New to ADD, need help!!! | ADHD Information

Jason,

I agree with the above. There are many things this could be and ADHD is certainly on the list. Often times people with ADHD have coexisting other diagnosis like bi-polar, depression, anxiety to mention a few. My wife was just diagnosed with ADHD at age 41. She was told she had depression for many, many years and even her psychiatrist didn't consider ADHD until my wife spent 12 hours with a specialist testing for ADHD, Depression, Anxiety, Learing Disabilities, and so on. She is now on several meds that have made her and our home life so much better. She see's the counselor for therapy and the psychiatrist for her prescriptions. He only started her on Concerta after getting the official report. Pick someone who is well versed in all the above.

You and your wife might find my book interesting reading. It should be out soon. It follows my family of 4 for 2 years as we dealt with my daughter's diagnosis then my wife's.

Hi All!

Recently I stumbled onto some information that suggests I might have ADD, possibly for a long time. I am a 33-year old male, married to a wonderful woman with 2 beautiful kids. I have never really had success at school or professionally, although I can tell you I am very intellegent. I barely graduated high school, have been working on my BA for the past 15 years, with bad grades. I can never orginize my time well enough to study, and when i do try an study I can stay focused on what I am trying to do.

Its my inability to focus on work that makes me so unsuccessful. I have never read a book from cover to cover, nor do i have the ability too. Infact, getting througha paragraph without my mind wondering seems to be a constant battle. I hate my self becuase I am interested in what I am reading, just not able to focue on the page. The words start to fade, my mind wanders off, and sometimes I can get very tired after a few paragraphs. I have been fitted for glasses but still have the same issues of mind over everything else.

I have never been able to finish anyhting I have started. I always jump into projects with eagerness and excitment, but never folloow through due to lack of interest.

I like to move from place to place, always looking for that "new" feeling, never seeming to feel content with anything.

I have problems socializing with large groups of people, often getting shy and not knowing what to say. I have to think about what I am going to say before i ever say anything in public, and often times it never comes out the way I mean for it too. The only person I am really comfortable around is my wife.

I am awful at spelling, never being able to remember simple words like I before E...

Speaking of memory, my wife says she is about to jump over a cliff with me. We have conversations and I can't even remember what she said two seconds before, all becuase my mind starts to wonder.

I like to pace, and cannot stay still in a line or wait for things. Mind you, I can control my urge to move around, but hate it. I have to be stimulated, entertained.

When i was younger, I always had to have a part of my body moving, like bouncing my leg under my desk at school.

I probrastinate even the smallest things.

I have been diagnosed as depressed, and have been on Przac for the past several years, which has helped a bit.

Can anyone give me some insigt? Does this sound like ADD? Is there hope? I really want to finish my degree, have a succesful career, but it feels like it is so far beyond me. I am about to throw my hands up in the air and just give up. Please help!

Jason

Jason, The symptoms you list are symptoms of ADHD but they can also be symptoms of other disorders. A lot of people with ADHD also suffer from depression, usually brought on they struggles of life living with ADHD. Since you have been diagnosed with Depression and are on medication I am going to assume you have a relationship with a psychiatrist. Have you aproached your psychiatrist with you suspicions of ADHD. This would be the first move I would suggest. Now, you might find some resistance because Adult ADHD is still not always accepted. If this physician does not take you seriously I would suggest you find a psychologist in your area that treats Adult ADHD. They are the ones that can do the testing and diagnosis. You will then need either your regular physician or a psychiatrist to prescribe medication. I would suggest a psychiatrist as they are the most familiar with the meds you might be prescribed.

The first and most important step is to get evaluated. If you are diagnosed with ADHD and prescribed meds there is a really good chance they will really help you. Read some of the other posts on this board there is a lot of information. Best Wishes. -Gettingagrip-

burns44:

What are you good at? What do you find exciting? Are you good at handling emergencies, or good at some exciting hobbies? Are you attracted to fast, risky things like skiiing?

Are you good at using intuition, suddenly jumping to the right answer? You may be SPIRE personality type. This has advantages as well as disadvantages.

You can do things that are good for both depression and ADHD -- a good chance they're good for you, whichever you have!
   -- lots of vigorous physical exercise
   -- getting plenty of sleep
   -- vitamin C
   -- omega-3 essential fatty acids
   -- choosing activities that involve lots of
        novelty, stimulation and reward (satisfaction)
   -- Cognitive Therapy (as in books by David Burns, for example)

It may be a good idea for you to be tested for Sleep Apnea. The symptoms you describe sound a lot like lack of sleep, to me. Does your wife say you snore or make choking noises in your sleep?

Reading: Try reading while pacing back and forth. Try reading aloud. Try having someone read aloud to you, or using a computer that reads aloud to you. Try writing a sentence to summarize each paragraph.

For more on alternative treatments for ADD:
http://borntoexplore.org/alternatives.htm
Other pages on this website also explore positive aspects of ADD.

I was diagnosed last year at the VERY young age of 36 .. I was sending my Husband loopy .. we also have 2 adhd kids .. I found it was easier to fight for my kids but when it came to me .. I was useless !!.. The frustrating thing is I have also suffered with depression ( I now believe due to my undiagnosed ADHD -- ) Once you have had depression the first thing the Drs say is are you feeling down? Would you like some Pills ? Yes .. only if they do the ironing, dusting and fill that sodding form gathering dust on the side that was due in last month..

I had to kick up a fuss to get my GP to refer me to a specialist ( in GB no letter no referral ) he was not happy he did it I think just to shut me up and prove I did not have it !! I must also say that the way forward for you is to get to see a specialist.. research what is available in your area .. as there is a HUGE difference between a good one and an ok one .. When you get diagnosed or not you will then be able to move forward .. I know that it ir really hard not knowing.. sometimes you think yep .. then you doubt yourself!!! Hang in there

.. Moon6 good luck