ADD vs ADHD -
"Indeed, people with ADD can be calm and serene, not in the least hyperactive or disruptive. This syndrome is often found in girls and women, but it also occurs in boys and men. It is often missed, because the absence of hyperactivity leads others to assume the child or adult is simply shy, quiet or slow."

Positives of ADD
"People with ADD typically are creative, intuitive, original, and full of positive energy. They tend to be independent thinkers. They are persistent to the point of being stubborn. They usually are quite sensitive, but often cover this over with a kind of bravado. They are big-hearted and generous. They often have charisma or a special something, a twinkle in the eye, a zany sense of humour, or an ability to inspire others. With the right kind of guidance, these people can become hugely successful in their lives."

Negatives
"People with ADD typically have trouble paying attention and focusing, especially when they are not interested. On the other hand they can super-focus at times. They also can be impulsive and sometimes hyperactive and disruptive. They can have trouble getting organised, prioritizing their activities, managing time, and completing tasks. They can be forgetful, inconsistent in follow-through, and often late. They have trouble with planning and executive functioning. The good news is that treatment can ameliorate or correct all of this, so that the positive attributes can carry the day."

To fix it you need to:
Seek help with a therapist to fix problems it may cause in life.
Maybe even a life coach to get more organized.
You need a regular sleep schedule.
And regular exercise.
Proper nutrition aswell.
You may need to reconsider your job or school situation in light of ADD.
Various structural changes in your life can make a big difference: the right filing system, the right organization scheme, the right daily schedule.

In addition you may want to talk to your therapist about family life.

Beyond all that, it is important to have a plan for developing your talents and interests. This will take time, but it is key. You build a life not on weaknesses you've repaired but on talents you have developed. Of course, fixing weaknesses can help you in developing your talents, so the 2 go hand in hand.


Medication
When it works, it works as safely and dramatically as eyeglasses. It helps about 80% of the time.
Make sure you work with a dr who can explain the issues around medication to you clearly.
Meds include Ritalin, Adderall etc.

Alternative remedies
LENS, a form of biofeedback.
Learning Breakthrough, cerebellum stimulation in the form of physical exercise.
Kolbe coaching, which is based on innovative research into a persons innate style of solving problems.
Cogmed, a computer game geared to improving active working memory.
My Sensory Solutions, auditory and sensory stimulation via custom iPod and headphones.
Reading plus, a computer home-based program to improve tracking and speed required for reading and comprehension.
And various nutritional interventions.


Above all what matters most is taking a positive approach.




ADHD in adults
If you have exhibited at least 12 of the following since childhood, and if these symptoms are not associated with any other medical or psychiatric condition, consider an evaluation by a team of professionals.

- sense of underachievement, of not meeting ones goals (regardless of how much one has actually accomplished).
- difficulty getting organised.
- chronic procrastination or trouble getting started.
- many projects going simultaneously; trouble with follow through.
- tendency to say what comes to mind without necessarily considering the timing or appropriateness of the remark.
- frequent search for high stimulation.
- intolerance of boredom.
- easy distractibility; trouble focusing attention, tendency to tune out of drift away in the middle of a page or conversation, often coupled with an inability to focus at times.
- often creative, intuitive, highly intelligent.
- trouble in going through established channels and following "proper" procedure.
- impatient; low tolerance of frustration.
- impulsive, either verbally or in action, as an impulsive spending of money.
- changing plans, enacting new schemes or career plans and the like; hot tempered.
- tendency to worry needlessly, endlessly; a tendency to scam the horizon looking for something to worry about, alternating with attention to or disregard for actual dangers.
- sense of insecurity.
- mood swings, especially when disengaged from a person or a project.
- physical or cognitive restlessness.
- tendency toward addictive behaviour.
- chronic problems with self-esteem.
- inaccurate self-observation.
- family history of ad/hd or manic depressive illness or depression or substance abuse or other disorders of impulse control or mood.