am I lazy or do I have adhd | ADHD Information
Military.....you saw what the Air Force did for me...I'm grateful they gave me honorable discharge after a year...after they used me like a human guinea pig for six months on their psych ward. Blew me away...Nineteen years old and feeling like such a failure and "nut case"!
When I tested for AFEES (Armed Forces Entry Evaluation) they said I could choose ANY job they had, because I scored so high in all areas. They asked if I'd be OSI (Intelligence), but when they said I'd learn things I couldn't share with my family, I said, "Forget that, I talk and enjoy my family too much.")
Fryed2aCrisp38672.5278125 Fryed, you and my husbands situations sound similar.HeidiMarie38672.5862268519To me adderral would help anyone with a chronic procrastination problem. Procrastination has to be a symptom of add, but lots of people without add have issues with that. I have been wondering if my psychologist made a correct diagnosis, but it seems that my personality characteristics that hold me back are common with the people that participate on this site. I am very impulsive, love taking risks, have trouble motivating myself, have a horrible time taking action, get addicted to things easily, have trouble finishing projects, have trouble working with others (I am a solo practitioner attorney now), and seem to love living on the "edge," for lack of a better term. I also require more "alone" time than most people I know, and this causes me problems in relationships. I have always felt I was self-destructive but never really known why, but maybe the issues I have from add cause me to think I am self-destructive when in reality I have no control over it. That might not make sense. I would like to know what percentage of adult ADD individuals never had any problems in school. I am super competitive, however, and I get that from my father, and I wonder if I could be an exception to the rule that ADD individuals struggle with grades because I am so competitive. If that even is a "rule."Your symptoms sound alot like mine. However, school for me was a complete disaster from my second year of kindergarten on up. Alot of it may depend on the school you went to.
Wisdom1, apart from being competitive your traits are almost identical to my own. It's nice to hear I'm not the only one who sometimes wonders if the diagnosis is right, even though we really do know that it is.
Any of you guys ever have a problem with drug addiction before you were diagnosed? I know it's a bit of a personal question but I used anphetamines to self medicate up until I was diagnosed with ADHD. It was a relief when the psychologist belived me that I used the drug purely for concentration and to complete my everyday chores. It was her that advised me to go get tested for ADHD.
Any replies I would find most interesting
wisdom1, I think most of the problems you are having are related to ADD. They sound like classic ADD traits, in fact. There is a fine line between ADD and self-destructive behavior, but other people can overcome it by simple willpower or positive thinking or whatever. We, on the other hand, can't seem to get out of the way of the train.My wife had school problems due to absence epilepsy. No meds now except for her low thyroid. Thanks Wisdom, I'm glad someone else out there dabbled a little too. I do believe my drug use was purely an effort to get on top of my ADHD as like you said when on the gear I was motivated to get all the housework completed and have dinner on the table on time!! And not burnt cos I walked off to do something else and forgot about it
yes I have used other drugs in the past. I have been lucky to never really develop an addiction, or course the concept of denial is rather murky. My house would be a mess, clutter everywhere. I had millions of things to do but could not motivate myself to do them. Then I would smoke a joint, and for some reason the things I dreaded doing sober were easily accomplished. I would procrastinate thinking about issues, and when I was high thoughts "rushed" into my head, and I took immediate action. My house would be clean, bills paid, etc. It was like ADD put up roadblocks for me, and pot wiped them away. Cocaine worked in a similar way, but I was not able to use it responsibly so I quit. I had friends that used it socially, but I would rather use it and get things done around my house or office. Adderral is still not the end all be all cure for me, as I still have to "start" working. Once I start I am usually good, but I can still channel the energy and motivation adderral gives me into something completely mundane, like yahoo gin. I am grateful that I have found something that at least works a lot of the time, and I do not enjoy the pleasure sensation of adderral enough to get addicted. I do worry that I could become addicted to it in the sense that I rely on it to get work done, and if I should stop taking it my business would crash. Oh well, I am 35 and its working, I guess if I ever stop taking it I will cross that bridge at that time.Never.. well I take that back, took anphetamines a few times about 20yrs. ago. Coffee helped me a lot before I started taking Adderal. I just realized that I think I need to up my dose. I'm still procrastinating too much. I call it "PIDDLE PADDLING" or I just "PIDDLE PADDLED" my day away. 
I never used drugs really. I've been drinking a lot more this past year, I think in response to STRESS!!! 
I've read in my ADD books that ADDers often turn to drugs and alcohol because of all the failures they experience. 
Yeah, that sounds like me. I have a huge fear of failure which is why I think I leave certain things unfinished.
On the issue of drugs, I think I first tried them just cos it was the wrong thing to do, you know to be a little rebel. That's how I spent the my later teenage years and my twenties. Then I realised that taking small amounts actually helped me to concentrate and get motivated.
I'm hoping that when I see the Doc in December he will give my legal medication that will give me the same results!!!
