Hello,
I haven't got ADHD/ADD but I'm doing a presentation at college about it and rather than try and represent the disorder with a load of facts and figures I would like to try and understand what it's really like to have it or be a parent of someone who does. Any information would be greatly valued. I'm also interested in the effectiveness of treatments and whether there is any time that sufferers are able to concentrate well. Thanks
Lou
Lou,
You can read many of the posts already here and you will find a ton of information already. Just keep on reading.
Good luck.
Louisa - I am very happy you are doing this!
You can pm me if you want really detailed information - and for sure as suggested hang around here and go through the older threads - especially the introductions.
Here's a short version though (sorta short anyway)
I'm 38yo male - diagnosed a year ago with adult inattentive ADHD. I had lost pretty much everything in my life 2 years before that - and it took me the whole 2 years to decide to find out what was wrong with me. I thought as many of us did that I was lazy, unmotivated and generally not as bright as everyone else.
I got the info from a TV short news story on adult ADHD. Then I connected with an article in "psychology today". After that I went online and found www.oneaddplace.com which had a ream of online ADHD tests. I scored extremely (almost all of them as "yes") high on all tests and printed a couple of them. I took them to my local MD and told him my sob story (there was sobbing - I was at my end of my rope). The interview was longer than almost any MD visit I have ever had - he is very good and caring. He referred me to a psychiatrist specializing in ADHD.
I went that week (he got me in lightning fast - worried about the state of my mind). The psychiatrist spent almost 2 hours with me - going over my history, my behavior and my social structures. He sent me for some physical tests - but said it certainly seemed like ADHD inattentive type and set me up with a trial of Dexedrine Sulphate. The tests came back as no other illness so we went ahead with the meds and set up therapy.
Within 30 minutes of the first pill I was amazed that my mind began to clear. It was as if I'd been mired in a fog all my life. My head was clear and I began to think quiet, sensible thoughts! I was feeling good - very good about me, my life and my behavior!!
It's been like that now for a full year. I think for myself and don't get any interference. I say what I want to say not what comes into mind immediately. I do what needs to be done - not what avoids boring or unpleasant things. I work at my job excellently - going from almost getting fired to being "indispensable". I have won a prize for exceeding their expectations and have a solid job that I no longer fear being fired from.
Life is wonderful! I am rekindling my familiy ties, paying off old debts and help people online to get where I am now from where I was.
It's awesome!
Hope you can use this - let me know if I can help further.
Glen thank you so much for sharing that with me. I'm so happy that you've got help and are now helping others. you're a star and I'm definately going to use some of your words in my presentation. Thank you xWay to go Glen!!!