| Many adults have some form of Attention | | | | tasks that require sustained effort! |
| Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD), a | | | | Those with AD/HD tend to avoid complicated |
| common problem among children and adolescents. | | | | tasks because they seem impossible or are |
| The disorder makes it difficult to focus, pay | | | | viewed as too time consuming. The person may |
| attention and get and stay organized. | | | | not believe he or she can maintain focused, |
| Dealing with people who have attentional problems | | | | unwavering attention for the length of time |
| and /or hyperactivity can be a real challenge. And | | | | required. |
| it can require the patience of Job. | | | | And so they don't even try. |
| Thus, relationships are often a challenge for | | | | Persons with AD/HD may lack self-confidence and |
| someone who has AD/HD, and the disorder can | | | | avoid situations in which their symptoms may be |
| significantly impact a marriage. Just think about | | | | exposed, or those situations in which they are |
| the problems inherent in conducting a relationship | | | | certain of feeling frustrated and overcome with |
| with someone who has trouble sitting still, keeping | | | | hopeless details. |
| his mind from wandering, and hearing what you | | | | All in all, this is a costly disorder that has been |
| say. | | | | misunderstood for years. |
| Adults and AD/HD | | | | AD/HD places a strain on intimate relationships |
| Many adults have gone undiagnosed for years and | | | | and can lead to serious marital problems. The |
| others develop symptoms relatively late in life. | | | | non-AD/HD partner may feel like he/she is never |
| Those who have the disorder experience AD | | | | heard or understood, and may feel that the AD |
| HD-related problems in most areas of their lives, | | | | HD spouse just doesn't care about him/her. |
| including their jobs and relationships, making it hard | | | | The spouse with AD/HD symptoms may be |
| for them to pick up on non-verbal cues in | | | | forgetful, absent minded, intolerant of delicate |
| conversations or to resist the many distractions | | | | social situations and downright impatient. Also, the |
| that abound in most work or personal | | | | AD/HD spouse often fails to hear what the other |
| environments. | | | | spouse says, even when it's critical that they talk, |
| There are three basic kinds of AD/HD: | | | | such as in times of crisis. And, impulsive remarks |
| - one involves mostly problems with attention; | | | | and behaviors can wreck a marriage. All of these |
| - the second involves mostly problems of | | | | symptoms can take a toll on a marriage. |
| hyperactivity; | | | | To be exact, many marriages fail at least in part |
| - and the third involves both. | | | | because one or both spouses have untreated AD |
| Actual symptoms of Attention Deficit include | | | | HD. |
| difficulty in staying focused on a task, problems | | | | Dealing With ADHD |
| paying close attention to details, not listening (mind | | | | 1. Getting a leg up on AD/HD starts with finding |
| wandering), difficulty in finishing tasks and getting | | | | out if you have it, and what type you have. You |
| organized, forgetfulness and getting distracted | | | | may seek an evaluation from your family |
| easily. | | | | physician, a psychiatrist or therapist who is trained |
| Symptoms of the hyperactivity side of AD/HD | | | | to deal with AD/HD. |
| include fidgeting, leaving one's seat frequently, | | | | 2. Gain an understanding of the condition and |
| running about or climbing excessively, talking | | | | employ strategies to help you deal with it. Do |
| excessively, and interrupting. Often the person | | | | some research and get help from a therapist or |
| seems to be driven by a motor. | | | | coach. |
| In some folks this is a very exhausting and trying | | | | 3. If you are married and you have AD/HD, you |
| condition. In others, the symptoms are less | | | | will need a sympathetic and understanding spouse |
| severe and don't interfere with their work and | | | | for your marriage to succeed. Someone who can |
| personal lives as much. | | | | help you to work with your symptoms and do |
| THE IMPACT OF AD/HD | | | | your best to control them. Communicate! |
| People who suffer from AD/HD experience | | | | 4. Medication can help many people (young and |
| difficulty in all areas of their lives. Job | | | | old) experience a new level of success in their |
| performance, personal life and scholastic activities | | | | lives, and is often recommended for those who |
| are impacted by AD/HD. When symptoms are | | | | meet the criteria for diagnosis. |
| severe it can be a debilitating disorder. | | | | Conclusions |
| Those with AD/HD may not achieve as much in | | | | AD/HD affects all areas of a person's life, and |
| life as they are capable. Or they may stop | | | | may create difficulties at work, school and home. |
| working on a goal because it seems impossible. | | | | The ADD-marriage or ADD-relationship requires |
| This may happen right when the individual comes | | | | close and constant communication. It takes more |
| close to finishing a difficult task. Oddly enough, | | | | effort and ingenuity to succeed at an AD/HD |
| right when the end is within reach, he or she may | | | | marriage or relationship than the average one, and |
| quit! | | | | requires an understanding of the disorder. |
| Many goals are hard to reach when you are | | | | Successful relationships will face these problems |
| disorganized, lousy with details and tend to avoid | | | | and get necessary support. |