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On 9/15/14, Teachers.Net Gazette wrote:
> A teacher with ADHD writes candidly about her past struggles
> as a student, her current challenges as a teacher with ADHD,
> and what she's learned about how to manage the effects of
ADHD.

Thanks for this - I was beginning to wonder what was wrong
with me and why I can't manage to get myself organised, when I
have such great ideas and good intentions.

I discovered, only this morning, that I must have ADHD as I
have the complete list of symptoms, bar none, having devoured
about 15 websites on the subject. I am 52. I am also a
teacher.

I was that child in class, staring into space, who "could do
better if she focused" or handed in homework on time, or
didn't keep forgetting / losing things. I remember one
occasion when I was so engrossed in a book, I only looked up
when the rest of the class started laughing at me, as they had
moved on to a different activity.

I am that mother/teacher with piles of paperwork - bills,
correspondence, teaching resources - who takes on too much,
forgets half of it and constantly loses track of time. I
always say, "I'm a fly by the seat of my pants girl", which
has its advantages, but makes teaching extremely stressful and
sometimes feels completely overwhelming.

Unfortunately, in the end, my issues cause people to think I'm
flaky or don't pay enough attention. I can’t count the number
of times colleague say incredulously, “Don’t you remember…?”
My managers also think that I'm negative and a troublemaker,
when I just get frustrated because I want things to change and
improve faster. Yet top management say I’m a natural leader
and talk like an inspector. It’s very demoralising.

My long-term prospects don't feel very good. I do feel
frustrated and confused sometimes. I've read the articles by
people who tell you how to make lists, keep journals and make
a life plan, and I get very motivated - until day 2 when I've
forgotten about them! I'm just not sure what to do next...

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