add and addiction | ADHD Information

[QUOTE=greatatwhatido]As you are, I am just learning about ADD and ADHD and how the "turmoils" in my life have been related to the "symptoms" of ADHD. I began to research after my boyfriend was recently diagnosed with ADD.

But anyhow, I also have addiction problems....drugs in the past.....alcohol since I was able to sneak into bars at the age of 18....promiscuity....catalog buying, internet buying.....

Yeah, I have problems with addictions!!![/QUOTE]
GreatAWID, many people have addictions to all you that you mentioned; however, that doesn't necessarily mean you are AD/HD, as well. AD/HDers may have addiction problems, usually stemming from being undiagnosed and self-medicating. But those with addictions don't necessarily have AD/HD. See what I mean? If, in your research, you find you have many of the symptoms (since grade ~ elementary ~ school) of AD/HD, then you may want to look into getting an evaluation for yourself. I'm not even sure that's what you were saying...that you suspect you may be AD/HD as well ???

Yes, GypsyWomyn....

I suspect that I may be AD/HD as well....

When I began to research the symptoms after my boyfriend was recently diagnosed with ADD, I realized how many of them applied to me also.

I am just new at researching the causes, symptoms, solutions, etc., but after reading other peoples' stories of dealing with ADD, AD/HD (either themselves or a loved one), I suddenly don't feel like I am such an oddball in society any more.

I have not yet had any professional testing done, but after reading posts in this forum, I feel very strongly in favor of the possibility that I may have AD/HD.

I understand what you are saying about people having addictions, but not necessarily having ADD, AD/HD....and I am in complete agreement with you.

What I've noticed though, is that quite a few people who have, or suspect they have ADD, AD/HD (including myself) also seem to have problems with addictions in one form or another.

Hope I didn't confuse you!

Cherie

Cherie...confuse me? Posh! Not at all....never!

Actually, you didn't confuse me, in fact, I think you expressed yourself quite well.

However, I neglected to read the first sentence of your first post.

That would have told me exactly what I wondered.

That'll teach me, or will it? After all, I am AD/HD! La di da! I know, "it's not an excuse, just a possible reason."

am just learning about add, and its conection or probable conection to me. the question i pose is that how many of you here also have addiction problems. I seem to be addicted to any thing that can have an addiction atached to it. I am wondering if mabe the add is more at play than the addiction. any feed back would be apreaciated.

As you are, I am just learning about ADD and ADHD and how the "turmoils" in my life have been related to the "symptoms" of ADHD. I began to research after my boyfriend was recently diagnosed with ADD.

But anyhow, I also have addiction problems....drugs in the past.....alcohol since I was able to sneak into bars at the age of 18....promiscuity....catalog buying, internet buying.....

Yeah, I have problems with addictions!!!

HeHe!

Thank you my friend! Didn't want to be a Newbie confusing everyone and creating friction on my first post!

[QUOTE=lunaslobo]

i am just learning about add, and its conection or probable conection to me. the question i pose is that how many of you here also have addiction problems. I seem to be addicted to any thing that can have an addiction atached to it. I am wondering if mabe the add is more at play than the addiction. any feed back would be apreaciated.

and btw i am sorry that my spelling is so bad, always has been.

[/QUOTE]
One of the symptoms of AD/HD is compulsivity and, especially living with undiagnosed AD/HD for so many years, self-medicating with things such as alcohol, drugs, gambling, promiscuity, etc. Another form of self-medicating, is the stimulating rush of living on the edge, so to speak, jumping out of planes, bungee jumping and the like, which all increase whatever it is we need for stimulation in our brains.

As you search the internet about AD/HD, you will come across articles that confirm what I've said above.

And don't worry about your spelling, the great thing here is we can all read and understand each other posts (as long as they're not tooooo long ), regardless of spelling).

and btw i am sorry that my spelling is so bad, always has been.

It was drugs that sent me down the add path.... Went to the local detox centre with the intent of getting hooked up with methadone and valium. After a few questions the doctor decided over the next little while we'd look at add. I did some research and am sure it's add.

As far as addiction goes tho I've been down that path with alcohol, heroin / opiates, methamphetamine, coke, benzos, barbiturates, marijuana. Lots of self medicating. I've even abused ritalin. So understandably the doctor is a tad hesitant to prescribe ritalin, but he will once the diagnosis is complete. Gambling too. I've always jumped from drug too drug opiates to amphetamines never really got stuck on anything in paticular just addicted to being on something.

