being tested | ADHD Information

hey, i have a problem and wondered whether anybody here can relate...

well, i have always had problems with being more hyper than other people and disturbing lessons and meetings etc.

my teachers were never overly concerned with my behaviour as they put it down to 'family problems' because that was my excuse for behavinging badly.

However, i have always been so much more hyper and impulsive on the inside than the outside, and my attension skills are very poor.

I am 17 now and it's becoming a problem. It's starting to show, well, it has done more and more for over a year now. My coursework and college essays are always started but never finished. My teachers constantly say im naughty and send me out of my lessons. i am always 'on the go' my frends sy and they say that i am 'immature' and whenever people are sitting all tired or doin their work etc, all i wana do is run about and mess with things.

due to it causeing such problems, i went and seen my doctor who sent me to a psychiatrist for further analysis. Both of which, after tests of many kinds have diagnosed me with adhd.

now for the problem... everybody around me agrees that i have adhd. but my FAMILY don't becuase i am not seen by them as hyper, impulsive or innattentive. i agree that i am calmer outwardly at home, but i am still constantly on the go at home too. also they only see me hardly ever because i am always out.

the psychiatrist wants to put me on meds, but my family sez it will harm me and change my personality etc. what do i do?

ps. after reading as much as i can and self-analysing myself, i think i have adhd too. it answers and explains soo sooo much.

plaese help if u can.

YOU SOUND SO MUCH LIKE MY SON WHO IS 16. HE WAS JUST DIAGNOSED(BY ME , HIS MOM) I CANNOT BELIEVE YOUR FAMILY HAS NOT NOTICED. MITCH HAD  ALWAYS BEEN PRETTY BUSY, BUT THEN HE WENT TO LIVE WITH HIS FATHER WHO WAS VERY MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY ABUSIVE. WE THOUGHT A LOT OF HIS PROBLEMS WERE FROM THAT(AND SOME COULD BE) BUT IT ONLY TOOK ME ABOUT A COUPLE WEEKS OF SCHOOL AND I COULD SEE SOMETHING WAS WRONG. I STARTED DOING SOME RESEARCH AND REALIZED WHAT HE HAD. I CALLED MY DOCTOR AND WENT FROM THERE. DO YOU HAVE A GOOD COUNCILOR AT YOUR SCHOOL? I CALLED HER AT OUR SCHOOL AND SHE CALLED OUR BOCES PROGRAM DIRECTOR AND THEY STARTED TESTING(DOING THE CONNER SCALES ON HYPERACTIVITY AND BEHAVIOR AND FOCUS) MAYBE THEY COULD SPEAK TO YOUR PARENTS FOR YOU AND TRY TO MAKE THEM UNDERSTAND. I WOULD HATE FOR YOU TO HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER YEAR. IF YOU DO HAVE ADHD YOU DESERVE THE HELP TO MAKE YOUR LIFE BETTER. IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT AND JUST A CHEMICAL IMBALANCE THAT CAN BE TREATABLE. I WILL PRAY FOR YOU AND YOUR PARENTS TO GET THE HELP YOU NEED. HANG IN THERE!!!!

WHY DOES YOUR MOM NOT WANT TO LET YOU BE ON THE MEDS? IS SHE AFRAID OF THEM? MAYBE IF THE DOCTOR COULD CALM SOME OF HER FEARS ABOUT THEM, SHE'D FEEL BETTER. I KNOW SOMETIMES IT IS TRIAL AND ERROR, THAT IS WHAT WE ARE DOING RIGHT NOW WITH MITCH, BUT IN THE LONG RUN I FEEL IT WILL BE WORTH IT!!!! OBVIOUSLY STRATERRA DIDN'T WORK FOR MITCH, BUT MAYBE CONCERTA WILL BE THE ONE TO HELP HIM. I AM WILLING TO FIND OUT SO HE CAN FEEL BETTER AND GET SOME SELF ESTEEM BACK.

