Marathon runners run a total of 26.2 miles in a race. For many, when they come to the 18-22 mile marker, there is a feeling of hitting a wall, where the racers feel sluggish, find each step more and more difficult and self doubts begin to creep in about their ability to perform.

So it is with many patients who suffer with undiagnosed ADHD. Patients have reported knowing very early on in life that they were different from their peers but many develop a system to deal with their inadequacies. This system may work with varying degrees of success until additional loads are added. This could be academically such as moving from elementary to middle school, middle to high school, high school to college, college to graduate school etc. Perhaps the additional loads are employment related such as getting a new job, or a promotion or self employment. For some the additional load is personal such as getting married, or having a new baby. Wherever the addition load comes from, it overwhelms the system that undiagnosed ADHD patients suffer with, and they begin to seek outside assistance. This assistance could be medication, counseling, coaching, therapy, other modalities, or a combination of these.

If any of this relates to you, a colleague, a friend or a loved one, I encourage you to contact me to discuss your options at (503)492-2200. As always I welcome your thoughts, comments or questions.