Life In Focus: How An ADHD Diagnosis Changed One Man’s World help adults with ADHD and those (NAPSA)—Imagine finding it difficult to focus while studying or reading for an extended period of time. Think of the frustration of consistently missing deadlines or feeling overwhelmed with school or work. who suspect they may have the condition. It’s called ADHD Allies”, and it’s an online community housed on the social networking site Facebook, sponsored by McNeil Pediatrics”, Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharma- That’s how 25-year-old Uri Roer describes life before being ceuticals, Inc. It’s available at www.facebook.com/adhdallies and diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). He said he was out of focus and his mind was always running off on different tangents. “I went through high school and college without being able to concentrate in class or study well,” Roer said. “It was down- right painful when I look back at those years where I could have done better if only I knew what was wrong.” Roeris not alone. ADHD affects an estimated 9 million adults in the United States. Often thought of as a childhood condition, studies suggest that between 30 and 70 percent of children with ADHD continue to have symptoms as adults. “lve had adults who have not been diagnosed come into my office, receive a diagnosis and breathe a sigh of relief,” said Dr. Ari Tuckman, psychologist and author of “Integrative Treatment for Adult ADHD: A Practical, Easy-to-Use Guide for Clinicians.” “Living with undiagnosed ADHD can make someone’s life much, much harder than it needs to be. As a child, it may mean poor performance in school. But for adults, it can lead to chronic difficulties at work, at home, in relationships and with finances.” Roer was diagnosed a year ago. “It was like a lightbulb came on. Finally, I had an answer. It was a defining moment for me,” he said. According to Dr. Tuckman, diagnosis is the first step. “Once adults are diagnosed, they can work with their health care pro- fessionals to devise an individual plan of action. No two cases of ADHDarealike.” Here are a few things Dr. Tuck- man recommends for adults to help them managethe condition: Seek help from a medical professional—An openline of communication with a trusted health care professional can help you find the treatment plan that’s right for you. Find a support group—Meeting and getting to know people who have similar experiences can alleviate some of the stress you may feel and let you know you are not alone. Educate yourself—Read as much as you can, and ask questions. Learning about ADHD will help you assess what your needs are in terms of treatment, therapy andlifestyle changes. And now there’s a new tool to builds on its July 2008 launch of the ADHD Moms” community on Facebook*—one of the first-ever resources by, for and about ADHD caregivers in the social media landscape, which has attracted more than 8,300 fans since its launch. ADHDAllies™ provides adults with timely, practical information about ADHD andpersonal insight about the challenges andrealities of living with the condition. Fans of ADHD Allies™ will hear directly from experts and adults with ADHDon issues such as diagnosis, symptom management, inheritability, social interactions, household management, professional and career issues, parenting and more. “When I was first diagnosed with ADHD, I was overwhelmed as I attempted to search for infor- mation online. I wasn’t sure what information I could trust, and longed for a place where I could hear from and interact with people just like me,” Roer said. “I think ADHD Allies™ can be a new place where adults with ADHD can join a community and hear from people just like them. I’m glad to be a part of the community, and I hope mystory will help others.”
