Hello to all. I was sitting in the doctors office a few weeks ago when the doctor who diagnosed my son with adhd turned and said he thought I had it too. It was a hard pill to swallow but It would explain alot. I'm hyper, can't sit still, And i'm very anxious in public. I've always had difficulty in school, the irony is that I'm a teacher. Should I go see a doctor regarding meds? I'm always so anxoius that it interferes with me and my 3 kids. Do I go to my general doctor? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Plutofan
My advice to you (the same to everyone) is to see a Psychologist or Psychiatrist who is knowledgeable regarding Adult ADD. Then you can have a complete evaluation and a clear diagnosis.
If the diagnosis turns out to be ADD, there are several courses of action. Medication is only one option (and there are a variety of types of medications). There is also therapy, ADD coaching, self-help groups, etc.
But first you need to find out if it is ADD.
A wonderful lady here in Australia gave me this following checklist - perhaps you could compare
1. When you try to sleep, do you find your mind racing around?
2. Do you seem to be busy all the time, but you never seem to finish?
3. Do you find that when you are in a conversation that you will start another subject ... You have a mind like a butterfly? You link think and see the connections between conversations in a lateral way? You see the link but no-one else does? "where did that come from??"
4. Are you told that you talk too much? Sometimes you have to have something to say, and if you don't say it there and then you feel you will forget it? It seems that your mouth has a life of its own and the impulse is too great and you just Blurt things out? Sometimes you don't even know it has happened until after the even?
5. Is housework an issue for you? For example, you never get it done, no matter how hard you try, or you are a real perfectionist and everything has to be spotless, such as using a toothbrush on the bathroom wall tiles?
6. Do you crash at about 2pm and then have a second wind late at night?
7. At school did they say that you needed to concentrate more in class, you needed to wait your turn, and you were a chatterbox? Perhaps you were the opposite and were "off with the fairies"?
8. Do you procrastinate chronically in areas that don't interest you? As a child... homework, now ....housework, paperwork, tax returns?
9. Is everything done to a deadline? You can't seem to get going until the last minute, and then you run a bit late more often than not? For eg getting the kids ready for school you are alsways rushing out the door at the last minute?
10. Do you have a short temper with those closest to you, such as the kids or your partner? Sometimes the things can be quite hurtful, but you don't realise you have said anything until AFTER its been said? This is a regular occurance.
11. Are you very creative? Maybe you are in to a craft of some kind, art or music? Perhaps you own your own business, involved with computers ... Anything that requires lateral thinking?
12. Do you have bad PMT? Basically your partner removes all sharp instruments a few days before your period arrives?
13. Do you have lots of ideas but don't have the follow through, mainly because you just can't make up your mind which to pursue? Or you just get bored near completion as the thrill has gone?
14. Are you a hoarder? Maybe you have a room full of 'stuff: that you are sure you will find use for someday * you cannot bear to get rid of it? With me, it's fabric.
15. Are you impulsive? ... Perhaps you make very quick decisions, do something spontaneously, only to realise when it is too late that it was the wrong thing to do? This is not a once off, it happens regularly.
16. Do you say things and later regret saying them? Your mouth shoots off before your brain has caught up with what you have actually said? Maybe you were called tactless when younger, a "motor mouth".
17. Do you get very sensitive about things and take things to heart? The "everyone is picking on me syndrome?"
18. Were you described as a dreamer, chatterbox or highly strung as a child? Neurotic is another popular term.
19. Do you have problems with finances? Eg. overloaded credit card? Cheque book never balances? Spend first then deal with the problem later. Maybe you have a hobby that is an addiction that has to be fed (eg. Computer programs, the latest kitchen equipment, craft supplies). Even your family may suffer because of it at times. You may be inflexible in this.
20. Do you find that you lose things? Eg. Car keys, sunglasses? You might even put things in a safe place and then forget where you put them? This happens very regularly, daily even.
21. Do you run late for dates/appointments ... or JUST get there on time? You may even forget them altogether?
22. Have you had many types of jobs/careers?
23. Do you get bored easily and lose track of conversations?
24. Do you space out? Maybe someone will be talking to you and you don't hear them? Maybe they think you have ignored them?
25. Do you get on the computer and lose track of time totally and find it hard to get off?
26. Do you make lots of lists on bits of paper, often losing them?
27. As a girl living at home, was your room REALLY messy or super clean? That is, you made it either way? Piles everywhere, dust bunnies in the corners
28. Have you or a member of your family had depression problems, drug isssues, alcohol issues, gamling problems, eating disorders and even underachieving giftedness?
29. If something is unfair, does it eat away at you? There is no grey .. it is right or it is wrong" Then you dig your heals in because your conscience just won't let you do what other think you should?
30. Do you find when you are passionate about something that you focus wholly (HYPER-FOCUS) on it to the detriment of everything else around you?
31. Have you been prescribed anti-depressants and found that although you feel less worried about things, it did not get to the issue of what really is the matter?
32. Are you constantly searching for that feeling of "aliveness", questioning why you are here, how you are here"
33. Do you feel sometimes like your head is in a fog and you are not really "here"?
34. Do you have "down" days where you feel there is a black cloud hanging over your head and something bad is about to happen? This usually only lasts a short period of time though.
35. Do you have a "second sight"? That is, you know when something is wrong and no-one else can see it or will believe you and then it happens? In the meantime they call you paranoid?
36. When driving your car, do you find that you have arrived somewhere and cannot remember the whole trip .. There are pieces missing like you have daydreamed or spaced out?
37. Do you have allergies (eczema, asthma, psoriasis etc), gynacological problems, bowel problems, back problems, or migrains on a regular basis? Perhaps you have unexplained, but very real, pain all over your body? Have you been diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue at all but have the concentration and disorganisation problems most of your life?
38. Do you have a type of learning disability? for eg dyslexia, coding problems, auditory processing problems? Are you termed as 'gifted'?
39. DO YOU WANT TO BE A "HUMAN BEING" AND NOT A "HUMAN DOING" AND FEEL BETTER ABOUT YOURSELF? REGAIN YOUR SELF ESTEEM?
If you can relate to this list call your MD and ask for a referral to a specialist psychiatrist. Do not fall into the trap of going to any psychiatrist.
Contact ADDA. www.add.org or Nancy Ratey at www.nancyratey.com and ADD Consults at www.addconsults.com and so is www.addvance.com a website dedicated to resources for ADD women.
This information is thanks to Judie at ADDventurous Women in australia. I completely relate to this list and consider it my personal CV. Good Luck. Rae