ADHD and YOU
If you came here to understand your own diagnosis, you have come to the right place. Depending on when you got your diagnosis and who gave it to you, your level of understanding will be different. If you were told that you had ADD as a child, but were not told you were hyper it may be confusing that your diagnois now is ADHD. The change in the name of the diagnosis happened through the clinical "powers that be" and don't actually change the symptoms you have. It is purely for billing, clarification purposes and does not change how you should be treated. Typically, ADD is now considered the ADHD, predominately inattentive type, for this diagnosis tends to not have as much or any, hyperactivity. However, you may find you still have some impulsive behaviors.
Many adults with ADHD and some children with ADHD learn "coping mechanisms". To you, however, it doesn't seem like a coping mechanism, but rather just a routine that you have. Some people will keep lists so that they can remember what they have to do. Some have very specific places that they keep things, such as car keys ALWAYS go on the hook by the door, or the pots and pans are always in the side cabinet. It may seem like just simple little things but in reality they are the things that keep you functioning. If you have someone check for something in your car and they move your keys to another place then you may take a very long time trying to find those keys the next time you need them.
Unfortunately many people with ADHD that are older than 20 might very well, not have recieved an ADHD diagnosis and many of those people find 'coping strategies" that are far less than helpful. People with ADHD have great abilities that can lead them to really great places in life. Some start companies, Some become world famous athletes. But unfortunately some use drugs and alcohol to "cope". In reality ADHD can not be treated with marijuana or alcohol, and what people might think that meth is helping with, in reality is hurting them horribly. Marijuana just takes people with great energy and ambition and turns them into people who have no motivation.