Elaine

American society has often taken things to the extreme, and in the case of attention deficit disorder (ADD), it may be that teachers and doctors have become so aggressive with certain behaviors in children that the diagnosis of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is almost automatic. But it's not true that anyone who has temporary memory lapses, hyperactivity, or high levels of procrastination have ADD. The truth is that all human beings experience ADD-type behavior during the course of their lives.

The symptoms of attention deficit may pop up for many reasons, or people may have tendencies of attention deficit, without really having it at all. Kids can be acting out their feelings of frustration or stress in school. And adults who just can't seem to get things accomplished may have nothing more than a severe case of the "lazies." There are many reasons for why people do the things they do or don't do, and the behaviors may not be the markers for ADD.

One huge problem with finding out positively if a person has ADD or ADHD is that there are no tests that can be performed to a 100% certainty. There are no blood tests, no CAT or PET scans, no graphing--nothing. Attention deficit is a condition of the mind, and so testing can only be done through a series of intensive and extensive questions about a person's entire life, not just about what he or she is feeling in the moment. Here's the thing:

Attention deficit doesn't just appear because it's an inherited condition that a person has or doesn't have when they are born. Just because someone is distracted, can't remember the grocery list, or has a messy house, it doesn't necessarily mean that they're ADD or ADHD. Behaviors that are directly related to having attention deficit must have lasted for more than 6 months, and the symptoms must have been a disruptive force in your life.

If you think you may have ADD or ADHD, the next thing you should do is to take a preliminary test at InstantADDSuccess.com in order to assess the possibility. If the test is positive, seek out a healthcare professional to help you. Be careful of using a family physician who will readily write a prescription for Ritalin or other drug. Find a psychologist or another mental health professional who can provide an intense set of test to tell you if you have the disorder. This can be expensive, and you may be asked questions about things that happened during your childhood. All of your history is important and don't be surprised if your parents are asked to answer questions, too. What may not seem relevant to you is very important in making an accurate diagnosis.

What you want to remember is that you're on a quest to find peace of mind. Get to the heart of what's causing your symptoms. If it's not attention deficit, deal with what is. If it is attention deficit, great! You're one of few very special people. Plus, you'll know what's been plaguing you all your life. There are many ways to make your symptoms less severe. This could include medication, but some symptoms just go away when you learn to control them through ADD-friendly systems. The whole idea is to make yourself feel better about life. When you learn whether or not you have attention deficit, it could be the beginning of that solution.

Tellman Knudson is CEO of OvercomeEverything, Inc. and a certified hypnotherapist and NLP practitioner who has helped many clients achieve ADD Success. Take the ADD test at InstantADDSuccess.com