate a child.  There are so many issues involved with ADHD medication that I don't know about.  There are also many degrees of ADHD and every child is unique.