Expert Terry Matlen's ADHD Diagnosis

These books gave me my life back and gave me hope. I wasted no time in pursuing the gnawing question: could I really have ADHD? Or was I simply lazy and disorganized; a character flaw that haunted me all of my life?

I found a psychologist in my area who had expertise in diagnosing ADHD in adults. After weeks of waiting for my appointment, I finally had the evaluation and my suspicions were confirmed: I did, indeed have inattentive ADHD.

Perhaps being a psychotherapist myself made it easier for me to pick up the phone and find a therapist; someone who could help me fit the pieces together to help me understand what was "wrong" with me all these years.

Therapy taught me the facts about ADHD- that there's a strong genetic component. That it's highly treatable, but that its effect of living with it for 40 years did take its toll on me and my self-esteem. There was much work to do to gain back the confidence I'd lost over the years and to begin making decisions that worked FOR my ADHD instead of against it.

When I saw the dramatic change of learning about my own ADHD, I knew I wanted to help others, too, who were living their scattered lives thinking they were flawed mothers, fathers, partners, college students, employees, etc. So years after my daughter's illness, when I could begin to focus on my life again, I became very involved in the world of ADHD; from joining the ADDA board of directors (http://www.add.org/), to running my local CHADD chapter (http://www.chadd.org/), then opening a private practice, and finally, launching my consulting/resource website at http://www.addconsults.com/ .

I began to lecture locally and nationally on ADHD, and in 2005, published my own book, "Survival Tips for Women with ADHD."

In addition to raising my two daughters, I also found time to make art and music in my home studios.

Could I have done all of this had I not gotten the ADHD diagnosis and proper treatment? I highly doubt it. And that's why my mission is to help others

come up from the darkness of distractions, inattention and brain fog, to find their true selves and move forward with their wonderful strengths and gifts.

Do you have a similar story? Are you ready to take a personal journey to find the answers to the questions haunting you about your own procrastination, inattention, impulsivity? Could it be ADHD? Please share it with us; we'd love to hear from you.