I just stopped drinking one day and haven't since because I was starting to get into trouble for DUI so just took up drugs full time. So I've got 3 weeks left of detoxing (valium) just came off methadone about 48 hours ago, got to have a drug free week and talk to the doc one more time and then treatment can begin assuming the diagnosis is as I predict.

[QUOTE=greatatwhatido]But anyhow, I also have addiction problems........catalog buying, internet buying.....[/QUOTE]

Reminds me of Fight Club where Ed Norton is trying to buy himself a personality. What a great yet bad movie.
[QUOTE=GlenW]

He was alcoholic, and had become a hermit before he passed on. Just like the other 4 who passed away.

[/QUOTE]

Alcoholic hermit would be my best description if I hadn't gotten married and become a father. Seriously. It still has an appeal and a horror.
oh yeah!
alcohol, cocaine, nicotine, marijuana, caffeine.

If I could have worked out staying just a little drunk all the time.......ah well, another failure!

Haven't seen Fight Club...

Sounds interesting though.....wow, to want to buy a personality...I've never been there, but it must be thrilling for someone down on themselves to think money could solve their dilemna...but such a let down to find out it can't....

Don't know the ending of the movie....maybe I should watch it.....Ya think I could gain in some way from it? I'm pretty open minded...

Alcohol, cocaine, nicotine, marijuana, caffeine....

This sounds like stages of my life.....

I still deal with alcohol, nicotine, caffeine and at times, marijuana....

Not a great ends to a means, eh?

I agree I have had a problem with abusing alcohol which resulted in DUI...realizing that my alcohol abuse was a problem and probably a little more than immaturity. I stumbled upon ad/hd 6 months later and it all made sense...it took my 39 years to figure it out but once you understand the cause you can deal with the effects. [QUOTE=bepatient]

Gypsy Woman...no offense .... but compulsive behavior is not a part of the DSM IV diagnostic criteria for ADHD. The symptoms for ADHD/ADD include: inattention, hyperactivity/impulsivity.

Compulsive behaviors are linked to anxiety disorders.[/QUOTE]

Really? Compulsive drinking? Compulsive gambling? These are the types of addictions which are only too common with ADHD. I've battled with the booze for years, as have many of us.

The DSM IV criteria is not all inclusive, it covers only 18 of the most common symptoms.

Gypsy Woman...no offense .... but compulsive behavior is not a part of the DSM IV diagnostic criteria for ADHD. The symptoms for ADHD/ADD include: inattention, hyperactivity/impulsivity.

Compulsive behaviors are linked to anxiety disorders.

For more info go to www.childbrain.com

hope it helps

Addictions were the way I started down this path to finding out I had ADHD.

My father's family seemed very similar to myself. He had 5 brothers, and the last one passed away a year ago this spring. He was alcoholic, and had become a hermit before he passed on. Just like the other 4 who passed away.

I took a long look at them - and my father and realized they used alcohol to hide from something in themselves they didn't like. After some fairly short checks on the web I found out about my ADHD.

My father recently quit abusing alcohol (YAY!!), but also smokes, gambles and tends to become addicted to unhealthy things very easy.

I probably would have taken to alcohol if not for a very sensitive stomach. I could never take in much alcohol without it causing major health problems for me. Lucky me. Drugs also just made me feel disoriented and less intelligent - which any ADHD'er can tell people is already there so why spend money on drugs?!? LOL

I do smoke (want to quit), but gambling never appealed to me. Had a short love-affair with internet porn and sexy chat - but shortly after starting meds they had no appeal at all for me. I just shut off my chat program and wiped my porn. Didn't miss it a bit strangely.

I know most experts on ADHD warn that addiction and ADHD go together too easily. I do have trouble controlling any urges so I can relate. I shudder to think of what could have been my life if some turns had been different in my long and winding road.

I have addiction problems all my life. About anything..
Even years ago when my mother in-law had painkiller meds, I took some of them everyday and one night I took more than 20 pills. Was taken to ER and the staff pumped tar in my belly to contain med effects.

Was taken to ER last April for alcohol overdose in public. That was the last straw when I caved in my wife's pressure to see a psy when she knew all along I have ADHD.
I admit I am relieved to get help/attention but I hope to get better method of treatment than the 40 mg Strattera plus 1000 mg Depakota.