Magenta
02-21-2002, 05:08 PM
How do you get tested for ADD? I've suspected that I have it for quite some time now. I have problems focusing and paying attention and also handling multiple tasks. At work I am constantly disorganized, always forgetting things and having to make three to four trips to accomplish a task that my coworkers manage with one, because I keep having to go back and do something that I forgot. Sometimes I feel like they think I'm a complete scatter-brain and this bothers me. They always seem to know whats going on 10 minutes before I do and they seem to always know just what do do. When an item is missing they notice it right away. They always seem to be able to remember to "do something later". I remember too. The only problem is I "remember" it 10 hours later after I've gone home. I've been at my job three months now and I'm still almost as disorganized as I was when I first started.
Is this ADD? I mean I know I'm not an idiot. My I.Q. tested in the low end of the Superior range. I'm no genius certainly but I'm definately not stupid either.
I was always accused of "daydreaming" in school. I usually managed to get decent grades though. I hate driving in the city because I'm afraid my mind will wander and I'll run a red light or have a wreck. I really have to concentrate when I drive in a crowded street.
I guess I'd like to get tested as "proof" that I'm not stupid or lazy or making excuses, because no one believes me even now when I even suggest that I might have ADD. No one in my family, not even my mother. They say "Oh pshh...there's nothing wrong with you. You just don't try hard enough." or something along those lines. I do try... and then I end up messing up anyway. Does any of this sound familiar to anyone?
Is this ADD? I mean I know I'm not an idiot. My I.Q. tested in the low end of the Superior range. I'm no genius certainly but I'm definately not stupid either.
I was always accused of "daydreaming" in school. I usually managed to get decent grades though. I hate driving in the city because I'm afraid my mind will wander and I'll run a red light or have a wreck. I really have to concentrate when I drive in a crowded street.
I guess I'd like to get tested as "proof" that I'm not stupid or lazy or making excuses, because no one believes me even now when I even suggest that I might have ADD. No one in my family, not even my mother. They say "Oh pshh...there's nothing wrong with you. You just don't try hard enough." or something along those lines. I do try... and then I end up messing up anyway. Does any of this sound familiar to anyone?
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mlgable
02-22-2002, 10:39 AM
Make an appointment to see your regular doc and tell them what has been happening in your life and ask them to refer you to a clinic that does testing for ADD/ADHD. Be aware though that being disorganized and a wandering mind is not necessarily a sign of ADD. Think about this example and see if it applies to you. A person with true ADD when writing a paper or reading something will have no clue where they were on that page after they have been interrupted. When they try to go back to what they were doing they don't have a clue. They also often have poor small motor skills and poor handwriting due to the poor small motor skills. In ADD tendencies though you often have many different thoughts running around in your head that causes you to be distracted and seem like you have ADD when in fact you don't. I have one child of each and can easily see the difference in the two. Go ahead and get testing set up and let us know how it turns out.
nuttygirl70
02-23-2002, 08:55 PM
mag-when i read your post i realized it sounds just like me. i also did quite well in school, but was always known as the "daydreamer" and was oftentimes reprimanded for not paying attention. i struggle with this even now on a daily basis. i am beginning to suspect that i may have add, but i just don't know. my husband has it and my son has it. i believe my father and my brother have it also, although they have never been tested. all of these men in my life did poorly in school and all have failed a grade, even my son. all were very hyper as children, except for my dad, i think. i've been reading the book "driven to distraction", about add and adult add and i do have the same problems that you mentioned and more. looking at my family history my guess is that the chance is good i may have add.
