Angela Carpenter Gildner, 55, is a social worker in Washington, D.C. When her son was diagnosed with ADHD, she suspected that she also had the condition and was later diagnosed with it. She shares with TODAY.com what it’s like being diagnosed with ADHD as an adult. When I was growing up, few people talked about ADHD, and certainly no one considered girls could have it.
All these years, I thought other people didn’t talk much because they didn’t have a lot of experiences to add to a conversation or they were boring. I had no idea they did not feel compelled to share everything they were thinking like I did. I also realized my tendency to volunteer to organize too many things is related to my ADHD. If I’m in charge that means I won’t forget, I won’t be late, and I will feel engaged. Tardiness has been a problem in my life.