Do you have to be hyper to have add? - ADD / ADHD Message Board

Jess75 · 03-03-2005, 08:20 AM

I am a little hyper and it's controllable, but most of my symptoms are related to things like lack of concentration, CONSTANTLY misplacing things, TERRIBLE at following directions, for example, if I try too cook something I end up burning it and throwing it away. I am currently in the Nursing program and I STRUGGLED just to get in with taking the pre requisites. I went part time before this program so I was able to get by with B's. I should have gotten A's as much as I studied. I just took a big test for nursing yesterday and I went COMPLETELY BLANK

and I can't take this anymore!!

As a child, I was labled as a slow learner and daydreamemer(which I know is a symptom). I have a LITTLE bit of a problem with sitting still but my MAIN problem(which is ruining my school life) is concentration, organization and misplacing of items. Oh, and following directions and listening to people talking. I can't take it anymore and I'm going to my doctor in an hour. I tried fish oil, focus factor vitamins, I exercise regardless. I used to kinda be against meds but I'm starting to realize that this may be my only option in order to feel like a "normal" person in the college world. At home, I can handle the misplacing of items, although these other symptoms can be quite frustrating. BTW, on a good note, I have always been good at writing papers and got straight A's in English, although reading bores me to death and english classes require a lot of reading. Anyways, would you suggest RItalin or Adderal for my symptoms. OH, and I have MAJOR TEST ANXIETY!!!!

linkj57 · 03-03-2005, 08:46 AM

No you don't need to be hyper to have ADD. I too was told when I was young I was slow and a daydreamer. I found out several years ago while in college I had inattentive ADD without hyperactivity. Although sometimes I feel hyper it isn't all the time. I was afraid of meds when I found out. I was studing Education and Psychology in college so one of my psychology professors coached me the rest of the time I was in college so I didn't take meds. I started meds a few months ago and It has really helped me to focus and to be able to follow conversations.
If you are concerned about meds do you have a teacher who understands ADD that could coach you? As far as what meds, your doctor will test you and will decide what is best for you. I hope this helps.

index.html · 03-03-2005, 09:06 AM

Do you have to be hyper to have ADD? No. That's the difference between ADD and ADHD.

Let us know what you and your doc decide.

Jess75 · 03-03-2005, 12:41 PM

My doctor JUST wrote me a prescription for Ritalin and I am kinda excited and kinda nervous. I keep thinking like, "why can't I just be or feel normal?"

I am HOPING that this helps me concentrate in school cause I can't afford to fail this class. So to those of you that are or were in college, did medication help with your grades? I mean I study and study and I know I did bad on that test yesterday. Do you think this will help with my test anxiety? Could you guys give me some examples of the results that you may have achieved in school from meds? Thanks guys

I'm kinda excited, and I'm going to pick up my prescription in a few minutes.

rheanna · 03-03-2005, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jessicca

My doctor JUST wrote me a prescription for Ritalin and I am kinda excited and kinda nervous. I keep thinking like, "why can't I just be or feel normal?"

I am HOPING that this helps me concentrate in school cause I can't afford to fail this class. So to those of you that are or were in college, did medication help with your grades? I mean I study and study and I know I did bad on that test yesterday. Do you think this will help with my test anxiety? Could you guys give me some examples of the results that you may have achieved in school from meds? Thanks guys

I'm kinda excited, and I'm going to pick up my prescription in a few minutes.

Jessica,

I've noticed on a few posts that people try to talk someone out of trying meds. If what you have been doing so far in your life hasn't been helping you to reach your goals, then please continue trying new things. And if you have the opportunity to try Ritalin, then by all means go for it. I had good results with it before I moved here to Germany, and then found that it's not so easily prescribed, so I've been floundering without it for 9+ years. There are plusses and minuses to ALL medications, and you have to find out for yourself whether it will work for YOU!!! What others choose for themselves is THEIR business, and SOME people may make decisions based on philosophical rather than medical reasons, and yes for SOME people the side effects are too great, and yes some children are medicated only to keep them from bothering adults. But Ritalin CAN be a godsend -- don't be afraid to try it. My experience in the U.S. is that you can only get one month's worth at a time, and you have to see the doctor every month to get more. So you will have someone to talk to about your reaction to it. If it doesn't work for you then you can stop at any time and start looking for something else.

The main thing to remember is that Ritalin by itself doesn't solve our difficulties in life. Ritalin will make it easier to concentrate and focus and complete tasks (IF it works for you), BUT if you have spent your entire life living in chaos, then you'll still need to LEARN how to prioritize and organize and such. In other words, you'll need coaching to teach you how to do what a lot of people learn in childhood. Start with the doctor who's prescribing for you, then see if you can find an adult ADD group in your area, and by all means keep posting in this board. But don't let anyone talk you out of trying something because they are philosophically against it. You are an adult and you get to make up your own mind. And you're not dumb!

My two cents, Rheanna

And P.S. Good luck on your test!