deciding to deal with your add | ADHD Information
For me, it was due to having children. I didn't know I could be messing up and making poor choices so often due to it, after all, it wasn't like I was peeing on the dog like my little diagnosed nephew was, or doing things like locking people in the garage like he would, or climbing on the roof and trying to ride my bike on it like he would, or annoying the crap out of other's like he would, so I didn't think that could be it. I just thought I was a screw up, an idiot, not disciplined enough no matter how hard I'd try, dumb or 'different', maybe a space cadet or something, weak, etc.. I knew something was wrong with me in some way but before I knew what was what I had reached a point where I would do all I can to seriously work on my weaknesses in all aspects as hard as I could, for the sake of my children. So, I got my own ball rolling my own way before I knew what was even going on. I started helping myself on my own first, before I knew anything.
It was when my own kids started growing and getting older in school and having problems. The teachers suggested it but I lived in denial and thought as mom, I could fix this problem or would die trying and well, nearly went koo-koo trying to deal with it on my own. So, we all got tested, especially since it gets passed down and there was so much the kids and all had in common and did. Once it was something focusing on my very own children, that we all had the big professional doctor evaluation process testing of mother tests.
That was two years ago. I was glad to know I wasn't just some flake, stupid, or weird or something. Then when diagnosed it helped to really help me know what was what and even have a better conception of the game plan I should be on and to be honest, I had already started doing so many things we are told to do for helping ourselves.
Never ever did or do I want to feel it is an excuse for any of my short comings. After all, I have to be an example to my own young children too. If I don't want them using it as an excuse, mom can't, but I also am laid back often and no longer putting unrealistic expectations on myself. I roll with the flow often and just try to keep aware.
goldenmoment38459.5153125I actually went to the Dr for depression and he diagnosed the ADD. My Husband said he thought I had always had it, but I denied it. Now I am glad I know!None of the above applies to me. I think there needs to be another catagory. I was diagnosed at seven and my parents made me feel it was something to be ashamed of and had me and everyone else in the family try to pretend it never happened.
After years of bad grades and broken friendships/relationships (not to mention that I was an adult and no longer under my parent's thumb) I decided to get re-tested and if possible, finally be treated.
Too much bad water under the bridge??? I guess maybe that's me after all. Hey, I focused!
Always new I had it. Was told many times as a kid but refused treatment by parents.
Things just got worse and worse as an adult so said the hell with it and finally got help for myself. Was the smartest thing I've ever done. < =""> All of the above...
[Although I actually answered "Saw a list..."]
John K.38456.0351851852I found an article in inc.com magazine (a weekly magazine for entrepreneurs) about how to deal with your ADHD employees. Only thing was...I was reading about myself! Was a real eye opener.
All my life I felt like there was something missing about me, like I wasn't "getting" what everyone else was. I figured I'd outgrow it.....NOT!
I just happend to turn on a talk show, one that I don't usually watch, but with the first guest, I sat there "glued" to the T.V, while I listioned to MY LIFES HISTORY! I though, O.M G.! this is me and this thing has a name! And I'm not the only one who has it. That was 9 yrs. ago. B/c than , as we were told, 18 is the magic age, than we become "normal" and only boys have it. What a crock!
I'm now 47, and was DX'ed over 2 yrs. ago. It took that long! I won't go into that story! My hubby FINALLY excepts that I really do have ADD, after yrs of saying stuff like "your just lazy" or 'Your so intelligent, how could you screw up"? If I can get my hubby to understand and work with me, I still give the world a chance to understand (someday)
As an adult with add, why did you decide to finally deal with your add?
I love my husband from the bottom of my heart to the depths of my soul...so when I started loosing control in frustration and hitting him, I knew it was time for me to get this ad/hd dealt with. I knew I had it, but I never got it treated or nothing.
My husband is a big large gentle teddy bear giant. (imagine: size 15 shoes, 300lb..., and I am 5foot 2inches tall, at 115lb...) He could have killed me if he just wanted to, but he is too much of a teddy bear, he would NEVER EVER hurt me. I gave him first, a large bite bruise on his arm. then, a pretty bad scratch on his hand. the last thing was a swollen cheek. after that, I sought help. I have been good for the past 2 years, afer I received help.
