Being Different but Striving to Seem Normal: The Lived Experiences of People Aged 50+ with ADHD

Issues Ment Health Nurs. 2020 Jun;41(6):476-485. doi: 10.1080/01612840.2019.1695029. Epub 2020 Apr 8.

Abstract

This qualitative study explored the day-to-day life of people aged 50+ diagnosed with ADHD. A phenomenological-hermeneutical method was chosen for the analysis. Two themes including sub-themes were revealed. The first theme, Being different and trying to handle my inner self, concerned emotional self-regulation, emotional resilience, social skills, and personal resource management. The second theme, Trying to adapt to fit in with people around me, concerned relationships, work, and personal finances. The comprehensive understanding was interpreted as Being different but striving to seem normal.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / psychology*
  • Emotions
  • Female
  • Hermeneutics
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Qualitative Research
  • Sweden