I KNOW HE GETS TEASED AND STUFF AND HE PUTS ON A TOUGH GUY ACT, BUT I KNOW HE HURTS TOO. I WANT TO JUST MAKE IT ALL BETTER!!!

KEEP TRYING AND PUSHING FOR THE MEDS IF THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO TRY. I'LL KEEP PRAYING FOR YOU AND KEEP US POSTED.

Yeah I relate to what your saying I was allways like that too allways getting kicked out of class saying the wrong things to adults, allways really hyperand such but noone thought I could have it because of my IQ level.  My mom was fine with me going on concerta when I was diagnosed but my dad said the same things your parents said but my parents were divorced and my mom was the custodial parent and I went on concerta and it helped me alot.  Although I did stop taking it because of a substance abuse problem when I was 14.  I am now 17 and just started taking my adderall 3 weeks ago and I'm back to being the A student I was before I was using drugs.  If you act the way you say you do your teachers will deffinatly aqgree and your parents will really be left with no choice but to allow you to take the medication you need to be sucessful.  Good luck and even If your parents pull some BS you'll be 18 soon but you really should get on it now because it will really help your behavior and grades and help you get into a good college.  I really hope that you are a junior and not a senior because if you have that extra year to take the medication in high school and they see how good youve done since taking it it might help.  Your practically an adult. At 18 legally your parents can't stop you from seeking your own medical treatment. I had to wait until I was an adult to get help. My parents and teachers just thought I was bad and needed discipline LOL. For me going on meds was the best decision I ever made but it's not for everyone and meds will not help everyone.

I'd say research as much as you can for now. Learn everything there is to learn about ADHD so your informed to make the decisions you need to. Also think about how disruptive or unpleasent your symptoms are. Who cares if your teachers or friends think your to active it's more how you feel. Are you constantly uncomfortable, is your quality of life bad, are you stressed, depressed etc because of ADHD.

There are varying degrees of ADHD, many people with milder cases use the extra energy to their advantage while people with severe forms can't function at all without meds and even with meds it's still very obvious that they are hyperactive.

Remember it's your body and your choice so if your suffering don't be afraid to get help

i am on concerta and i don't have Any side effects it works wherry well because its constant i had other medicines that in had to take at different times but it stead a chaos. with the concerta it goos much better

i hope this helps you,

Stephan

SAB2638474.2931481482

thank you for your replys.

well, i had another appointment at the psychiatricplace and he is definate that i have got ADHD, but when he was selecting which medication to put me on (which i agreed to due to not feeling in control of myself at all at the moment- its quite depressing actually) but then my mom started with the "what if..." business and put him off. So then i had to write down that I agree to getting my teachers involved.

This may cause problems though because, when i was in school, my teachers asked me why i was so hyperactive etc and i replied that "its my way of dealing with my family problems". which was half lying- i did have family problems but that isn't why i was hyper. i knew that something was wrong but was ashamed to say anything- so i didn't.

i'm a bit angry at this because i really want to be in control for when my exams come- which is in like 4 weeks. i have already had my course essay (today and next monday) which are going poorly because i cannot concentrate!

any suggestions?

please reply.

WELL HOPEFULLY AT THE NEXT DOSE, YOU WILL NOTICE A CALMER YOU!! WE TOOK MY SON OFF HIS MEDS FOR THE SUMMER AND TO GET HIS SYSTEM READY TO TRY CONCERTA THIS FALL. HE HAS LOTS OF ENERGY TO WORK HARD (HE IS HAYING THIS SUMMER AND WILL BE WORKING LONG HOURS) BUT I NOTICE HE IS SO MUCH MORE RESTLESS AND ON THE GO AND DOESN'T CONCENTRATE WELL AT ALL THIS LAST COUPLE WEEKS OF SCHOOL!!! YIKES !!

