rheanna

landlockedblues,

I hope you find some help for your sister, especially for her alcoholism. But one of the first things that is asked in an ADD evaluation is whether the symptoms have been present from early childhood. You don't develop it later in life. You may have been able to cope and find ways to work around it until high school or college or that first "real" job, but ADD is a disorder that has always been there in the person.

Some undiagnosed people use various drugs, such as alcohol, in an attempt to self-medicate. It may very well be that your sister has ADD, and that her attempts to use alcohol to help her cope have turned her into an alcoholic. But the important question to ask is, did she exhibit signs of ADD as a child?

15 years ago my husband borrowed a book from a friend whose son was diagnosed with ADD. My husband thought that it might explain some of his own immaturity and problems. He was laying in bed reading along, thinking to himself "no, that's not me," "no, that's not me, either". And then he looked over at me snoring away next to him. He looked back at the book's list and back at me, and back and forth several times. The next morning he said "well, dear, you know that book that I borrowed from our friend? I think you might find it interesting."

I read the book, saw myself, and went in for an evaluation.

Perhaps your sister might be willing to read a book. There are several by Amen, and by Hallowell, and there are several other authors that I can't think of at the moment. A large bookstore should have a selection.

The alcoholism is another problem. It doesn't cause ADD and ADD doesn't cause it.

Good luck,

--Rheanna