Well by all means, fill me in, Heidi! My wife and I are anxiously awaiting the outcome of Tuesday's appointment. She knows I love her and her children, but she states, "It seems like once a month you just lose it- like go off a deep end- for some reason." I told her it must be I forgot my Mydol.
I have to jump in here. I am with you all. I get one award after another for meeting deadlines that are completely unrealistic. I love the challenge and pressure although it gets exhausting.
But, all these conversations are making me think about my daughter in 10th grade. She sounds EXACTLY like some of you. Studies great, good student, very artistic and musical a great kid but NEVER goes out! She does not socialize at all. No phone calls, no friends she always pushes them away. And she is lazy lazy lazy. I go back to the doc Monday and I was going to mention it. What do you all think? Am I kidding myself thinking she does not have ADD or is she just weird?
Adderall is definitely not a cure. All it does is clear up the fog and give you the ABILITY to say no to your urges. You still have to reach up from the inside and say no to make this whole thing work. That's why I always say therapy is the main thing. It gives you tools to relearn the old ways of doing things. To see the warning signs of when things usually go wrong.
With me - I know that if I was to stop my dexedrine today I'd be ok - but I'd feel sluggish and foggy again. I would be the same person saying no when urges pop up - but I'd be less happy and alert so as long as it works and doesn't become a burden I'm staying on. Each person has to make that decision for themselves.
If you saw me when I was a kid, you'd say damn that kid is add. I was add before there was add, but I made great grades. I cant motivate to work without adderall. If I take it I might work like a machine, or I might play yahoo gin all day long. If I dont take it just dont work. Ahh, the pleasure of being a self employed lawyer. My questions are as follows: Is it normal to excel in school (cum laude law degree, super college degree, etc) with ADHD? Does ADHD (or hell add) cause acute laziness? Been takin adderall for a few minutes now it helps but I cant get sh*t done without it anymore...
I saw a psychologist for about ten sessions and he diagnosed me with adult ADD about a year ago. My family doctor prescribed adderral based on his diagnosis. I have never been certain that that psychologist's diagnosis was correct, but as I read some of these posts on this site I am beginning to accept his diagnosis. I get easily addicted to things that prevent me from working. I can sit in my office all day and not do a bit of work. I take an adderral and I can get about one week's worth of work done in one day. I dont eat well on the drug, and even when I take 15 mg at 8 a.m. I still have trouble going to sleep at 10 p.m. I have always heard that if you have add the medication doesnt speed you up like that but I wonder if this is a myth. I notice I have difficulty finishing jobs. About a year out of law school a client who knew me from high school hired me to modify her divorce decree and get her custody. I didnt think I could win her case but she was adamant with her confidence in me and kept pushing me to go for it. I won her case after a full day of trial and she was very satisfied. It then took me 4 months to simply draw up the two page order that made the judge's ruling official. In the end she grew tired of waiting and grew disappointed in me. 8 years later I have never heard from her, nor have I received any referrals from her. I am great at doing 99% of the job, but suck at the last 1%. I always have had this self-destructive side to me which I believes comes from some weird fear of success. I have spoken to others who share this trait, and I wonder if it is related to add, or if it is sourced from someplace else like how I was raised. Any thoughts fellow ADD'ers?YES!I tend to get seriously hyperfocused on things. I'm seeing a psych in December bout medication etc as I've only just been diagnosed but I knew for years that I was different.
My problem is I'm either hyperfocused and cant do anything thing else until I get bored then other times I have no motivation what so ever, especially for the important stuff.
Is this a common thing for people with this disorder????
[quote]tatitac do you take any medication? --wisdom1 [/quote]
Nope, no medication. First visit with psychologist is tomorrow. I'm hoping she can refer me. I usually reject the thought of drugs as a first resort for medical ailments, but I'm actually looking forward to being able to focus on stuff at will.
[quote]odd you joined the navy at one point in my life I thought military life might be my only salvation --wisdom1[/quote]
Me too.
[quote]When I do work, it is very good. . . . if I can focus, I will do anything. --heidimarie[/quote]
Me too.
I think this is what frustrates my employers so much about me. I'm so good at stuff, but generally crappy day-to-day.
taritac38671.9423148148 I was thankful the millitary accepted me because I joined a month before they stopped accepting GED's for diplomas. I picked something i could focus on and often corrected the instructors. It wasn't that I was 'dumb', I was probably the best in focus on the subject! I just wasn't one who sweated the details of being a"soldier". The best thing I could've done is join the millitary, and the best thing for me was to get OUT four years later!Just lazy.
yes it makes a lot of sense. I procrastinate sending bills out to clients who owe me money, only to float my rent payment while I make a last minute deposit. I too can be highly efficient, but only when my back is against the wall. Adderall help get me in that motivational mode, but other drugs seem to even work better. At least add is less euphoric.
odd you joined the navy at one point in my life I thought military life might be my only salvation
tatitac do you take any medication?
