Can you develop ADD/ADHD as you grow up?

DisturbedRaccoon
DisturbedRaccoon Posts: 18
edited October 5 in Chit-Chat
Pretty much, I have always been an outgoing but shy kid. About 3 years ago that randomly changed. I'm still outgoing, but I am anything but shy. I am always jumping everywhere and full of energy. All of my friends say that I have ADHD. One of my friends is a doctor and he even thinks that I have it. I thought that ADHD was something you always had. Can you really just develop it randomly while you are growing up?

Replies

  • koosdel
    koosdel Posts: 3,317 Member
    I think that as one ages, and begins to have thoughts of owning a cat or maybe a camaro they developed an affinity for raking leaves and toilet texting. Personally, I only toilet text whenever its warm enough out to swim. The problem.with swimming is if you swallow lake water you could get an amoeba, or an Asian.
  • adjones5
    adjones5 Posts: 938 Member
    You can develop ADD/ADHD as an adult. Some psychologists believe that it is a result of maladaptive behavior that has been reinforced throughout childhood. I'm not saying that you have maladaptive behavior, please don't take offense, I'm just relaying a psychological theory.
  • Jorra
    Jorra Posts: 3,338 Member
    I'm not sure if you can develop ADHD as an adult. I know physiologically ADHD is seen as an increase in activity in the frontal lobe. I agree with adjones5, however, it is possible that ADHD-like behaviors were reinforced and developed over time.

    BTW, if a doctor ever tries to tell you that you had ADD, get a new one. ADD has not been a legitimate diagnosis in the DSM for at least 20 years. All conditions are referred to as sub-types of ADHD.
  • DisturbedRaccoon
    DisturbedRaccoon Posts: 18
    You can develop ADD/ADHD as an adult. Some psychologists believe that it is a result of maladaptive behavior that has been reinforced throughout childhood. I'm not saying that you have maladaptive behavior, please don't take offense, I'm just relaying a psychological theory.


    I take no offense. I moved a lot as a kid, so I always had to learn to adapt to new enviroments. The main reason that I think I may have aquired ADHD type of behaviors because of my parents. When I was growing up, my parents wouldn't let me do much of anything. I had to be calm, quiet, and good or I would be in serious trouble. I stopped caring once in high school, but before that I learned to always be calm. Once I moved away from them, I started acting like myself. Then everyone started saying that I have ADHD. Maybe its just my personality.
  • infamousmk
    infamousmk Posts: 6,033 Member
    Although I always displayed symptoms that were in line with ADHD, I was not diagnosed until my early 20s. I took antidepressants (go figure) for quite some time because the helped with the concentration and 'slowing down' in my brain.

    I've spent the last ten years working on tools and skills to manage my behaviors so I don't take meds any more. I still struggle a lot, but I've been med-free for a little over a year now.
  • odusgolp
    odusgolp Posts: 10,477 Member
    I think that as one ages, and begins to have thoughts of owning a cat or maybe a camaro they developed an affinity for raking leaves and toilet texting. Personally, I only toilet text whenever its warm enough out to swim. The problem.with swimming is if you swallow lake water you could get an amoeba, or an Asian.

    I always wondered how to catch an Asian...
  • MissO﹠A
    MissO﹠A Posts: 906 Member
    I think that as one ages, and begins to have thoughts of owning a cat or maybe a camaro they developed an affinity for raking leaves and toilet texting. Personally, I only toilet text whenever its warm enough out to swim. The problem.with swimming is if you swallow lake water you could get an amoeba, or an Asian.

    I'm glad I'm not incontinent.

    I have the worst time concentrating on anything. I can entirely believe it. *gets distracted by a shiny object*
  • vytamindi
    vytamindi Posts: 845 Member
    I think that as one ages, and begins to have thoughts of owning a cat or maybe a camaro they developed an affinity for raking leaves and toilet texting. Personally, I only toilet text whenever its warm enough out to swim. The problem.with swimming is if you swallow lake water you could get an amoeba, or an Asian.

    I concur on 3/5 levels of compliance. Wanna go ride bikes?
  • Shawn_Marie
    Shawn_Marie Posts: 307 Member
    I think that as one ages, and begins to have thoughts of owning a cat or maybe a camaro they developed an affinity for raking leaves and toilet texting. Personally, I only toilet text whenever its warm enough out to swim. The problem.with swimming is if you swallow lake water you could get an amoeba, or an Asian.


    Exactly! what I was thinking!
  • LelliAmi
    LelliAmi Posts: 327 Member
    As someone who has A.D.D and struggled with it all my life, I can tell you, no you cannot. Being bubbly and being physically and mentally unable to focus are two VERY different things. People change as they grow, it's as simple as that. Of course you won't know if you have A.D.D/A.D.H.D unless you visit a psychiatrist and get tested. But my bet is nope.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories