hi. i need help. | ADHD Information

Hi,

What you describe sounds very much like ADD. But you are absolutely correct that you cannot diagnose yourself. And it does not go away on its own. Even if you are on your parent's insurance, I think you should be able to make an appointment on your own. If not, just pay for it if you can. If you can't, maybe you can get a job with insurance.

Whatever is causing this problem (ADD, depression, or something else), it can be serious if not treated. Most healthy 19 year-olds don't have these problems.

Organization strategies, coaching, meditation/prayer, diet, and exercise can all help. But it is important to see a qualified doctor to find out exactly what is wrong. Medications are nothing to be afraid of unless you have a serious addiction problem. If a doctor can prescribe a medication that at least helps you get through college and keeps you going long enough to start learning new coping strategies, then why not?

I was diagnosed at age 46 and was in the process of losing my career and marriage. I needed to pull it together quickly and did not have time to wait for diet, coaching, etc. to take effect. I am working on all those things, but the key was getting to a doctor to find out what the real issues were. 

Its just that I need to find a doctor, I don't have one that I see
regularly. My parent's doctor is quitting the field, so right now
they're looking for a new one. Whenever I get sick I just go to
the immidate care clinic. I don't know who to look for. I'm afriad I
will be referred to a bad therapist or someone, who will give me
a hard time. But that's just paranoia. I just know that I need help
right away, or I will fail most of my classes this semester. I doubt
that it's just depression, or a severe case of it. I just get
depressed because my life is a mess, and I've recently lost all
my high school friends due to my problem. Luckily, I get along
with my sister and her friends, so I get some social interaction.
I'm just afriad to hang out with people, because I know it will
last for a short time before I start showing my negative personal
traits. I think they get too overwhelmed by my impulistivity and
scatter-brainedness. I just can't get into things with people that
I'm not interested in, not that I'm rude or selfish, I'm always off in
my own world. People first know me as silly, intelligent, creative
and outgoing, then I start becoming distant and introverted and
they can't deal with me anymore. Its not fair, because I know I'm
not inconsiderate or hateful to anyone, so why do people get
turned off by my behavior? I'm also sort of childish. Other than
that, I'd consider myself a happy person. If I could get myself
together, I doubt I would need anti-depressants. I just need
something to get my mind working properly. It's always scary going to a new doctor but if things don't click you don't have to go back. Your best bet is to find out either over the internet or from another source what doctors specialize in add in your area. My parents didn't put me on meds when I was little I had to wait like you until I was older to go out and get help on my own. It was the best thing I ever did for myself. I'm on adderall now and much happier. I still struggle but not nearly as bad as I did in my younger years.You say that your mind is a total cluttered mess.
That's labelling and overgeneralizing. The books
by David Burns can help you to learn not to think those
sorts of overly negative thoughts. I belive those sorts
of negative thoughts are part of what's making you feel
confused.

You're able to write an organized post to this newsgroup.
You have talents and abilities, which you've mentioned.
A tendency to not finish projects is a common trait among
certain personality types. There are ways to cope with that -- starting with appreciating the positive, that you're
the sort of wonderful person who starts lots of interesting projects.

Things that may help you sleep:

-- lying down and getting up at the same time every day
-- learning to replace negative thoughts with more accurate, positive ones
-- talking to yourself inside your head in a slow, deep, quiet tone of voice
-- taking a rest during the day: going for a walk, meditating, lying down and closing your eyes etc.
-- increased calcium in the diet
-- tryptophan at bedtime
-- Bananas and milk at bedtime
-- or not eating too close to bedtime, so you're not
busy digesting
-- getting plenty of exercise, though not too close to bedtime
-- a bedtime routine such as: herbal tea, a bath, reading for a while. Quiet activities, the same every
night just before bed.

If you can get more sleep, it will probably help you to be able to
think more clearly during the day.Hi yummypinkblobs
I think what could help you is strategies E.G. managing time (still working on that 1 lol) etc. I got a practical book on this for my 16 yr. old son.. It was really helpful broke problems down etc not airy - fairy. Its in my bedroom and my Hubby is asleep as he is on nights but when he gets up I will post its name to you.  All the meds in the world wont help unless you find strategies as well and what may work for me might drive you mad!! its trial and error.. Hang on in there .. you are doing just fine .. Moon6

ok got it .. Teaching Teens with ADD and ADHD by Chris A.Zeigler Dendy,M.S.

ISBN 1-890627-20-8 ..

I know is says Teaching and geared for schools but it is easy to turn it into work I have used it .. at 37 .. lol .. hope it helps moon6

[QUOTE=Chazinmo]

If I had a dollar for every time someone told me to "just try
harder", I would be sitting on my own island in the Carribean.[/[/
P][/QUOTE]

that's true. I swear I will try.

I'm Mr "now, boys, ADD drugs are good m'key." But, first I'd say you need to organize yourself until you hit the brick wall of mental ability, then treat the areas you can't organize. Go to your friends and ask them to tell you what it is you do that upsets them, be prepared to get you asz kicked emotionally because that stuff hurts. At the same time don't be depressing and talk about how awful you are, people get tired of that.

You don't have to be clever, you don't have to say something after every comment. In fact little tricks can help. If there are 5 people in a group, you represent 20% of the group. No one likes a band where the guitar player has to be louder then everyone else, or plays solos all through the song. Let's say your group is talking about the New Star Wars movie. This is a perfect time for people like us to try and dominate the conversation.If you say, "That movie is going to suck." You are not allowed to speak again until 4 other people have spoken. EX

Person A: So the new star wars is coming out in Dec.
YOU: OMG, that movie is going to suck.
Person C: I read on the internet where Lucas really worked hard on this one.
(You want to say, Lucas sucks he couldn't make a decent movie if he wanted to, but if you do you stop the debate, everyone shuts up a nervous tension fills the room) This is where you must wait your turn again.

Person D: I'm not expecting much but I'll go see it.
Person E. I'm really looking forward to Blade.
Person A: Yea, Blade looks good.

I think you and I are the same. It caused me to become a loner and shut off everyone from my life, not the best course of action. It can be a real eye opener is to take a tape or video recorder along sometime, then listen to yourself later.

If you hear yourself saying really hurtful things it can really stick with you. And what's funny is those of us who say those hurtful, abusive things - we get our feelings hurt so easily, and it makes us think we are worthless. PLUS, often people are just responding to our tone and manner and don't really dislike us at all.

Something I used at your age was from the bible, "Even a fool when he remains silent is considered wise." Think about that one awhile.

Well I finally got a doctor's appointment. Last night I decided to
dig out some old documents from when I was little, things I
hadn't seen before. I pulled out an old lettler to my parents from
my school concerning my possible ADD problem. It said that
my teachers were concerned on how much I day dreamed and
was inattentive. I would turn in "A" and "F" papers, showing that
I knew what I was doing when I put my mind to it. I would need
to be reminded constanly to be on task and participate with
group activity. They had my parents find a child psychiatrist to
test me for ADD. I found evaulation papers that each of my
teachers filled out, asking them how much I was inattentive,
how much I day dreamed, how well I got along with other kids,
etc. They all said that I had problems in those areas. Then my
parents filled out a sheet, but they claimed that I only had little
problems in those areas. I only attended two sessions with the
doctor, so I never really found out if I did have the problem. But I
also found a sheet of paper saying that I was going to have to
take 5 mgs of Ritalin at school everyday. I was supposed to go
back for further evaluation, but I think my parents decided that I
was fine and never made another appointment. So I decided to
leave those papers out on the table for my parents to see. This
morning my mom woke me up and yelled at me. " Why did you
drag these papers out?", "They put kids on Ritalin just to keep
them quiet", "There's nothing wrong with you." She used to
work at a psychward, she mostly took out the garbage and
gave patients baths, so she knows everything about mental
disorders. So she thinks. But I tried to tell her how I felt and
what I'm struggling with. She just accused me of not trying hard
enough and being lazy. She assumes that I don't try to solve my
problems, and that I don't have friends becuase I never talk to
anyone. Not true. I've been struggling with this problem for
years and years. It has escalated and escalated as I have grow
older. I've been trying to figure out what is wrong with me, why
I'm different from everyone else. Why I can't get things done,
even when I begin them with great anticipation. But it has only
occurred to me in the past week, that I may have ADD. So it's
not like I'm making myself think there's something wrong. So
she finally decided to make an appointment to see a doctor.
He's just a regular doctor, but I'm going to talk to him and see if
he can refer me to a specialist. I'll just have see how it goes. But
I'm not going to stop trying and figuring out how to manage my
problem on my own. I have to, whether I want to or not. And I'm
going to talk to my friends about my behavior. I think I mostly
know where I go wrong in that area, so I'm working on it.yummypinkblobs38271.7219212963

Hey Yummy,

If I had a dollar for every time someone told me to "just try harder", I would be sitting on my own island in the Carribean.

I am glad to hear you are seeing a doc. If he is no good or will not refer you to a psychologist or psychiatrist, find another.

Many people with ADD also have other issues such as depression. Who knows what came first? But it does need treatment. If counseling and/or coaching works, then great. If you need medication, that is fine too.

You will find contributors to this board who will tell you to just go ahead and take as many meds as you want so long as it helps you. There are other contributors who will tell you that you should never take meds and that you don't really need a doctor (just diet, exercise, etc.).

The reality is that different things work for different people. Not everyone has the same type nor intensity of ADD.  If they prescribe medication that you do not like, you can stop it. If they think you need counseling and it does not help, you can always stop.

But seeing a doctor is DEFINATELY the right thing to do. It is important to keep seeing whatever doctors you need to in order to get a diagnosis. Once that is clear (because it can be things other than ADD), then your choice of treatment is up to you.

Good luck and let us know how you do!

i've been on 40 mgs Strattera for 4 days now. tonight I've been
so creative and making art work, I can't stop! i'm never like this. i
think it has increased my personality, actually. i was tired for a
few days, but now i have energy i didn't know i had! tedious
activities don't stress me out anymore. i was talking to people
all day, and i'm always quiet. i have confidence i haven't seen
in 10 years! i don't have any negative thoughts about myself,
i'm no longer a hopeless failure to myself. i haven't seen too
much improvement in concentraion yet, but i need to give it
time. it seems to be getting better and better each time i take it. i
was scared to take medications at first, and i decided that if
strattera didn't work, then i wouldn't bother trying the other
meds. but strattera is working far beyond my expectations! i
haven't felt this good in years. i feel alive. i'm no longer
dragging myself just to do my daily activities, i have the power
to do what i need to without problems. [QUOTE=Powderdog]

Plus I could never read a self help
book without the aid of the pills. 

[/QUOTE]

I have a hard time reading things too, but usually its text books
and really technical material. It usually takes me a couple reads
to understand what I'm reading. Sometimes not. I seem to be
very slow reading most things. It takes me a while to read
birthday cards! I hate that, when people are sitting there
watching you open presents, and it takes you a little long to
figure what the card says, hoping they don't notice. But I can
atleast sit down and read for most of the part. My reading has
improved, mostly because I sit and read things on the internet
all the time. But when I read things for school, the pages just
become blank to me, and I can recall a single thing I had just
read. I'm failing biology right now, because it takes me too long
to read and figure out what the questions even mean, and
when I read the book, I have to read it more than twice to even
vaguely understand it. And I like science too. But I don't know if
I have as hard of a time as most people with ADHD. How hard
is it for you?

I just posted a topic and can relate, I would visit your colleges "learning disabilities center" Often time's it is free to students. I was put through a battery of tests about 5 years ago and the Grad student didn't diagnose me with ADD because 5 years ago they didn't know much about Adult ADD. I was increadibly slow at tests, and they do allow for extra time if you are formaly diagnosed. Not to brag, but my IQ tested at 121 and I was always the last to finish a test.

One of your last replies is true, it is Skill's not Pills that help, however, pills will put you on a level playing field. Plus I could never read a self help book without the aid of the pills.  Hang in there, If you parents still brush you off with a sincear plea, seek help at the "learning disabilites Center" they will give you advice on how to cope with your partents. Remember, your a refleciton of them, and they are sometimes in denial.

yes. i'm taking 40 mgs right now, and i will move up to a higher
dose after this batch. i know it will take a couple weeks to start
working, and may bother me with bad side effects. but if it
doesn't work for me, i'll ask my doctor to prescribe me
something else. i know my problems won't go all away at once,
but i have hope. i'll just be greatful to have enough ability to
pass my classes. any bit of difference will make me happy. i'll
just have to see how it goes. [QUOTE=Chazinmo]

ALSO:

Make sure that your doctor starts you with small dosages of
Straterra and increases them very slowly. You may have nasty
headaches, but they go away after a few days. this happened
to me every time I increased the dosage.

But do not worry. You will figure out the correct medication
and dosage.

[/QUOTE]

What other side effects did you have?I'm really glad your doctor's appointment went well. You were well-prepared and it paid off.

I don't think all your problems will disappear if you
get some good sleep and eat nutritious food. But, I do
believe that lack of sleep makes both ADHD and depression worse. So does poor nutrition. So it is a good idea to try to sleep well and eat well. Do you have insomnia?

Maybe your mother thinks you should sleep well and eat well and then
see what symptoms are still left, before using drugs.   I think that would be a reasonable position.

Vegetables contain vitamin C which is needed by the brain to
make neurotransmitters. The brain can't work without vitamin C -- and if it gets less vitamin C than the best amount, then
it doesn't work as well. So any brain problem you may have is worse. Other nutrients are also important for the brain.

You might want to keep track to see if your ADHD and depression symptoms
are worse -- or different -- at different times in your menstrual cycle.
This could help with treatment (leading to use of omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids, or natural hormones, or etc.) or it
could just help you predict how you'll be on certain days.

Hi Yummy,

Other than headaches, I sometimes had feeling of dizziness and would get what some describe as "hot flashes".  That is I would be sitting in my air-conditioned office and suddenly strat feeling very hot and begin to sweat like I was outside in the sun. It might last for 10 minutes or so and could happen once or twice a day. But the strange thing was that while this was happening, my nose and fingers would be cold.

I also found that it gave me strange dreams at night and sometimes made me feel a little "spaced-out". I can't really describe it, but I sometimes just did not seem like myself.

But I stringly suggest that you do not drink alcohol while you are on Straterra. I think it can be a very volitile mix. 

I hope the Strattera works for you.  Hey, I don't mean to sound like your mom, but don't underestimate the benefits of good sleep, excercise and veggies!i know i know! I'm going to start exercising more, that will
also help my sleep. As far as diet, I've been trying to eat better,
its sort of hard becuase my parents don't eat the food i like, they
have poor eating habits. But I'm not going to use medication as
my only help. I have to work to solve my problem.I just got back from seeing the doctor. He was a really nice
young guy. He listened to everything I had to say, and
communicated well with me. I gave him my old doctor papers,
proving that I had these problems as a child. I also listed all my
symptoms, so I wouldn't forget what to mention. He thought that
I was suffering from both Adult ADD and mild depression. But
he decided to put me on Strattera first, to see how I responed to
that, instead of putting me on an anit-depressant, since my
depression seems to be a result of my ADD problems. I'm so
happy. It went better than I expected. So I'll just have to see if
the Strattera does anything. My mom is convinced that my
problem is that I don't get good sleep. Boy, I must never have
gotten one good nights sleep my whole life, eh?LOL Yummy My mom thinks I have adhd cus I don't eat or sleep good. I've told her I don't eat or sleep good because of adhd not the other way around. I think she seriously believes if I get a good night sleep and eat all my veggies all my problems will disappear. that's a riot! i wonder what excuse my mom gives me for
getting bad grades my whole life? i must be an idiot child. but i
sure don't know many girls my age that sit around reading
stephen hawking's books and think about the universe, even
though it takes me awhile to absorb what i'm reading. i don't
know what else my parents think is my problem. they must
think i'm not very smart, or they think that i just have
unwarrented laziness. that's funny, becuase i really don't like
being lazy. i wonder why i keep being that way?

how many times do have to read something to actually
understand what it says?

Hey Yummy,

Be patient with the Straterra. It works great for some people and not well for others. But if it does not work or you have side effects, do not be discouraged. There are other medications that have been around for a long time. Different things work for different people. It sometimes takes awhile to get it all figured out. 

The important thing is that now YOU are in control. You may not have all the answers, but you recognize the situation and you are actively working on it.

The only way to go is up! 

ALSO:

Make sure that your doctor starts you with small dosages of Straterra and increases them very slowly. You may have nasty headaches, but they go away after a few days. this happened to me every time I increased the dosage.

But do not worry. You will figure out the correct medication and dosage.

Ymmypinkbubbles, congratulations on your initiative in getting the
doctors' appointment you wanted. You're showing
responsibility and proactiveness.

Yes, bring those papers to the doctor, I would say.
Also bring s list in point form of what you want to say, so
you don't forget anything. Be prepared to make your points
very quickly. If the doctor interrupts, you can look at your list and say "Oh, and another thing ..." and then make
the next point.

If the doctor says "I don't think you have ADD," it may be a
good strategy to not argue with that, but to say something like,
"That's fine, but for my peace of mind, I would like to be evaluated by a specialist to make sure."

I really think taking flax oil and doing written exercises from David Burns'
books can help you more than what the doctors can
provide. I hope you'll follow several paths at once.

Re getting along with friends: You might benefit from the book "What Does Everyone Know That I Don't?".

If you notice that you're just about to start being
introverted etc., or you've just started, it may help
to mention it to your friends: "I just feel like being alone for a while. I go through these moods. After I recharge my batteries, next time I feel silly and extraverted I hope you'll be there to have fun with me."
Or something like that.

Otherwise, they may think you're
mad at them or you've stopped liking them or something.
Even if you say "It's not anything you said or did -- I just want to be alone," they may think that's a white lie.yummy bring any referrals or reports that may back up your theory of this being ADHD - they will all be useful.  yeah, my mom was being nicer to me today. I know my parents
care about me, its just that my mom is weird about mental
illness, becuase she used to work at a mental institution when
she was younger. She thinks that I'm silly, but I really really
have hard problems with things that most normal people don't.
And she knows that, but won't admit it. My appointment is
tomorrow, I'm going for a check up, and I will talk to the doctor
ask him to refer me to a specialist. I'm sort of nervous, I don't
know what to say to him really. I haven't met this doctor before,
so I feel awkward about it. But I'm excited to know that I'm finally
getting the proper attention I need for my problem. Should I
bring my documents from my teachers saying that they were
concerned that I had ADD to this visit?yummypinkblobs38272.9436458333Hey yummy-
I wish you a whole lot of good luck. Hope everything works out well and you get out of college with whatever degree you want :). Have you gotten help yet? It stinks to have no parental support, especially during hard times. Have they become any more understanding about your needs? How are the classes treating you now? Have you been diagnosed?
Best wishes :), really.
Laurala

Thank you all so much for your advice! This has been very
helpful. yummypinkblobs,  Wishing you all the best when you see the doctor.  I hope he can help you get in to see a specialist.  Please remember to bring the papers you dug out with you as the basis for ADHD in adults is that the problems also occurred as a child.  This is great proof.  I'm glad you stood up to your Mom.  Parents often have good intentions but sometimes can't see the forest for the trees.  -Gettingagrip-Hi, yummypinkblobs. Reminds me of when I was about 18 or 19 and I told my father I thought
I needed to see a psychiatrist. He said, "I think you just need to get a job." Well, yeah! I was depressed because I was unemployed! A psychologist could have helped, I think!
Telling me I needed a job just made me more depressed and
didn't help.

I think you could benefit a lot from the books by David Burns: "Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy" or "10 Days to Self Esteem". The fact that you've written such a long post shows that you are the type of person who can do the
written emotional exercises required in those books. They can help
you to straighten out your thoughts and not beat yourself down so much. I use them and they have helped me pull most of the way out of my former constant mild depression. (They help people with severe depression, too.)

I suggest taking nutrients that support the brain: vitamin C, B-complex vitamins, omega-3 (e.g. flax oil, or fish, or walnuts). Also getting lots of sleep at regular times should
help with the symptoms you describe. And vigorous physical exercise helps with both ADD and depression.

Are there some things you're interested in or passionate about or good at? Most people with ADD have some
hobbies and interests and are able to focus and concentrate
if it's the thing they feel passionately interested in.

Some are able to develop their hobby into a career.
Some keep switching from one hobby to another.

I believe it's helpful to spend time doing the things you really like or are good at or really interested in.I already know what my favorite hobbies are. I really like
making music and animation on my computer. I also paint,
draw and sew. There are many things I love to do, its just I have
a problem keeping interest in the projects that I start. I will sit
and try to make a song, but end up quitting after a half an hour
if it isn't sounding the way I want it. I have so many ideas that I
haven't even started. I can't even focus on things I'm interested
in. In class, I will hear a lecture that I really like, but after just a
minute or less I'm already thinking about 10 things at once and
stop listening to the instructor. Even with reading, I will come
upon something that is interesting, start thinking off about it and
then I'll start thinking of other things, then I will come back to
focus and realize that I don't remember half what I just read. I
leave out so many details. I try to absorb the main ideas of
things, but I neglect the things I need to focus on too. I can't
seem to get anything
done, whether it be boring or really interesting. My mind is a
total cluttered mess. Most nights it takes me atleast a half an
hour to fall asleep becuase my mind starts thinking of a million
things, even when I'm in a relaxed mood. But I'm going to try to
convince my parents that I need to see a doctor. If they don't
listen, then I will have to take care of it myself.yummypinkblobs38267.7949189815but wouldn't I need to show proof from a doctor that I infact have
ADD?

yes, you probably do.  You should see a doctor.  I don't know what the legal age of consent is in your state, but at 19 you should be old enough to seek medical help for yourself.  Even if you are not legally an adult in your state, you still have the right to seek help even if your parents disagree.  See below.  Your school counsellor or disabilities office should be able to provide you with more information regarding your rights, local health professionals, and how to go about getting diagnosed so you can get the help you need.  Good luck.

"

What happens when an older child disagrees with her parents about a medical treatment?

The wishes of competent older children regarding their medical care should be taken seriously. If the medical caretaker judges a child competent to make the medical decision in question, she should first attempt to resolve the issue through further discussion. If that fails, the medical caretaker should assure that the child's voice has been heard and advocate for the child. In intractable cases, an ethics consultation or judicial hearing should be pursued. "

