just starting out | ADHD Information

Hi,

I'm new here. I've read several of your posts and have already learned so much.  I think I may have ADD -- I have just about every symptom that I've read about, along with a few others (bonus!). I have some questions for those of you who are further along in your diagnosis and treatment, and are living with ADD.

(1) -- I'm 35 and have had most of these symptoms to some degree for as long as I can remember, but they seem to be getting worse each year. Has this happened to any of you? It makes me wonder if I have an actual disorder or if I lacked discipline as a child or developed bad habits, and have gotten progressively worse over time.

(2) -- I've been trying to find a doctor, but I'm not having much luck so far. My insurance has a pretty limited list of psychologists (and they don't return calls!) and no psychiatrists in my area. I'm willing to go outside of my insurance if I have to, but I don't know what type of doctor is best....should I go to a psychiatrist in case I need medication?

(3) -- If you were to ask most people around me, they would probably say I appeared to be pretty pulled together and somewhat organized, which isn't really the case. I've always lacked self-confidence (and obsess about what I say and do, etc), but am able to fake it in some situations. Just wondering if anyone has experienced this as part of ADD...?

Thanks for your time!

 

 

geez, pil, now I gotta go

look up what a precortical

fortress is...
Hi Daisy1,

1. I had them all my life, severe ones, but never knew what was going on, b/c it all felt normal to me from the inside. I criticized others for being different.

Aparently my wife at the time thought something was uncontrollable, b/c she finally yelled me into a counselor, who was soooo facinated by level of ADHD he treated me free for a year so he could study me. I shuda had a clue, but life went merrily on. Finally, they put me on drugs, told me what I had, I accepted it finally, understood it, and put me on drugs.

So it may have been getting more severe as time went on, I think, in my case, too.

2. Yes. There's a list of doctors in your area in WebMD. A non-psych can prescribe phsyche meds, as long as they're an MD. A psychologist cannot. http://doctor.webmd.com/physician_finder/home.aspx?sponsor=c ore

3. You've developed external social skills used as coping mechanisms in order for you to survive in this society. Doens't deal with the internal issues, which are a consequence of chemical imbalances in your cerebral neurochemistry.

Good Luck!

 

                 Davido,  My prefrontal cortex agrees with you on this one.

                              Luck favors the prepared.

           daisy1   Go see a psychiatrist or a psychologist
or whom ever you can see first, Getting DX is the
first big step.

        I to lack self-confidence, I think it's aside-effect of
the untreated ADD. I not only obsess about what I
say and do, but also what I think other people might
be thinking about me {yes it gets haard to keep track
of what's going on } .

       I would bet that everyone who has ADhD has one
or more co-existing issues.

Daisy-

I have to agree with all the above postings to you.  Get to a psychiatrist first.  If you can't locate one under your insurance (which should have one or two) then check your local mental health government agency.  You didn't say where you are at but I assume US?  Check with the government section of the phone book if you don't know the number to your government's mental health group. 

Once you get a diagnosis you'll know better what to do.  You sound much like it could be ADHD - but it could also be bipolar depression, thyroid, diabetes, heavy metal poisining.. lots of physical ailments look like ADHD at first glance.  You'll get a long list of questions by your psychiatrist to rule in/out ADHD.  You may also get a blood test and an evaluation of your family history and coworkers even.  Don't worry - a thorough checkup is a good thing and you can trust this person more if they do!  Just writing a prescription isn't always the best avenue.

And as well - all those feelings you had as a child are very common.  We often believe (and are told) that we were undisciplined, lazy, uncooperative as children.  We got "if only <name> applied him/herself" on every report card.  It's all part of this ailment so if you got it - well now you know why you were unfocused!

No matter what happens to you - welcome!  Anything we can do to help let us know.  Perhaps you should check out this ADD site - it has a lot of resources that I check on often to add to my understanding.  It's http://add.about.com/ .  Good stuff check out the links there!

Hope to see your updates - I for one would like to know!

 

- Glen

Thank you so much for all of your support and advice!

I left messages with 2 doctors (1 psychologist and 1 psychiatrist) this afternoon and will follow up on Monday to get an appointment as soon as possible. I've been on a mission the past few days to learn as much as I can, get some help, and get this figured out  -- is putting ALL of your time and energy into a new "project" yet another sign??

I'm still not completely convinced that this is ADD. I agree with Glen that this could be just about anything. Like everyone on this planet, I have good days and bad days. On a good day, I feel more calm and am able to do things in a way that makes sense. On a bad day, my mood swings are completely unpredictable (oh, my poor husband and kids!) and it takes me forever to complete a simple task, and I'll usually stop just short of finishing it.  Those days make me feel like something is really out of tune in my brain, something other than ADD. Hopefully I'll be able to get some answers soon.

If nothing else, learning about our brains and how they function is an interesting journey!

Thanks again.

 

Hi! Daisy,

Write down in Symptom by Symptom form a picture of the ones you can clearly see in yourself. Trusted family members can tell you if you a valid picture of you from this. Medical Records going back as far as possible(if this is a practical option) would help during Diagnosis. School/College experiences, from records if possible. The reason i suggest writting is if you are a Typical ADHDer you will get a picture of you that is pretty well visable. As Pilgrim has mentioned the professionals involved, Ill just add this, one checks thinking and the other checks behaviours. A diagnosis from both gives a picture for you that is more detailed.

What you discribe in your case of seeming, Pulled together is similar to me. Self Esteem as i call it is an issue for me too.