YOU SHOULD NEVER FEEL ASHAMED FOR HAVING ADHD. IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT AND YOU DID NOTHING TO BRING IT ON. JUST LEARN TO DEAL WITH IT THE BEST WAY YOU CAN AND LEARN SOME TRICKS TO HELP YOU REMEMBER THINGS(LIKE KEEPING A DAILY BOOK OF WHAT YOU SHOULD DO) FIND A JOB THAT LETS YOU BE YOU AND NOT TOO CONFINING. KEEP IN TOUCH AND GOOD LUCK

i went 2 d psychiatrict hospital 2day and i finally got my meds. dem startin me really low incase i hav effects cuz i take uva tablets (like steroids, ibruprofen etc). dem put me on concerta xl. has n e 1 else had this one? if so, what happened? ie all effects. good or bad?

please reply.

CONFUZZELLED,

MAYBE YOUR GOOD REPORT WAS BECAUSE OF THE MEDS WORKING NOW. IT HAS HELPED YOU CALM DOWN AND STAY MORE FOCUSED?? HOW ARE YOUR RELATIONSHIPS? I'VE FORGOTTEN HOW OLD YOU ARE. HOW IS YOUR MOM REACTING TO ALL THIS NOW? IS SHE NOTICING A DIFFERENCE IN HOW YOU BEHAVE AND GET THINGS DONE?   I'LL KEEP PRAYING FOR YOU KIDDO.

hey,

thanks for your reply's. i went back for another appointment today and my dose has been doubled to 36mg. does anybody else take this dose? what does it do for you? side effects?

i am going through my exams at the moment and so i am hoping that they will help me work better rather than worse.

my next exam is on thursday and im really worried about it. i start my new dose tommorrow, do you think this gives me enough time to assess whether it is helping or not?

please reply soon.

I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT IS GIVING IT ENOUGH TIME OR NOT. WE TOOK MY SON OFF MEDS ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO AND THE TEACHERS NOTICED HIS " I REALLY DON'T CARE" ATTITUDE ALREADY. HE IS TAKING EXAMS ALREADY TOO AND FLUNKING MOST OF THEM.  WE HAD OUR FINAL MEETING AT THE SCHOOL. MITCH HAD TO FO THROUGH ALL SORTS OF THINGS THIS LAST MONTH WITH PSYCHOLOGISTS, SPECIAL ED PEOPLE AND SO ON. HE DOESN'T HAVE PER SAY A LEARNING DISABILITY, BUT CAN'T CONCENTRATE LONG ENOUGH TO LEARN ANYTHING THAT IS NOT HANDS ON AND AN INTEREST TO HIM. NEXT YEAR HE WILL BE IN PLACE WITH AN IEP AND 504 PLAN. HIS TESTS HAVE TO BE  MODIFIED AND RETAKES, AND HE GETS A WHOLE PERIOD WITH THE SPECIAL ED TEACHER TO GET HIS HOMEWORK DONE AND TO TAKE HIS TESTS THERE. I THINK THAT WILL BE HELPFUL FOR HIM IN GETTING HIS STUFF DONE.

I KNOW THIS IS HARD FOR YOU TOO. HANG IN THERE. LET ME KNOW HOW YOU DO ON YOUR TESTS. I WILL PRAY FOR YOUR CONCENTRATION AND THAT YOU WILL DO GOOD. REMEMBER, YOU ARE ELGIBLE FOR THE 504 AND IEP'S EVEN IN COLLEGE IF YOU CHOOSE TO GO. I CAN FIND OUT MORE INFO IF YOU NEED ME TO.

MITCH IS GOING TO WORK FULLTIME AFTER WEDNESDAY FOR A BIG HAYING OUTFIT. I THINK IT WILL DO HIM GOOD TO GET AWAY FROM THE BOOKS FOR AWHILE!!   HE IS STILL DEFENSIVE ABOUT EVERYTHING AND REALLY HYPER, BUT BETTER I THINK. I THINK A LOT WILL CHANGE ON BECOMING AN ADULT AND LEARNING TO ORGANIZE THINGS BETTER WITH HELP. DO YOU SEEM TO HAVE PROBLEMS REMEMBERING WHAT TO DO AND WRITING THINGS DOWN?