It makes me sad to remember that i did these things to him. I feel so guilty. I love him so much and he tries to be so good to me. I never ever want to hurt him again.
sonya_h38452.8771296296I've dropped out of college three times, each time logging 13-hour days to make up for 'distractions' and keep up with classwork. And I had a job I was awful at, followed by a job I despised. And a trail of flaming relationship wrecks.*roasts marshmallow over former relationship*
Now I am going to take pills.
Found Out I had it in 1995 when I read Driven To Distraction. As soon as I knew what my problem was , it was time to start looking for new solutions.
ghead
< =""> It was breaking up with my current boyfriend that I sought out an ADD forum. Here is the forum I found. He is back now, too and things are much better. 8) Just got my Clarocet order in. We will see if it helps. I will keep ya posted.
I was diagnosed several years ago, but I didn't fully accept I had it until a few years ago...
I started taking my med's again, and I thought I was doing what I needed to do to deal with it. But I have a friend who I recently started dating seriously, about 3 months now. He has bipolar and has stopped drinking recently as well. I realized how my ADD was impacting my relationship with him, and it was a reality check....especially when I didn't understand why he was/wasn't doing things, yet I was guilty of similar things re: my ADD. That's a long story all around, so I won't go into it...LoL
But I started reading about it more, talked to my tdoc about it, found this board, etc. It's amazing how much of my personality (good and bad) I thought was 'my personality' after all these years, but I realize a lot of it stems from the ADD.
Never knew I had it. Read the Driven to Distraction book, realized I fit the criteria, made an appointment that day. Guess I've only been 'dealing with it' since December, when I made my appointment. I realised that I had add after i was educated about it. The VERY first suspense that I had ADD was when a friend of mine told me that her brother is being treated for add and is taking ritalin. She said that he is now getting A's and was having academic problems prior to the treatment. I was 21 at the time and it kinda stuck in my mind for years until I was 27 which is when I FIRST attempted treatment. Was treated for 3 months and almost 2 years later, I finally accepted it 100% about 2 months ago. Being in and out of college, failing, having bad memory problems becomes such a hassel in life that one can only take so much. My transcript is a percfect example because it indictates the PRIME example of not being able to finish an attempted goal. I dropped out about 4 times and received F's and luckily the school has an "academic forgiveness" plan.
ditzychick38457.3449189815I saw a list and went "Aha!", but that's not why I decided to seek treatment.I decided I needed help because I spend over half of my work day staring out the window or surfing the net. I don't like what my work ethic has become. I feel like I don't care, but if I truly didn't care, then it wouldn't bother me, know what I mean?
My wife had suspected for a while that I might have it. Then a coworker of hers got diagnosed and the coworker told her about her symptoms. My wife said, "that's Jer." So I took one online test and maxed the score out. Ended up in one shrink's office and he got me evaluated by an ADHD specialist. I posted this somewhere else on the board but after about 15 minutes the specialist started laughing and said I was a "textbook case" of ADHD. And the journey began. That was almost 3 years ago.
I tried about 4 different medications but side effects seemed to be overwhelming the good things the drugs did. So now I am off meds entirely and trying to do some holistic solutions. I grind up flax seed every morning and dump it into soy milk. That gives me a.) Omega 3 and b.) protein. And thanks to Duncan's recommendation on this board, I am now going to try L-tyrosine. I figure it will take months before I know if this regimen works. The flax seed manufacturer states that people with ADHD will start noticing an effect from the Omega 3s in about ten to twelve weeks. So I am going to give all of this through the end of the summer to see if it all works.
Until then I try to at least be aware of when the ADHD is affecting what I do. It's not an easy task but at least explains the stupid, self-destructive behaviors I have engaged in for over 40 years. And maybe it can prevent a few new ones.
I tried a friend's Adderall (for kicks, and no I don't recommend it) and everything changed. It was like the light finally went on. Got myself to the doctor the next day and got diagnosed. I've been on Adderall 60mgs/day for about 6 months and my life has done a complete turnaround. I've found my drug.
Got fired from a great job, boo hoo! Used to get fired from crap jobs and thought it was the job, but got fired from one I loved and figured it was me.
I have heard of lots of people finding out because they tried someone elses meds, as parrithead says. My boyfriend was flicking through Driven to Distraction and got really freaked out by it. Then he tried one of my Strattera and said it was like a fog lifted from his brain for the first time in 34 years. Made an appointment with my psychiatrist.
Everyone seems to find out at all ages, and in all kinds of unusual ways!