Main Symptom? | ADHD Information
I have been reading your posts, and it seems like a lot of people have different symptoms here.I forgot who it was, but someone said that they had the same umbrella for years!!!
Now THAT"S impressive!!!!
But it CONFUSED me!!! I know that one of my hugest problems is losing everything! I could not hold on to an umbrella for a day!
And some people say stuff like- I have adhd but I can control it really well, so I can focus well on things, and clean up easily.
If you can control your symptoms so well, then what kind of disorder do you have?!?!
My problem is that I CANT control my symptoms and I HAVE to lose things and fidget and not listen and be impulsive.
So, what's the most ADHD defining problem you have- the one(s) that you cant control and cause you odistress.
I mean, DAMN, If I could control my symptoms, I would be working now instead of reading/posting messages!!!!!
I have been a really big "looser" when I were younger... because I did not think of those things that I had with me... because i forgot them... mentally... I still do that... but I have incorporated fail safes in my personality.... I always look back, when I get up from a seat in the bus... that is the essence of coping...
There is no way I can cope with the fact that I can only read half of your post... I just cant...
That some of us learn to cope with some of our symptoms does not mean that we do not have ADHD... like an alcoholic is always an alcoholic... even when he is sober...
My symptoms:
Short attention span with certain things. Forgetting all practical stuff like dates, time and place. Do not finish hard things if they do not interest me.... I actually could go on....
Taag Man38460.6244791667That was a wonderful list Goldenmoment!
With all the pressures and struggles we go through every day it's great to stop for a second and think off all the different things we are really good at.
So what if they're not always things like housework, or having a serious long-term corporate job or not saying anything insulting or dumb by accident.
Well, as mentioned on one of the posts, some of us just do our best or try to be systematic with overcoming our challenges as an alcoholic is always one, even sober.Keep in mind at this time in my life I have improved on many of my ADHD, but it's something I work at all the time. EXERCISE with a regular routine WORKS WONDERS and I kid you not, but I can't deal with a gym so I have my own equipment that I can use my own hours at night or early morning.
Below are serious problems I had but have figured out how to deal with MOST of them and function well but I work at it. I have HUGE self discipline often and I think more then anything that has really helped, or maybe I'm just hard headed and stubborn:
Short attention span on certain things. Frustration with trying to or having to deal with whatever those certain things are or I just give up period. Forget about being competitive in sports and I ran track in H.S but after a while for distance or speed, I just didn't care and I had no "fire in my ass" to want to beat anyone at the finish line, but I always was good natured and laughing while doing it. Long distance running seemed to work better for me to deal with. Don't know why.
Trouble with organizational skills
Trouble with detail, fine tuned detail is even worse.
Forgetfulness with remembering names unless it's someone I've known for a looooong time. (I work very hard at a system to try and remember new names for those I just meet, but it's challenging)
Massive trouble with phone number remembering.
Losing little things.
I'm not exactly graceful often--but I'm fun and not exactly shy!!
Had trouble keeping up in H.S. nearly dropped out of that but got back into that and did well with much effort, dropped out of college the first time around---BUT NOT THE SECOND time around and busted my keester working 10 times harder then the average person at getting HONOR ROLL grades. (I made that an intentional goal)
Trouble having to read college text books and I could never sell them back even though I would have liked to because instead of underlining or highlighting a little here and there, I'd have to underline just about every line in every chapter and make my own notes on the pages that stood out for me. I cannot read and concentrate if I have ANY noise. It's so hard if I do. Also, I seem to have to read something over and over if it's too dry to comprehend it but once I do, well hey, I run with it and excel with whatever it was I was trying to learn--once I learn it that is.
I'm visual. It really helps me if someone SHOWS me instead of tries to explain something to me verbally.
Trouble having to sit still, oh, man especially at some place that is boring...it's torture but I work at that or pretend to have to go to the bathroom then take a stroll and then go back but thinking to myself, "Booooooor-ring"
Color coding things works for me, like text on stuff on any Wordperfect or Microsoft Word stuff to read it but putting it back to black for printing it out if it's for professional purposes, etc.
I've honestly found if I have a serious lengthy task I have to complete, if I break it down into smaller jobs or smaller sections, then that is what allows me to seem to get it done. That way it's not a huge task to me but small jobs. I have a lot of trouble completely finishing up something promptly but can do the bulk easy and well.
Forcing myself to get back to a work task but I have learned to work my way back to focusing and getting back on task.
