Does ADHD ever go away?

You are growing and your brain is going through changes. It used to be thought that children grew out of ADHD. Research showed that, in fact, (If I remember the stats right) 33% still warrant a diagnosis in adulthood. There is debate as to which cases are which, and it is believed that the most severe cases won't grow out of it, but I do not recall much definitive.

We don't teach kids to expect to grow out of it. Truthfully, we are starting to look at it as partially a personality trait and you will likely always have some features. More importantly, more research is being performed into why ADHD happens, as in does it provide an evolutionary advantage: Dr. Halloran has shown that it provides great gifts in creativity and problem solving, to start with. You should read ADDitute magazine and listen to their podcasts.

You have advantages though: you have years of experience with it and years to perfect the way you deal with it. Do you know how common it is now to not get diagnosed until you are an adult? I am one of those adults. I never had a learning strategist help me develop strategies, or any special education aides. I never got to see a psychologist beyond getting my diagnosis and never got to see a neurologist. As adults, there just isn't as much help. Of course, I have more patience reading ADHD books ;-)

The fact is that this gets to you partly because school is hard! Yes, ADHD complicates it a little more, but keep in mind that the experience you are going through is not easy. Give yourself some credit! After all, how happy are people to graduate?

So give it time. Your brain will change and you will learn how to deal. In the meantime, be sure to give yourself breaks and time to just be you, as is, imperfections and all.

Take care.

It gets easier to deal with as you get older but it never goes away