MITCH FORGETS BUT HE ALSO HAS PROBLEMS WRITING THINGS DOWN ALSO. (UNLESS IT;S SOMETHING THAT REALLY INTERESTS HIM) I APPRECIATE YOUR HONESTY. SOMETIMES IT'S EASIER LEARNING FROM OTHERS BECAUSE YOUR OWN KIDS CAN'T TALK ABOUT THINGS WITH US ADULTS. I AM WILLING TO LISTEN TO ANYTHING YOU NEED TO TALK ABOUT. BETTER GO FOR NOW. TAKE CARE AND GOOD LUCK.

i have just now came home after my exam. i don't know anything about the IEP and 504 thingies because i have only recently been diagnosed etc, so if you could get me some info. i'd appreciate it very much.

i struggled in today's exam.  i had 2 papers both an hour long each. i couldn't concentrate and was just making up answers because i couldn't remember the real studies etc. after completeing the one exam, the examiner placed the second one on the desk so we couldn't even have a break! i was so hyper and just couldn't sit still. i hope my other exams aren't like the ones i have had so far.

thanks for all you help UNCONDITIONAL its really nice to have somebody to talk to who cares. 

i do have problems remembering. i can go for a walk up the corridor in college from the canteen to the library (which is a straight walk) and get lost on the way because i have forgotten where i was heading.

i have no problems writing, but i do have problems actually writing things down. as in, my handwriting is satisfactory etc and i can write, but i think, i'll write it down in a bit when i stop or something but never get around to carrying it out. therefore i forget so much!

i happy to talk to you. and tell you things because you are right, i cannot talk to my parents about ANYTHING therefore it is good to talk to you and it might help you with Mitch too because he might feel like i do and experience the same things.

reply soon xxx

im 17, i will be eighteen on wednesday though (18th may) i can't wait!

i don't see much of a difference but im only on like 18mg of concerta xl at the moment. am i meant to notice more? i don't really understand how this stuff works. all i know is that i have always had these problems such as VERY SERIOUS hyperactivity etc and now all my problems have been solved through being diagnosed with ADHD and now, i can FINALLY get help for it! yay!

a few weeks ago i was very ashamed to have been diagnosed with ADHD but now, i feel more relieved because there is a reason to why i am so naughty all the time etc.

what kinda things should be happening on such a small dosage? what will happen when i go to the next dosage?

please reply soon

DON'T FEEL BADLY ABOUT YOUR EXAMS. I KNOW IT IS SO HARD FOR  YOU TO CONCENTRATE. MITCH FLUNKED EVERYONE OF HIS!! BUT I WENT TO THE SCHOOL YESTERDAY AND I WAS SO MAD! THEY DID NOT MODIFY ANY OF HIS TESTS AT ALL. SEE, WHEN YOU HAVE AN IEP IN PLACE, THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT THEY HAVE TO DO DIFFERENTLY FOR YOU. THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO MAKE THE TESTS EASIER(ONLY THE MAIN POINTS) OR HAVE IT OPEN BOOK AND STUFF LIKE THAT. THEY DID NOT. THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO GIVE YOU EXTRA TIME ON THE TESTS SO YOU CAN HAVE A BREAK!!! YOU GUYS HAVE TO HAVE THAT JUST TO STAY ON THIS PLANET!!!!!!!!!! DOES YOUR COLLEGE KNOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED? THERE SHOULD BE SOME SORT OF COUNCLOR THERE. GO TO THEM AND THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO HELP YOU GET SOME THINGS DONE TO HELP YOU. I WILL TRY TO FIND SOMETHING ON THE INTERNET TO SEE WHAT I CAN DO TO HELP. IT'S GREAT THAT YOU ARE TRYING SO HARD AND REALIZE THAT YOU NEED HELP. MITCH JUST FLOATS ALONG AND IS SO ANGRY. BUT A LOT OF THAT IS TRYING TO HEAL FROM THE ABUSE. I LOSE MY PATIENCE SO EASILY SOMETIMES WHEN HE FIGHTS WITH HIS 15 YR OLD SISTER. I'M AFRAID HE'S GOING TO HURT HER. SHE PROVOKES HIM TERRIBLE THOUGH. I READ SOME WHERE THAT ADHD KIDS WILL START A FIGHT JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE BORED AND NEED SOME EXCITEMENT!!! HAVE YOU EVER FELT THAT WAY? DO YOU HAVE SIBLINGS?

