Lately, I have been wondering if the symptoms of ADD tend to worsen as you get older. I am 42 and have noticed all my bad ADD traits getting worse after the age of 35 or so. This last year I seemed to hit a wall. I got to the point where I was searching this online for hours and hours a day, trying to find answers. And eventually realised that ADD is a likely cause. Have other older ADDers had a simmilar experience in that the symptoms worsend to the point you knew you can not go on with things as they are ? Did it feel like you hit a wall of sorts? Prior to 35 I was a very busy busy person, trying to go round the clock nonstop doing more and more. Part of what I am talking about is that my body just could not handle the craziness of it any longer.

I know most 40 somethings tend to slow down a bit, but wonder if others had a simmilar experience.

Lately, I have been wondering if the symptoms of ADD tend to worsen as you get older. I am 42 and have noticed all my bad ADD traits getting worse after the age of 35 or so. This last year I seemed to hit a wall. I got to the point where I was searching this online for hours and hours a day, trying to find answers. And eventually realised that ADD is a likely cause. Have other older ADDers had a simmilar experience in that the symptoms worsend to the point you knew you can not go on with things as they are ? Did it feel like you hit a wall of sorts? Prior to 35 I was a very busy busy person, trying to go round the clock nonstop doing more and more. Part of what I am talking about is that my body just could not handle the craziness of it any longer.

I know most 40 somethings tend to slow down a bit, but wonder if others had a simmilar experience.Yeah, almost exactly the same experience here. I don't know if your male or female, but I've been doing some reading and found out for women as they approach menopause and estrogen drops off ADD symptoms can come back with a vengance (I don't know if something similar happens for guys or not). I assume that's what's happening to me. I had ADHD as a kid, seemed to outgrow the worst of it during puberty and became very high functioning in school and successful at work. At 44 I found myself doing what you were and searching the web trying to find some answers because life seemed so out of control -- disorganized, forgetful, procrastinating, etc -- I suppose all those had always been there to some degree, but I'm not meeting my responsibilities any more, so I got myself in to see my doctor who sent me to a psychologist specializing in ADD for testing and such. We're still in that process. At this point, things are crazy enough that if they recommend meds I'm going for it.

Scattered

I agree, I was officially diagnosed in my 40's. Up until then I had managed fairly well with my life, but it reached a point where I just thought I was going to shatter into a bazillion pieces. I started medications 9 months ago...amazing. Made me wonder why I waited so long.

Kim

Exactly the same experience. I think coping with undiagnosed ADHD takes an almost unbelievable amount of energy and that in the end we can no longer keep it up.

I spiral down, when my knowledge is not balanced with action.
Ian

Hi, I am a 54-year-old female, and in the last year or so, I noticed the same thing. I said to myself, there is something very, very wrong with me, because I used to function much better than this.
I am waiting for the "official" ADD diagnosis, but in the meantime, have self-diagnosed with a heck of a lot of reading. I do hope the other writer was right in mentioning estrogen drop-off as the factor here. (I sometimes worry I have something worse!)
When I do get diagnosed, I am going to ask about this. Thanks for raising the issue. If I learn anything new, I will post it.

At 44 I found myself doing what you were and searching the web trying to find some answers because life seemed so out of control -- disorganized, forgetful, procrastinating, etc -- I suppose all those had always been there to some degree, but I'm not meeting my responsibilities any more, so I got myself in to see my doctor who sent me to a psychologist specializing in ADD for testing and such. We're still in that process. At this point, things are crazy enough that if they recommend meds I'm going for it.

ScatteredI hear you . I am a male, but feel very simmilar. When I was younger people I know used to tell me to slow down and smell the roses, I tended to work 7 days a week, and I enjoyed most of it. Now I am questioning a lot of my prior behaviour, and finding many simmilarites among the fine folk here.

Well this morning I just showed my family doctor the books I have been reading (driven to distraction and answers to distraction) He will now make an apointment to see a psychologist. So this is good news.

Absolutely. I'm 36 and the last few months have been hell in nearly every aspect of my life. I quit drinking thinking it would make things better. Oddly enough, it made my ADD worse.* This was all before I knew or even suspected ADD was my problem. I reached the point where I couldn't do my job and my personal life was a wreck. It sounds like you're on the right track now. Good luck with the diagnosis and treatment.

*Even if this is true, I certainly don't advocate alcohol as a treatment for ADD. It may help ease the frustration but won't solve the real underlying problems.

Good luck to you BetterBodz. I hope you find answers that are helpful to you! Nice that your doctor was open to hearing your concerns.

Scattered