But hey, I'm musically talented. Studied the violin for years. In fact, I was pretty good at it for awhile however, won awards, won try outs, 'first violin' was only acceptable to me. I had trouble often reading music line by line but it was easy for me to always keep up because once I knew the melody I easily played by ear, but when we would have to stop and pick it up at a particular bar or such, I wouldn't know where the hell that was so I just waited for other's to start and would figure that out in a few seconds.
Played the cello for a bit. Wasn't as graceful looking as the violin or as pretty (to me) plus it's not exactly easy to play that sucker in a long black skirt, if ya' know what I mean.
Took up the guitar on my own, did good with that. My kids are good with music too.
Very creative in many areas. A very, very good photographer with photographing nature or people. I seem to capture very good shots (so they say).
I LOVE MUSIC, many kinds, many, many kinds. Love dancing.
It's easy for me to pick up foreign languages if I want to--just don't ask me to learn to read or write them, but I've tried and made some progress with some involving different types of alphabets. Depending how long I have a need or desire to deal with whatever particular language.
Someone told me once that it all had to do with having a good ear for music or something like that. A good ear for sounds, but I have no idea what that means.
I have learned to memorize things too often as opposed to actually LEARNING THEM first. Anyone know what I mean? I do repitition to remember something I need to, over and over and over.
On tests for school or college, I'd learn stuff, then not remember it after the testing or for awhile but much later on it would seem to come back---MUCH later
I can read a book that I FIND interesting to me for whatever reasons but I cannot have noise, not even background noise or I'm distracted but sometimes music on low with no singing can work...sometimes.
Love daydreaming but I don't seem to get paid for that.
We're not all exactly alike but we often can relate to the challenges that go along with ADHD. Some have figured out how to better manage it then others. Some are still struggling with that. We all seem to find our own whacky ways to get from point A to point B and we're pretty good to adapt and over come that way, plus, we're no drags.
I can express my thoughts far more clearly in writing then if I have to verbally, lucky for all of you and my typing.
Sometimes when I have a mouthful to say I'll forget the words needed or be at a loss for properly verbally explaining something, especially if I'm passionate about it or irked, but never in writing. I also seem to mix up the syllables in words when I say them sometimes, and other stuff like that when speaking.
Oh, and have really worked very hard at this but at times just BLURTING something out just sort of happens.
Oh, did I mention I type with lightening speed???!!! (Too bad for ya'll...BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!)
I can hyperfocus on some things, depending what it is, like typing....BWHAHAHAHAHAH!!
goldenmoment38460.7511111111
Wow, great thread. I was nodding my head while reading all of your posts. My main symptoms are:
- Can't focus on people when they speak to me. I literally can't look the person in the eye for more than 2 seconds. I look past them or at my nails, or whatever. I can't seem to control this. grrr.
- Very impulsive, I want things NOW. Especially big stuff, like buying a car (have to have one first day looking). Once I make a decision, I want it right then.
- Anger easily. Anger over dumb things, like my dog shaking and getting hair all over the floor. Road rage is bad, also.
- Interupt conversation. I can't control this. I know I am about to do it and I can't stop myself. Anyone else? Part of me is trying to cover my mouth and stop me from doing it and I do it anyway.
- Tapping the foot, pulling on hair, biting nails, constantly moving
- low self esteem and thoughts that I am an imposter
- major messy person with piles everywhere and stuff just thrown around
I could go on and on. I just got diagnosed 1 1/2 weeks ago and the Adderall is helping with the messiness and makes me a BIT more calm. I want to feel better. I want my marriage to be better. I want to conquer this thing. Or at least control it. Becky
My main symptom is short attention span, however forgetting things, people, places, events, schedules etc, is a close #2What Reizende said, plus impulsivity.
Oh yeah, and that ever-tapping foot.
Mark -
I also have a bad foot
I read 6 types of adhd are out there.[QUOTE=Taag Man]I also have a bad foot
[/QUOTE]
Gout?
[QUOTE=Rachael]I read 6 types of adhd are out there.[/QUOTE]
http://www.newideas.net/add_types.htm
I think everyone has different levels of ADD/ADHD, and they impact each person in a unique way.
I am one of those people who is very orderly/organized...and I have mild OCD as well. But 1 of the reasons I am so organized is because of my ADD...and after years of habit, I still lose things...but it doesn't happen as often because I usually keep things in their "place." But I still have stacks of papers everywhere, search for my sunglasses for 30 min's before realizing they are on (LoL), etc... I have to over-compensate certain things because it is so easy to forget about such stuff. I mean, I love to read...but there's a flip side to that...because I have a hard time finishing a book...if I jump and read the ending or if I can't finish the book start to finish (I read about 100 pages an hour, lol), it tends to not get finished.
