I've been under treatment (with little success) for anxiety/depression for several years. My psychologist said it sounds like I may have ADD after spending a lot of time with me in therapy. Here is why he thinks that: I am extremely irritated by certain sounds, and have trouble dealing with many people because of how they talk, eat, act, etc. I had to leave a church service halfway through last weekend because of people walking up and down the aisle, people coughing, whispering, etc. It drove me mad! I had trouble hearing what the priest was saying, and was getting more and more upset by all of the distracting people. Is this just anxiety, or an ADD problem? It's just like everything and everybody pisses me off! Any help is most appreciated. Thanks.

ADD has nothing to do with getting upset over noise. With ADD if you were to be reading a page in a book or working on a math problem and something disrupted you be it a person, the wind or a sound, when you went back to the book or the math problem you would not have a clue where you were and would literally have to start all over. ADD people have poor small motor skills which often makes handwriting hard for them and very illegible. The are disorganized and have trouble just getting dressed in the morning as they are so easily distracted and totally forget what they were doing in the first place. This doesn't really sound like you but I could very well be wrong. If you think you may have ADD then get tested for it and find out.

"have trouble dealing with many people because of how they talk, eat, act, etc."

That's very interesting because I'm exactly the same way. Interesting enough when I was down at the Amen clinic, the clinician (who also had AD/HD) couldn't stand stimuli like that either. When someone would chew a certain way it would literally drive me insane. It still is a little like that however not as bad since I started treating the disorder.

"help,"

Thank you SO MUCH for your response. Even if I still don't know what's wrong with me, at least I have FINALLY FOUND someone else who understands what in the world I'm talking about! Those sounds are so incredibly maddening! Do you have trouble in group situations, such as going to a play or church? Do you avoid social situations too? Thank you again for helping me.

Originally posted by mlgable:
ADD has nothing to do with getting upset over noise.

Actually, people with ADD are often very sensitive to stimuli-- sound, touch, light.

When I was younger (I am now 21) I was so sensitive to noise my mother used to think that I had some sort of high functioning autism. Even now, certain noises make me want to scream-- high volume/loudness makes me cringe, and any sort of repetitive noise makes me feel like i am going to jump out of my skin. and there are any number of other sounds that make me feel like hate is bubbling up in my skin and like I'm going to go mad.

My brother, who is 16, also has ADD (although his is combination hyperactive/inattentive and mine is inattentive). He can't stand the feel of certain things, like dirt, or smooth creams or lotions or face washes. They make him feel like he's going to scream.

BUT-- while this sort of thing is fairly common with people with ADD/ADHD, it is NOT a symptom.

And speaking of the Amen clinic, they have a nice ADD test online at http://www.amenclinic.com/ac/addtests/


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(here i'll copy their disclaimer though:
It is not meant to provide a diagnosis, but rather it serves as a guide to help people begin to identify problems and get further evaluation if needed.

This is not a medical evaluation, but intended to give you information to think about and discuss with your medical and mental health professionals. )

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Hope this helps.

[This message has been edited by illipse (edited 04-06-2003).]

WOW...THANK YOU ALL.....I AM GOING TO HAVEMY 12 YEAR OLF TESTED THIS SUMMER...I HOME-SCHOOLED THIS YEAR AND HE WILL GO BACK TO PUBIC SCHOOL NEXT YEAR. BUT HEHAS A TERRIBLE TIME CONCENTRATING, STAYING ON TASK AND IS SO DISORGANIZED...BUT HE HAS THIS THING....HE HATES TO WRITE ON PAPER! HE HATES THE TOUCH, FEEL AND NOISE A PENCIL MAKES ON PAPER!!!! SOUNDS LIKE HE FITS IN THE CATEGORY YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT...EVEN IF HE TURNS OUT TO NOT BE ADD.....HE'S NOT HYPER AT ALL.

I LOVE THIS BOARD

Dear Illipse-

Thanks for the Amen Clinic information! It was incredibly interesting and informative.

JessP

My daughter is deathly afraid of popping baloons, fireworks or any other loud noise. I myself am not too wild about being close to either one and we both have been daignosed with ADHD, so yes, that could be a sign. I pray you find the answers and understanding you seek.

http://members.aol.com/covenanttalk02/myhomepage/dancingstar.gif?mtbrand=AOL_US

Have a Blessed Day! 3 John 2



[This message has been edited by mstreye (edited 04-28-2003).]