Magenta
02-23-2002, 10:03 PM
I don't know if anyone else in my family has ADD. Also, I was never hyperactive but I've read that people with ADHD are more likely to get noticed and treated whereas those with plain old ADD usually slip through the cracks. I wonder if there's a connection between ADD and certain learning disabilities. I have always had extreme difficulty with math and I still cannot learn to do division problems. I couldn't learn to do multiplication problems until after I left high school. It was like all of a sudden it "clicked" and I could do it. Did you have any learning disabilities?
nuttygirl70
02-24-2002, 01:55 PM
magenta-i have always been poor at math too. to this day i still cannot subtract! i was getting f's in business math in college..it was awful! then again this may just be an area that we are really poor at. i've never seen it as anything but that. most other subjects i really had no problem, although i had to work hard to do well in school. but my son has adhd and has been coined "learning disabled". he has been in special ed classes since 1st grade for math and reading/writing. he is in the 5th grade(should be in 6th)and he can barely multiply, much less divide. it's real tough for him. you really should see a doctor and get it checked out if you think you may have add. they can put you on medication and it can save you much heartache in the future. my husband went to the doctor about 3 mos ago and finally got diagnosed with it. good thing because it almost ruined our marriage. you should check out the book i mentioned in my previous post..it's really informative.
talk to you later.
melissa
melissa
talk to you later.
melissa
melissa
mlgable
02-25-2002, 10:28 AM
I am wondering if math wasn't tough for you because you have to stop so often during the process to carry a number or things like that and it causes a distraction even if only momentarily. Remember in ADD this is what happens. When you get distracted you have no clue where you were on the page or the problem. Getting tested is the best way to find out for sure and I would like to encourage you to consider all your options should you test positive. I see a trend in these posts that say ok I have ADD.........lets get a pill and things will be much better. It is always better to try to work on the ADD with a counselor who specializes in treating ADD and/or adding medication to the routine. Since you are an adult if you test positive why not try getting some professional help first before resorting to medication. I do believe medication has a place in helping ADD but only when other options don't work.
Babernethy
02-25-2002, 03:20 PM
You could try taking Essential 3,6,9 which is a combination of oils with essential fatty acids in them. It has worked wonders with my son. After only 2 days of taking them, she noticed a marked improvement in his work habits ( he is extremely smart). He was unable to concentrate, and could not stay on task. When asked about what was going on in class..he really had no clue..but would get near perfect on all tests. He eats all natural too..he just won't eat much. Breads and pasta were just not giving him what he needed.
I am on a strict regimen of natural foods, no chemical additives, and 50mg Natural B complex and 20mg of Zinc Daily. I stay far more focused than I ever did before.
I have tried the essential also...it makes things very clear for me.
B
I am on a strict regimen of natural foods, no chemical additives, and 50mg Natural B complex and 20mg of Zinc Daily. I stay far more focused than I ever did before.
I have tried the essential also...it makes things very clear for me.
B
nuttygirl70
02-26-2002, 04:39 PM
good suggestions. yes, i agree it is great if one can avoid taking any medications. that's what we have done with our son. he was on ritalin for about 3 yrs and it did nothing to improve his schoolwork...all it did was make him lethargic and gave him headaches. we didn't like the idea of him being on meds and neither did he. he was very self concious about it. now we're taking him back to the doctor to see what else we can do as he is still having much difficulty in school. we don't know what else to do with him. we can't even get him to do simple chores around the house. it's maddening. also, meds have done wonders for my husband. he is a totally different person...especially with the raging temper.
lvnmyboys
03-06-2002, 03:15 PM
In the past 4 years since my son was diagnosed I have researched ADHD. It bothers me that there is no definitive test to diagnose ADHD; however when I too look at family history ADHD is real. My brother and father have shown signs. They both have drug problems. My father is now destitute financially, alone, his body has suffered from the drug abuse (he is diabetic). My 25 year old brother is heading down the same road. His drug of choice is pot and alcohol. I know that I am ADHD, priortizing and accomplishing tasks are very hard for me. Everything is last minute. I am going to the psychiatrist to ask for medication now. My son deserves a mother who can set a good example of organization and structure. How can I help him if I am just as scattered? I have two younger children (boys) that would thrive with more structure. I am just sorry I didn't act sooner on my first realization that I am ADHD. My first son would have had it a little easier.
heatherceana
03-10-2002, 01:48 PM
I would like to say first of all, that the medication will not do the work for anyone. My son and I have found, that we still have to make a concerted effort to focus, even on our Ritalin. The Ritalin simply makes it possible. Also, if you are against the idea of taking medication, you will sabotage your treatment by unconsciously choosing to either work against it, to prove that the meds don't help, or by ignoring the positive effects.