DON'T GIVE UP ON BEING WHO YOU WANT TO BE. HOPEFULLY THE MEDS WILL WORK FOR YOU. I HAVE READ ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HAVE BECOME DOCTORS THAT HAD ADHD SO NEVER GIVE UP AND SETTLE FOR LESS THAN WHAT YOU WANT. YOU'LL NEED TIME TO GET THINGS FIGURED OUT, BUT YOU CAN DO IT.  TALK SOON  DEANA

i went 2 the hospital again 2day (psycho) and the dr has recieved a report from my school and they have wrote that thay have noticed differences since march. but i haven't changed anything etc. im getting worried now because when i got diagnosed with this adhd i felt so relieved because it answered so much for me and helped me to understand myself and now im beginning to doubt it all again.

im so worried again

any suggestions

please reply

I OBVIOUSLY AM NOT A DOCTOR, SO MAYBE YOU SHOULD CALL THEM AND SEE WHAT THEY THINK. I WOULD THINK THAT IF YOU MISSED A DOSE, IT COULD CAUSE YOU TO GO BACK TO THE OUT OF CONTROL BEHAVIOR. I KNOW THAT MITCH HAS BEEN OFF NOW FOR A MONTH AND HE IS SO RESTLESS. HE DOESN'T WANT TO GO TO SUMMER SCHOOL, BUT HE IS GOING TO HAVE TO. WORK IS SO MUCH MORE EXCITING FOR HIM. HE IS THE RAKER FOR THE HAY TEAM AND TAKES THAT JOB PRETTY SERIOUSLY!!!!! HE WAS SUPPOSED TO START TODAY, BUT TALKED THE PRINCIPAL INTO TOMORROW. THEY STARTED CHOPPING TODAY AND HE JUST COULDN'T STAND THE THOUGHT OF MISSING IT!!!!!! HE HAS BEEN VERY IMPULSIVE WHILE NOT ON THE MEDS. HE MAKES RASH DECISIONS, BUT HIS BEHAVIOR IN GENERAL IS BETTER. THAT MAKES LIFE A LITTLE EASIER.

YOU SAID WHEN YOU ARE FIGHTING WITH YOUR SIBLINGS, THAT YOU DON'T REALIZE THAT YOU ARE THE ONE DOING IT. DO YOU KNOW IT'S WRONG, BUT JUST DON'T FEEL LIKE YOU CAN STOP? THAT'S HOW I THINK IT HAPPENS TO MITCH. WHEN I SAY SOMETHING HE BLAMES IT ON EVERYONE ELSE AND JUST CAN'T SEEM TO STOP HIMSELF UNTIL REMOVED FROM THE SITUATION.

I KNOW IT FRUSTRATES HIM TO NO END NOT TO BE IN CONTROL, CAUSE THE WHOLE FAMILY(HIS GRANDPARENTS, AUNTS UNCLES AND COUSINS) LOOK AT HIM LIKE HE IS SOME MONSTER OR SOMETHING. IT HURTS ME SO AND I JUST WANT TO HELP HIM UNDERSTAND HOW TO LEARN TO CONTROL THAT ACTION BETTER, NO MATTER WHO TICKS HIM OFF!!!!!!

BUT AS FOR YOU, I WOULD CALL YOUR DOCTOR AND SEE WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED. YOU SHOULD TELL THEM ABOUT NOT SLEEPING WELL EITHER. YOU CAN'T KEEP GOING ON NO SLEEP. HOW DID YOUR GRADES TURN OUT? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?

 

Hi,

My son is the same if he misses his meds. In fact I can tell if he has missed a dose within about 10 seconds of talking to him. There is that much difference - but he doesn't remember to take them ('cos he has ADHD).