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Yes! I am in my early 30s and recently diagnosed. Turns out I had signs since I was a child, but I managed it well with the structure of school. I started struggling a bit once I reached college, but still did well. Then law school happened and right about the time bar prep started is when it really took off. I lost my structure and it still took years for me to seek help. I am female and I guess it's not uncommon to be diagnosed later on.
Also my exact story! I’m a child of immigrants so I didn’t really have the support to seek out a diagnosis till post-bar! It’s 100% possible.
You say “much longer” to finish a memo or brief. Which tells me it’s been a while that you’ve been practicing. If this is a change in how you usually are, it’s likely not ADHD it’s something else. ADHD is a developmental disorder.
There are a ton of things that can be making it hard for you to focus. You could be burnt out like you suggest. Or you could be depressed. You could have brain fog from an illness (mono, covid, etc). See a doctor. Get your blood work done. And take a vacation.
Yeah I would guess COVID. I know a lot of people who have struggled with cognitive issues after having it a few times
I had the same issue, but doctor said it’s not ADHD. Turns out I just didn’t give a damn.
I got diagnosed as a 1L. I was able to skate by up until that point. Taking adderall felt like that Claritin commercial where the screen becomes clear - I was like oh, how I felt my whole life wasn't normal. Talk to a psychiatrist
Everyone experiences things that are consistent with ADHD. But if it’s really impacting your work, there is objective testing that will tell you for sure. The tests seem stupid when you’re doing them, but they test things like audio processing and memory application that are not just subjective experience.
ADHD and generalized anxiety are highly correlated. Your anxiety about performing highly can keep you going for a long time. But once you start getting comfortable, shit can really go off the rails.
Whether it’s ADHD or not, cognitive behavioral therapy is probably needed because you have to figure out why you’re unable to complete tasks, which is really just a matter of figuring out and dealing with why you’re anxious about completing tasks. For me, and many people, it’s because once you call it your final produce, then it’s out there to be judged.
Yep, got diagnosed 2 years into working at age 23. Didn’t find out for a long time because I still performed well relative to my peers (but struggled privately with focus and attention). There’s a lawyers with ADHD bowl that may be useful for you. If your issue is directing you attention, it may be ADHD. If it’s that you’re slow, speed comes with experience!
How long have you been practicing? If it’s only a recent development, I would say ADHD is less likely. I’ve had the same struggles since elementary school, and my doctors still say it could be something else.
I was diagnosed at 45. Apparently I was self medicating by smoking and drinking monsters. Getting on the right meds has saved my heart and it helps me stay focused for longer. But at the end of the day, I’m still the same attorney I’ve always been. Except now, I worry less about losing focus or forgetting something.
A word of caution, there is sometimes a stigma attached to adhd and using meds. I own it, but I’m in a position where I don’t worry too much about what others think
It’s rare to be able to go through law school, a relatively “professional” setting, without being diagnosed, though it may be masked and managed in college without a diagnosis
I was just diagnosed last week. I’m 25 for reference
Yes, I was diagnosed at 38 and meds changed my life. I had the signs and symptoms growing up, but was smart enough that school wasn’t a challenge and I tested well. I got through Law School by panic studying the two weeks before finals. I had been self medicating with caffeine and marijuana for years. Research the symptoms and if you think they might fit you, get tested and if necessary talk to multiple doctors.
Could certainly be ADHD, though I would also recommend looking into other potential diagnoses--there are a number of chronic illnesses (Lyme, ME/CFS, Long-Covid etc.) that have neurological and neuropsychiatric consequences. And it could be burnout. Or it could be some combination of one or more of these; a perfect, awful storm. It is worth taking the time to get fully diagnosed and get care, and the fact that you're noticing it now means this is the time to seek that intervention, so be sure to look into your firm's benefits!
Yes, diagnosed at 38. But it has pretty strong side effects. I didn’t like.
I was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult but had symptoms as a child (i.e. was told to start Kindergarten a year later due to a late birthday and trouble with fine motor skills, set my undergrad’s record for most ID cards lost etc.). Adults can have ADHD, but it's unlikely to spontaneously appear.
Have you had COVID? More importantly, have you had COVID multiple times? There’s a lot of data showing that COVID causes brain damage. Effectively, it’s like you have received multiple concussions. We don’t know how long it lasts. Maybe forever. But if what you’re describing came out of nowhere, that sounds a lot like post-COVID cognitive issues.