The symptoms discribed in the original post here, are vary real symptoms of ADD. ONLY severe cases of ADD cannot even remember where they were on a page in every instance. As a child, I was overly talkative, overly reactive, and unable to follow directions. I was an A student and have an IQ of 156. None of this has anything to do with ADD. Anyone can be ADD. It doesn't make one simple or utterly incapable of achieving. Unfortunately, too many people, choose to focus on severe cases (like my son who can barely feed or dress himself or go to the toilet without someone there to constantly and gentle redirect him). This leaves too many people who might well benefit from treatment for their ADD, feeling that they cannot be ADD.
You should bear in mind that adults are all too often diagnosed with mental health disorders rather then ADD (which is a neuro-physiological disorder). Girls/women are more often not diagnosed until adulthood.
Your observaton about your family history is important, but will, in all likelihood, be misinterpreted as indicating bi-polar. The symptoms of bi-polar and ADD are the same. The telling factor is that the meds for bi-polar do not adequately help an ADD adult to function better. Many other diagnoses can be confused with ADD. I was misdiagnosed as bi-polar for over 10 years. They (28 mental health care professionals in 3 states) said that I was paranoid-bi-polar, obsessive-compulsive, and suffered from panic attacks. In truth, an ADD person tends to hyperfocus on issues that trouble, concern, or interest them, which leads to "paranoid-like" symptoms. Since we have a difficult time focusing, we must go back again and again to make sure that we have taken care of things. This appears as "compulsiveness." The "panic attack-like" symptoms are the result of a feeling of being overwhelmed by too many distractions. Many people therefore either freeze-up or retreat into themselves. They often begin to avoid situations which will over-stimulate them in this manner, including avoiding crowds.
I was tried on every available bi-polar medication. They all depressed me severely. I became so tired that I couldn't focus from one moment to the next. Then, I didn't want to sleep, because I wasn't having a "day." I spiraled into suicidal depressions, sometimes rapidly and sometimes slowly.
My husband happens to be a German National. We moved to Germany last year. After consulting with 3 specialists here, the concensus is that I am ADD. The largest clue was that the bi-polar meds DID NOT WORK! I am currently on Ritalin, and doing well.
I would advise seeking out someone who specializes in diagnosing and treating ADULT ADD or go to a Neuro-Psychologist.
Attention Deficit is only ONE of three aspects of the disorder ADD (ADHD). They are usually seen in varying combinations and disruptive levels. Hyperactivity and Impulsivity are the other two. These two are all TOO often mis-diagnosed as bi-polar or manic phases.
Hope this helps!
------------------
Take Care!
Heather Ceanad
[This message has been edited by moderator3 (edited 03-12-2002).]
The symptoms discribed in the original post here, are vary real symptoms of ADD. ONLY severe cases of ADD cannot even remember where they were on a page in every instance. As a child, I was overly talkative, overly reactive, and unable to follow directions. I was an A student and have an IQ of 156. None of this has anything to do with ADD. Anyone can be ADD. It doesn't make one simple or utterly incapable of achieving. Unfortunately, too many people, choose to focus on severe cases (like my son who can barely feed or dress himself or go to the toilet without someone there to constantly and gentle redirect him). This leaves too many people who might well benefit from treatment for their ADD, feeling that they cannot be ADD.
You should bear in mind that adults are all too often diagnosed with mental health disorders rather then ADD (which is a neuro-physiological disorder). Girls/women are more often not diagnosed until adulthood.
Your observaton about your family history is important, but will, in all likelihood, be misinterpreted as indicating bi-polar. The symptoms of bi-polar and ADD are the same. The telling factor is that the meds for bi-polar do not adequately help an ADD adult to function better. Many other diagnoses can be confused with ADD. I was misdiagnosed as bi-polar for over 10 years. They (28 mental health care professionals in 3 states) said that I was paranoid-bi-polar, obsessive-compulsive, and suffered from panic attacks. In truth, an ADD person tends to hyperfocus on issues that trouble, concern, or interest them, which leads to "paranoid-like" symptoms. Since we have a difficult time focusing, we must go back again and again to make sure that we have taken care of things. This appears as "compulsiveness." The "panic attack-like" symptoms are the result of a feeling of being overwhelmed by too many distractions. Many people therefore either freeze-up or retreat into themselves. They often begin to avoid situations which will over-stimulate them in this manner, including avoiding crowds.
