ADD on your family tree - ADD / ADHD Message Board

BSBGeezerFan · 05-11-2006, 04:44 PM

When I was diagnosed with ADD, my shrink said that it tends to run in families? Anyone else in your family have it?

Looking back, I see now that my father had it and rather badly. I don't see it any of my children, except that my oldest son has a tendency to think "different" and was mildly hyper when he was very young.

My daughter reports that there appear to be signs in my grandson. He's 2 so it's early days yet. She says that he seems to be like me (nail biting, having to have things a certain way or he gets very agitated and is very rigid about his behavior (I never got in trouble because I HATED being corrected to a pathological degree). Thank God he's not disorganized though. I told her to tell his pediatrician about the family history and just keep an eye on him. He may not be have it at all or maybe he will be less affected.

busterangel · 05-11-2006, 04:57 PM

I haven't been officially diagnosed yet. But I can see now that perhaps my father suffered from ADD or depression and anxiety. I always suspected that I inheirited what ever traits he had but I didn't know what to call it until recently.

He suffered from depression and low self-esteem. He was always rather moody and on edge all the time.

I also wonder if my sister my be suffering. She is also rather anxious and has a slight speech impediment. She rushes her words to the point that you can't always understand what she is saying.

rheanna · 05-11-2006, 10:21 PM

I think both my parents have it. My father was happier when he was in the army, as that gave him a structure. His life fell apart when he retired. I only recently realized that my mother probably has it as well -- she's been saying for my entire life "well, I just have to get into that room (or garage) and organize things." There's so much stuff collected in her house that there's barely a path to move from room to room. I imagine that she's like me (now where did I get my ADD from ?) in having her brain shut down when she thinks about organizing or clearing things out. When your brain shuts down, you can stop thinking about it, and you can sit down and read or watch tv or do something in peace -- and nothing ever gets organized. :-)

--Rheanna

nickkaylee · 05-12-2006, 06:26 AM

Both of my children have a form of ADHD...my son has the full blown combined type and my daughter has mostly the inattentive part...although lately in the evening I'm starting to see more of the hyperativeness in her. I have never been diagnosed with ADHD but when I think about it somethings that I do could be a symprtom of a mild form. When I was in elementary school I was always getting into trouble for talking. In kindergarten they atually moved me to a table all by myself so I wouldn't bother the other kids lol. I am also very disorganized. I'm lucky if I can find anything! You should also see my house! It is a complete and total wreck. I always chalked it up to my being lazy...but maybe it isn't! As far as I know neither of my parents has it...they bpth do have depression though. Anyway, my kids' doctor is just watching and waiting for my youngest son (almost 3) to show signs of having it too lol. The only people in my family who have been diagnosed besides my children are two cousins, one on either side of my family. My two older kids' father may have it though. He has never been one to keep a job and never follows through with anything he says he will. Who knows?!?

Tammyshell · 05-17-2006, 11:52 PM

Oh good Lord.... LOL

I got one pitiful family tree when it comes to ADD.... LOL

My Mom
My Dad
My Grandmother on my mother's side
I've got 2 Asperger's/ADHD boys and they have a mom AND Dad with it too. They were double whammied like me lol.
My Grandmother on father's side and possibly Grandfather. Not sure about him. He died a few days after I was born. I am going on things that I have been told about him but never knew him personally.
I have an Aunt I'd bet that's got it
and two cousins.

let me sit down and think about it longer and I am sure that I can tell you a few more that I am forgetting at 1:50am when I can't sleep because my mind is too hyper!

I do have it too, if I didn't make that clear. But I am ADD not ADHD. I was ADHD when I was a kid, but outgrew the hyper part. Now sometimes I wish that I still had it. LOL