Also, I hyperfocus quite often...which is good when it is directed at something productive, like a work project....but it is bad when it is something like a relationship problem (instead of a work project I need to do!).
Med's help me with certain things, but not 100% of the time. My main problems are w/ motivation, finishing projects I start, maintaining friendships, not hyperfocusing on certain things, and did I mention motivation? LoL When push comes to shove, I have to force myself to do certain things...it isn't always easy, and I don't always succeed...but I have certain responsabilities that have to be addressed...so...
[QUOTE=Mark Goode]Gout?[/QUOTE]
I was referring to the bouncing... but if anything osteoarthrosis from the bouncing
The symptoms I have that have given me the most difficulty as an adult (a little late for where I 'screwed up' as a youngster or growing up) are:Problems with with communication...misinterpreting (or being misinterpreted), getting the proper words out, unable to express myself properly, expressing myself inappropriately, interrupting
Sensitivity to noise...and easily distracted by
Difficulty controlling my emotions, especially anger
Impulsiveness
Forgetfulness ....especially of words, and where I put things (you know, in that safe place)
Problems with relationships...keeping or making friends mostly because of #1 above
Difficulty holding jobs...again mostly due to #1 above
And my mind constantly yak, yak, yak with thoughts (and my mouth, also)
Meds are helping with some...antidepressants, mood stabilizers are...and perhaps ADHD meds (not sure yet). I'm doing much better in controlling my anger. I'm just glad I'm no longer 'self-medicating' with drugs and alcohol, or other impulsive and dangerous behaviors.GypsyWomyn38460.6404398148
This is a very good question. I've had conversations with ADDr's who's symptoms are completely unlike mine. I wonder if ADD isn't a group of unrelated disorders all lumped together artificially.
In my case, I can't control my thought process. I am *not* easily distracted by external things, like many ADDr's claim to be, but I lock onto ideas and tune out everything else. So I guess I'm distracted by my own thoughts. I do have some control over it though. I *can* do things to prevent being fired from my job, or to avoid letting down a friend. But If I have to do something for myself, without someone breathing down my neck, I can't do it. It takes a gigantic amount of discipline to get things done, even if I really wanted to do them previously. I usually don't bother cleaning, etc.
Oh, yes, ChicxOr! I can't stand it when I am always misinterpreted as coming across negative, when I'm NOT being negative! (Am I being negative about this?
) It's an awful problem, and a big reason people don't like me. As I've said many times before on this forum....if only I could walk around with a keyboard/screen...and talk to people with that instead of my mouth. 
GypsyWomyn38461.7021643519Reading those reminded me about communication! I have a hard time with that as well. I often come across in a negative way, although it sounds/seems OK to me. I've been working on my body language, too. I stop listening because I don't want to lose the thoughts in my head before I 'my turn' to speak. And I am very guilty of going off on tangents, LoL.
I also live in the "now" and "not now" world. I've learned that if I give my impulses a minute, they tend to fade...like w/ shopping. It also impacts my relationships because other people see "time," where it is more black and white to me. That's been a difficult thing for me to work on, too.
The biggest thing for me now that you mention it, is feeling foggy. I thought it was just pregnancy fog, but my kid is 2 1/2 and I still feel it! Sometimes I have to shake my head around to snap out of the fog. It doesn't help, but wakes me up a bit.
Adderall is helping a bit with the fog, but I wish it helped more. Maybe I need a higher dose. But I am organizing/cleaning like crazy! My Husband is loving it!
[QUOTE=GarbagePailKid]I have been reading your posts, and it seems like a lot of people have different symptoms here.I forgot who it was, but someone said that they had the same umbrella for years!!!
Now THAT"S impressive!!!!
But it CONFUSED me!!! I know that one of my hugest problems is losing everything! I could not hold on to an umbrella for a day! [/QUOTE]
Hehe. That was me.
Ironically, I am always losing my stuff. I
just managed to keep my umbrella for 18 years. I know many NON-AD/HD
people who can't even hold on to their umbrellas for long. I have no idea how I did it but I lose almost everything else I touch. [QUOTE]
And some people say stuff like- I have adhd but I can control it really well, so I can focus well on things, and clean up easily.
If you can control your symptoms so well, then what kind of disorder do you have?!?!
My problem is that I CANT control my symptoms and I HAVE to lose things and fidget and not listen and be impulsive.
[/QUOTE]
It confuses me that some people can control their symptoms really well. Do they mean that they can control it with treatment, such as behavior modification, coaching, supplements, or meds? Or do they say they can just control all on their own? If they can control it with help and treatment I could understand. But if they can just control it very well on their own I wouldn't consider them to have a disorder. After all, AD/HD is a neurological disorder. A disorder is something that really interferes with your life. It's not just a minor annoyance like an ugly wart on your foot or a red pimple oozing with pus.