I was also a high achiever with ADD, although, the further I went in school, the less structure, and the less success I had.
ADD certainly aids the lazyness. It seems that we need the urgency of an approaching deadline to get all cylinders in our brain firing. While some of it is our conscious lack of willpower, a lot of it is our brain chemistry. According to some article I read on this forum, it's as if our part of our brains are asleep until there is a crisis that gets us motivated.
However, it's important that you DON'T let yourself off the hook with this explanation. I am struggling with this now-- my house, life, and work are a mess, and I have NO MOTIVATION whatsoever to correct any of it, in spite of the consequences that are certainly coming my way. I got to get my ass in gear!
motivated by crisis, very interesting. I am a thrill seeker by nature, and part of me pulls me towards risk so the other part of me can overcome it, usually pretty close to the deasline, whatever that may be...I did well in school also, graduated high school 2nd in my class and received a full scholarship to college. I did well in college when I bothered to attend, but the structure of high school was gone, and I with it. I joined the Navy. Now I'm out of the Navy (6 months) and back in college, doing like I always have. When I do work, it is very good. When I don't -- ehh, still manage to scratch out a C or so.I don't know if its laziness, or the inability to connect thoughts with actions. I know I didn't describe that right, but I used to think I was lazy, but the thing is, if I can focus, I will do anything. I don't sit around thinking "But I don't wanna!"
If I'm unmedicated, I can't get my thoughts to transfer into action -- my head just spins as the day passes me by. Does this make any sense?
definitely;
adrenaline temporarily fixes the parts of your brain that ad/hd affects.
That is why there are lot's of ad/hders (though not all) who tend to lean toward thrill-seeking.
That is also why we tend to be able to get things done when it's almost to the point of being a live or die type situation....
I've thought that about myself too, that I had some kind of wierd fear of success. I do that to myself all the time, do a phenomenal job on something and then get completely stopped at the last 1%.
I think the actual mechanism by which adderall works is the speed effect. We need speed to break through the daydreaming. That whole idea that it effects non-ADD people differently is a myth in my opinion.
have spoken to others who share this trait, and I wonder if it is related to add, or if it is sourced from someplace else like how I was raised. Any thoughts fellow ADD'ers?
Im gonna steal this & start a new topic w/ it
[QUOTE=repairman] The best thing I could've done is join the millitary, and the best thing for me was to get OUT four years later![/QUOTE]Same here, buddy!
I note many posts refer to daydreaming. While my attention does get diverted often, I wouldnt call it daydreaming. I usually try to find mindless activities that I can do instead of working, like playing yahoo gin or chatting on the net. Once I get started on a project I dont have as many issues as seem apparrent before I get started. Adderral certainly helps me with my focus, as my concentration does not get diverted while I am working and on the drug.
bepatient, yes, you are right, depression is a medical condition. I think depression is in many ways a much bigger problem than ADD. While ADD sometimes paralyzes you, depression barely even lets you get out of bed.
I know that I've been depressed. But I've been acutely depressed, not chronically. My depression stemmed directly from the hole my life has been lately. I was recently given a blood test, and a marker (don't know what its called) that indicates clinical depression was within normal range. The doc and I agreed that depression is not my primary problem.
Generally, I'm feeling better. Time and thinking about some positive moves I may take in the future are healing the wound. The sadness has lifted for the most part, and I'm a bit more motivated, but certainly not totally out of the woods yet.
taritac38673.8694560185[QUOTE=taritac]I never used drugs really. I've been drinking a lot more this past year, I think in response to STRESS!!!
I've read in my ADD books that ADDers often turn to drugs and alcohol because of all the failures they experience.
[/QUOTE]
Hey taritac,
A very high persentage of people with ADHD have other "conditions", "disorders" to deal with as well.
A lot people with undiagonsed ADHD, anxiety, depression, ect. "self medicate". Have you thought about being evaluated for depression? MANY ADHDers suffer from depression and many start drinking more and more alcohol to ease their suffering.
I was dxed with depression at the same time I got my ADHD dx. The Adderall alone didn't do it. I HAD to treat the depression.
Hope this helps you and anyone else who may be depressed. It is a medical condition.
I never knew I had ADD until I was 40. I got great grades, graduated magnum cume laude and began running my own business. Then I lost the business because I couldn't keep it going. School had structure, but my own business was not organized for me.
It is very possible to have great grades and a messed up life.
I'm only lazy if I am uninterested in something...oh wait that's adhd. I have a small social network and am very happy with it. At the same time my DR. pushes me to keep it open. I think the rub wioth your daughter's situation is her happiness level. Is she good company to herself or is she vegging when she is alone? Talking to a DR. is never a bad idea. IMO skip the MD and go right to a psychologist. Maybe she has social anxiety or some other issue. Ther are lots sof reasons poeple withdraw not all are bad.
BOBEL38674.4623958333