Wow, you sound almost exactly like me, I seriously think you have ADD.  If I were you I would tell my parents that I have something else wrong with me other than ADD.  Then when you get to the physician tell him all about how you think you have ADD etc...then he might refer you to a psychiatrist or if you're lucky he will prescribe the medicine (like my doc did).  Just keep the lie going, but don't tell your parents the real reason why you are going to the doctor.  It might be difficult but I think if you keep the lie going long enough it might work.  Good Luck.  I am guessing you are on your parents insurance but at 19 you should be able to see your doctor and get a prescription on your own.  If there is a copay you may need to pick that up yourself if your parents don't approve.  I think you should pursue this.  Your college or university should also have a student medical service.  If you are reluctant to use your parents insurance go to them.  You already had a diagnosis when you were a child that should be a good starting point.  Get a release to get a copy of your medical records so you have proof if the student  medical or disablities services need it.  Best of luck to you.  -Gettingagrip-hi! I'm a 19-year-old college student suffering from what seems
to be a case of functionally disabling ADD. When I was 9, my
teachers called my parents for a conference. They were
concerned I was suffering from ADHD, due to my excessive day
dreaming, poor grades and wild behavior. They forced my
parents to take me to a specialist. I was made to do rigorous
tests and follow instruction from the doctor. After a few visits, he
diagnosed me with ADD. My parents, being non-believers of
such a disorder, refused to have me take ritalin. So I have gone
untreated since. But I do question the qualifications of the
doctor. He seemed to be more of a regular pediatrist, not much
of a ADD specialist. But years passed by, my grades continued
to fall, my mind constantly in space and my life became more
and more cluttered. I barely graduated high school. My friends
lost interest in me due to my lack of talking and inablity to get
things together. I suffered from great emotional distress from my
social problems, lack of organization, inattentiveness and low
self-esteem. I made myself believe I counldn't do anything and
that I was unable to. But now that I've reflected on myself and
thought through my problems, I know I am an intelligent person
and capable of great things in my life. But now that I'm getting
older, I have more responsibility, which is getting really getting
too much for me to handle on my own. I'm constantly in a day
dream, I can't snap out of it for more than a minute or so. I can't
pay attention to a thing, even things I'm interested in. I have
problems talking to people, not due to social fear, but lack of
knowing what to say. I can't get myself to focus properly on
conversations and things come out weird. I have a really hard
time writing. I can't seem to get thought to paper, then I lose
focus and get off topic. So most of my papers become
incoherent and lose their original meaning. I have way too
many ideas going through my head, but I can never finish
projects for school, or even for pleasure. I can't get anything
done, because I wait till the last minute or I can't even get it
started. My room is a mess, my mind is a mess, my life is a
mess. I fear everyday that I won't finish college. I'm failing the
easiest classes, by not going to class and not finishing projects.
I have no energy. I'm really depressed because I can't get
anything done and I have problems making and keeping
friendships. I beat myself down constantly. This makes it worse.
I have been wondering for years what was wrong with me. ADD
was far from my mind, I would never have suspected it, until
now. All I can think that could be wrong is ADD with
depression. But, of course, I can't diagnose myself. I've been
trying to get my parents to take me to see a doctor, but they
refuse to think there is anything wrong with me other than
laziness and silly worrying. My whole life is on a line right now.
I think I might have to quit school and give in to my problem. I
can't live like this. And even if I try to stop it, it doesn't go away. I
have no energy to take care of this, or anything for that matter.
What should I do? Does this sound like classic ADD, or is there
another underlying problem? yummypinkblobs38266.0783217593yummypinkblobs,  I know where you are coming from.  I had similar situations except I wasn't diagnosed with ADHD until I was 47.  I am sorry your parents won't listen to you.  It is sometimes very hard to admit that people you love have problems.  ADHD because of the stigma the media has created can be a really hard thing for people to accept.  This includes parents.  Since you are a college student I would think you educational institution would offer some kind of counciling services.  That is where I would start.  I would tell them all the things you have just said here.  In fact print this post and take it with you.  I wish you all the best in getting your ADHD under control.  -Gettingagrip-

I think most colleges and universities have a disabilities services office, or at least have someone who handles disabilities.  Where I am, ADD/ADHD students are allowed extra time to complete exams, and are able to get extra help with things like writing.  This is all very confidential, the instructors are given students names and needs by the disabilities office, but other students in the class need not know. 

I would suggest you contact your schools disabilities office or administration for information.