My biggest symptoms are the inability to concentrate on anything, short attention span, terrible memory, inefficiency, an extremely unorganized brain. My brain always feels "foggy". I'm sure most of you know what I mean. All of these problems have caused me to have low self-esteem.
scarygreengiant38461.5448726852
There are a number of symptoms but I think the worst symptom is what others have termed "the fog." When not very interested and not taking medication, it can be very difficult to pay attention and remember.
There are some tactics that help with this like writing things down, asking myself questions, creating diagrams, somehow interacting with the information, etc. However, the tactics are external coping mechanisms. I don't think it's possible to really change the fog itself.
My list of symptoms are:
inattentive in class/day dreaming when should be listening, get very bored with anything that isn't stimulating. I can focus on things I really enjoy however for a long period of time. But get bored with long lectures, feel restless, move my foot and toes a lot, have a hard time not drawing in class. Feel lazy and unmotivated to do homework. Struggle constantly with keeping my mind on the homework. It's difficult and bores me. Especially reading assignments for school! hate them! can't remember what I read. I also interrupt as I saw other people do on here. I'm always afraid that if i wait I'll forget what I was going to say because that always happens to me if I wait. I'll think of something to say and in 2 seconds i swear I forget. So irritating! this is a major problem. sometimes I eventually remember what I was going to say and sometimes I don't. I am just very impulsive and want to say things right away and am very random when talking. Go from one topic to another as it pops into my head. I get upset quick and then calm down in about 20 minutes lol. When I want something I want it now. Like, I want to buy a VW beetle and I want it now so bad. it is soo hard to wait! I love to just go out and buy stuff on the first day! I know with a beetle I CANT do that right now though so I have to wait until I can afford it lol. I'm also forgetful and lose things quickly. i so hate that! I hyperfocus on things I enjoy. I have a very hard time communicating due to both ADD and social anxiety. It is easier for me to put things down on paper though then talk definitely! I'm a big worrier. Have a lot of anxiety. I am also very indecisive at times. It's weird because I have Inattentive along with impulsive ADHD but no hyperactive ADHD. Is anybody else like that at all? because I really am inattentive, quiet, yet a bit impulsive with decisions or what I say, when i say it etc. I am lazy though and sluggish. I do not have very much energy. I'm also anemic so that is why I'm tired a lot. long phone calls bore me. I get bored with conversations if they arent what I find "exciting" also. I hate that! don't want to be like that. I think my concerta(54mgs) is helping me now with some of these things but I still struggle at times. I get very emotional some days when I'm coming down from Concerta. does anybody else? I'll write more symptoms later if i think of any! :)
oh, I also have very very hypersensitive ears! hate loud noises! yikes!Okay,,, my most annoying symptoms of ADHD,,,,,
Internal/External disorganization. Not able to finish things. Not able to read a book from start to finish, excessive talking, and fidgiting. Loosing things, not being able to organize my day,, Super Impulsive (esspecially with my mouth!), Can't relax,,, EVER.
That is just to name a few!
I am on meds, and it does calm me down, but still I am not in control of these things. I am not able to control them.
People naturally come up with coping mechanisms for their ADD. Some are able to manage. I had lots of coping mechanisms, and still do. Esspecially in my college days!
However, there are varying degrees and types of ADD/ADHD. Some people are able to control it,,, or cope with it and still be successful in life. Others are not, without help.
My husband is ADD,,, but is a Vice Principle of a highschool, teaches at a local college, takes classes on Saturday, and manages to be a good dad. It makes me dizzy just thinking of his schedule! But he manages to cope. Doesnt' need meds.
My point is,,, and there may only be a few left reading,,,,,,,
We are all different.
[QUOTE=eliza]That was a wonderful list Goldenmoment!
With all the pressures and struggles we go through every day it's great to stop for a second and think off all the different things we are really good at.
So what if they're not always things like housework, or having a serious long-term corporate job or not saying anything insulting or dumb by accident.
[/QUOTE]I completely agree!! Good point! That's why I choose not to focus only on the negative or be a bitter person. Life's too short!
For me it is a total lack of motivation. I would just rather be doing something else. I have the usuall forgetfulness, not even being able to read those long posts! I transpose words and letters so much, that I have to re-read everything I write. I have a horrible time with communication! When I do write letters to people, I write really big because I cain't even put my thoughts down longer than one page. I really don't like to write at all.