I was tried on every available bi-polar medication. They all depressed me severely. I became so tired that I couldn't focus from one moment to the next. Then, I didn't want to sleep, because I wasn't having a "day." I spiraled into suicidal depressions, sometimes rapidly and sometimes slowly.
My husband happens to be a German National. We moved to Germany last year. After consulting with 3 specialists here, the concensus is that I am ADD. The largest clue was that the bi-polar meds DID NOT WORK! I am currently on Ritalin, and doing well.
I would advise seeking out someone who specializes in diagnosing and treating ADULT ADD or go to a Neuro-Psychologist.
Attention Deficit is only ONE of three aspects of the disorder ADD (ADHD). They are usually seen in varying combinations and disruptive levels. Hyperactivity and Impulsivity are the other two. These two are all TOO often mis-diagnosed as bi-polar or manic phases.
Hope this helps!
------------------
Take Care!
Heather Ceanad
[This message has been edited by moderator3 (edited 03-12-2002).]
peasweep
03-12-2002, 12:45 PM
Has anyone heard of using "DHEA" to help with ADD? My husband has ADD and my mom has been urging me to try it. She read some where that it helped enhance memory, but I have not found any articles or information that says DHEA helps with ADD.
peasweep
[This message has been edited by moderator3 (edited 03-12-2002).]
peasweep
[This message has been edited by moderator3 (edited 03-12-2002).]
Magenta
03-12-2002, 11:21 PM
Originally posted by heatherceana:
The "panic attack-like" symptoms are the result of a feeling of being overwhelmed by too many distractions. Many people therefore either freeze-up or retreat into themselves. They often begin to avoid situations which will over-stimulate them in this manner, including avoiding crowds.
For a long time I wondered if I were having "panic attacks" but they don't exactly jibe with what a textbook case panic attack is supposed to be like. No racing heart, or sweaty palms. I just get extremely agitated and irritable in crowded stores. On a few occasions I have just walked out.
I have never tried Ritalin. I was diagnosed with Depression/Anxiety and was given Paxil and then Celexa. They did help some with the anger and irritability but they also kept me drowsy 24 hrs a day.
(Especially the Paxil). I was constantly fighting sleep and that got to me after a while so I quit taking it. Right now I'm not taking any medication.
The "panic attack-like" symptoms are the result of a feeling of being overwhelmed by too many distractions. Many people therefore either freeze-up or retreat into themselves. They often begin to avoid situations which will over-stimulate them in this manner, including avoiding crowds.
For a long time I wondered if I were having "panic attacks" but they don't exactly jibe with what a textbook case panic attack is supposed to be like. No racing heart, or sweaty palms. I just get extremely agitated and irritable in crowded stores. On a few occasions I have just walked out.
I have never tried Ritalin. I was diagnosed with Depression/Anxiety and was given Paxil and then Celexa. They did help some with the anger and irritability but they also kept me drowsy 24 hrs a day.
(Especially the Paxil). I was constantly fighting sleep and that got to me after a while so I quit taking it. Right now I'm not taking any medication.
James_A
03-17-2002, 06:15 PM
I think that some of you should check out adderall for your ADD sysmptoms. I've been on welbutrin and tried ritalin but Adderall seemed to offer the most mental clarity. While it does have some side effects, they're generally mild and are usually only in effect when the pill is taken. When i was taking adderall, i only had to take it when when i had a project, research paper, test, etc, that required long amounts of concentration. If you're not currently suffering from depression, or anxiety disorders, and your primary problem is focusing on work or school related duties, I would definatly recommend trying adderall.
[This message has been edited by moderator1 (edited 01-14-2003).]
[This message has been edited by moderator1 (edited 01-14-2003).]