The Woman Whose Head Is Always in the Clouds - a Reflective Case Study on Attention Deficit Disorder

The Woman Whose Head Is Always In The Clouds

A Reflective Case Study On Attention Deficit Disorder

Ms. A is a lively 22-year-old who works three part-time jobs and attends school full-time. She hopes to work in the marketing field. She has portfolios full of her marketing ideas and social media work. She is personable and pleasant; those who meet her are left with an excellent impression of her compassionate character. She is slightly eccentric with a tendency to shout her affections at her friends and boyfriend; a short dance sometimes follows this outburst. Those close to her would describe her as a dreamer; underneath that charming, red-lipsticked smile, she lives with her head in the clouds. But to her, this “dreamer” personality trait is not always a compliment; sometimes, it’s a curse.

As a child, Ms. A was rambunctious. She could often be found in the backyard, climbing trees or swinging from the monkey bars. She also had a tendency to jump from one game to the next. At one moment, she was playing with her dolls; the next, hide-and-seek. To her parents, this behavior was normal. After all, isn’t that how most children act? But then problems started at school. It started with one “C” on her report card - then two. As the trend continued, her parents became surprised at the drop in grades. They brought her to a psychologist, hoping to find some answers. At age ten, Ms. A was diagnosed with attention deficit disorder.

Ms. A’s parents were not incorrect in believing that Ms. A’s behavior was normal for a child. Attention deficit disorder (ADD) can even be detected in young children. In preschoolers, high activity levels and a short attention span are typical; however, in children with ADD, these characteristics are more pronounced, often resulting in in higher rates of risky behavior and physical injury. These behaviors are markedly difficult to manage in school and at home.3

However, Ms. A was not diagnosed with the disorder until she was of elementary school age, which is the most common age for a diagnosis of ADD. Like Ms. A, most children diagnosed at this age are referred to psychologists because these children often disrupt the learning environment in school and perform poorly on their report cards. They also tend to face difficulties communicating with friends and family.3

As Ms. A grew into adolescence, she learned some unhealthy behaviors. She began to consume alcohol in large quantities and stay out late with boys. She continued to struggle with her grades in high school. Her relationship with her parents suffered as the family argued over her social life and test scores. Unable to tolerate the tension in the home, her parents asked her psychiatrist to create a treatment plan. Thus, Ms. A began taking the well-known and controversial drug Adderall.

Most health professionals agree that medication