Hi. I was coming here to try and get some information about adult ADD. I have a number of research articles but wanted some 'real life' experiences. As I've read through a few it seems like the issues I have are relatively mild in comparrison. Yet when I take the ADD or ADHD tests I always have all of the test symptoms.
At what point is it ADD and what point is it just excessive procrastination or absent-mindedness? It seems like if I DO have ADD it would be somewhat mild, or have I just been able to control my impulses a little bit better?
Does anyone have any thoughts about this?
For me personally - it is based in part on the situation you are in. There are situations or times in my life that I feel the symptoms or effects of adhd more than others. If I am in an environment where I can be hyper, like out on a wildland fire, it is not even apparent to others that I am hyper. I can also concentrate much better when I am out in the woods than when I am stuck in the office following up on paperwork.
I could go on and on with examples, but I think a lot of adults learn to compensate throughtout their lives for adhd stuff - but, my revelation to lead me to seek treatment for adhd syptoms was that I had kids who were growing up fast and I was not having a real good quality of life with adhd - so I got on medication and it has helped (along with the little therapy my insurance co. will pay for).
THAT SOUNDS SAME AS CAPD ALSO. WHICH HAS SAME CRITERIA.I think if, like LC said, your symptoms are interfering with your quality of life(i.e. work, relationships-etc) than it may benefit you to seek treatment. I have led my life thus far working hard to compensate for my lack of attention, and i never scored too high on the regular ADHD tests. Then read an article that symptoms in females tend to be much different. After I read this female-specific checklist, I knew that by seeking help, I could feel happier/be less stressed/enjoy a fuller life with my new hubby and kids. Still trying to get on the right med, though. 1st one, even after tapering off, gave me terrible side effects. So we'll see...
Symptom Checklist for Women
Do you have ADD? Does your daughter? Only a mental-health professional can tell for sure, but completing a do-it-yourself symptom checklist will give you an idea. The more questions you answer in the affirmative, the more likely you are to have ADD. Be sure to share your completed checklist with a doctor.
Do you feel overwhelmed in stores, at the office, or at parties? Is it impossible for you to shut out sounds and distractions that don't bother others?
Is time, money, paper, or "stuff" dominating your life and hampering your ability to achieve your goals?
Are you spending most of your time coping, looking for things, catching up, or covering up? Do you avoid people because of this?
Have you stopped having people over to your house because of your shame at the mess?
Do you have trouble balancing your checkbook?
Do you often feel as if life is out of control, that it's impossible to meet demands?
Do you feel that you have better ideas than other people but are unable to organize them or act on them?
Do you start each day determined to get organized?
Have you watched others of equal intelligence and education pass you by?
Do you despair of ever fulfilling your potential and meeting your goals?
Have you ever been thought of as selfish because you don't write thank-you notes or send birthday cards?
Are you clueless as to how others manage to lead consistent, regular lives?
Are you called "a slob" or "spacey?" Are you "passing for normal?" Do you feel as if you are an impostor?
What is CAPD please?
Sounds just like me!!!! My buggy's wheels FLEW off when I had kids & kept working...there's always A LOT of significant stuff swirling around in my head...we all hide it well...do we think it's for self-preservation? Sometimes i think, Gee, if I only had one leg(no offense to anyone), people would automatically accept my limitations. With ADHD, i feel some will think of it as an excuse, and I struggle with feeling shameful for that.....
Always working on something!
AUDITORY PROCESSING DISORDER.
I had it pretty much under control, except there was no off button for my excessive eating and drinking. I had no ability to organize, self-start and complete projects or simple tasks, etc.
Then I had kids and I dropped my basket. The buggy seperated from the horse, the steering wheel came off in my hands and the brakes ceased to work. Then we sold our house that we had built (dream house!). I was out of control, I was on the verge of physically abusing my children, I was angry, frustrated, stressed, and fairly unhappy. What I had gotten under control was my eating and drinking and the house was picked up. (It would take years of therapy to figure that one out.)
Then my son started school. Something wasn't right about him. He wasn't doing what he was capable of. That led me to question ADD. It was in learning about him that I was finally able to put a name to what was wrong with me. But from appearances, it was only mild ADD that I suffered from. What was significant was what was going on inside my head.
Looking back, it was after I had a family of 3 kids, and tried to continue to work that my problems worsened. However, it was years before I was diagnosed. This was only after my daughter had been diagnosed and started on medications. It was a real relief to know that there was a reason for my symptoms! Although I am only diagnosed as having mild inattentive ADHD, if I go through a checklist of symptoms, I usually have all symptoms listed. The psychologist who administered my testing stated that I had most likely developed a number of coping skills that had helped me function over the years.