There are many secondary symptoms of ADHD that occur in almost all kids
and adults who have the disorder. Disorganization is one symptom
that can be highly problematic in school, the professional work place
and at home. All individuals with ADD, including hyperactive and
inattentive, have trouble with disorganization. Keeping track of
paperwork, organizing one's desk and keeping things clean at home is a
monumental task for ADDers. Because their minds are so often thinking
about multiple things at once, it is difficult to slow down enough to
realize what needs to be done. Also, routine and every day tasks are
very difficult for ADD clients to attend to. Their attention goes out
the window once it becomes mundane and routine.
Along with disorganization, individuals have the inability to plan. The
two symptoms go hand and hand. If you are disorganized on a regular
basis, planning ahead is just not possible. You are living from crisis
to crisis, from one problem to the next. Many individuals with
undiagnosed ADD are doing just that. The conflict provides stimulation,
but does not provide any chance for growth. Also, people with ADD have
a strong tendency to change plans even from day to day. What seems
interesting one day may not the next, or the planning that may be
involved to make something happen is just too much for the
person. When it comes down to the details, it is very hard for
someone with ADD to continue attending.
Another secondary symptom of ADHD is difficulty in controlling
emotions. This is most likely causes by the fact that people with ADHD
get overstimulated very easily. Because they cannot filter out
the stimuli around them, individuals with ADHD become bombarded quickly
and do not know what to do. Things become disorienting, and the first
thing that goes is the ability to control one's emotions.
People with ADD also have difficulties in moving from one activity to
the next. This can actually be a good and a bad quality. Many people
with ADHD have the ability to hyperfocus, or focus for long periods of
time on subjects and projects they enjoy. This can be very helpful in
some careers, but not so helpful in other areas of one's life. If you
are involved with something you enjoy, but you have to go do some other
type of chore or responsibility, this is a negative thing. The
ADDer will not want to stop what their doing, and will have trouble
doing so.
Time management is another issue that almost all individuals with ADD
have. They do not experience the same as regular people, and so keeping
track of it is difficult. People with ADD often underestimate how
long something will take, and not leave enough time for something else.
Also, individuals with ADHD tend to be chronically late.
Keith Londrie II is a well known author. For more information on ADHD, please visit living-with-adhd.us/ ADHD for a wealth of information. You may also want to visit keith's own web site at keithlondrie.com/keithlondrie.com/