When you act ADD but aren’t | ADHD Information

I think it's odd that you weren't diagnosed. Maybe it's because your early school experience was ok. However, take some comfort in that even if you were diagnosed, there's little they can do to help you anyway. The meds are nothing close to a miracle cure, and have side effects that in some cases can shorten your life. You can still learn about ADD, and do your best to work around it.

What tests did they give you?

Hello all,

Being that you are mostly all diagnosed ADDers, I have a question. I
display the majority of the symptoms of ADD, but after going to two
psychologists, neither were able to diagnose me with ADD because it
didn't show up on the tests. Therefore, I have no label for my problems,
but they keep recurring and interferring with every aspect of my life. I am
impatient, and impulsive, say the wrong things to people although I mean
well, I have a hard time starting or finishing things, am scatterbrained and
forgetful, am easily distracted, don't listen to people well and interrupt
them all the time, have the ability to hyperfocus on something that
interests me, have a hard time following rules and authority, am a
daydreamer in my own little world,have to work really hard to be
organized and do well in school, etc. I started having problems with
school in high school, and almost didn't graduate because of it. I have no
other diagnosible emotional/mental disorders, according to the
psychologists. How would you suggest I cope with these problems, aside
from seeing a therapist? Should it be any different from how you cope,
although I may not have the official disorder?Hi!  I am going to the psychiatrist today and what you just explained is probably my biggest fear!  I am extremely worried that I will not be diagnosed with adhd and that I will not know what else to do to try and get my life together.  My symptoms are negatively affecting everyone close to me and my marraige is suffering greatly.  I feel so hopeless right now and extremely apprehensive about the appointment.  I will post when I get back in a few hours.  In the mean time if you could tell me a little about the diagnostic process I would really appreciate it.

Utopia, What kind of psychologist did your testing? You may have ADHD and developed coping skills which they aren't taking into account. I have met many people who think they can determine whether someone is ADHD but don't have the knowledge, training or experience to really diagnose it accurately. They think because they are in the medical profession that they should be able to tell. It isn't that easy.

You need to find one who has a lot of experience with diagnosing and treating adult ADHDers. It would be a good idea to go to a neuropsych as they could distinguish between ADHD and one of many other disorders which mimic it.

There is a post here, I think by Tater, titled "50 disorders which mimic ADHD". Check that out also.

They gave me mostly intelligence tests which tested a variety of things
from spacial ability to vocabulary. Both psychologists determined that my
IQ was around 128 (according to this test of intelligence, I'm not brilliant
but I'm above average). Then they did a memory test. With the first
shrink I scored in the 7% percentile on short-term memory (bad), but with
the second (who gave me an almost identical series of tests) I knew what
to expect so I tried really hard with the memory and scored almost
perfectly. Both shrinks said I couldn't be diagnosed because my attention
span during the testing seemed good. However, I was trying hard to do a
good job, and in some ways, I was interested in the whole process, so it
was very easy for me to sustain my attention.

In elementary school, my main academic problems were rushing into
things and problems with "following directions." I had a lot of social
problems with exclusion because I could not pick up on social cues and
would say the wrong things all the time. I still have this problem.
However, I was mostly an A student until sophomore year of high school.   
I started having problems in high school with academics because the
work was too overwhelming and I couldn't prioritize and get organized.
When college came, I almost failed out my first year, but that was because
I was working part time and couldn't balance the two. The next year, I
quit my job, all my extracurricular activities, found a boyfriend who
studied all the time, and I spent the remaining 3 years studying my ass
off so I would succeed. I felt like I had to work harder than everybody
else who was enjoying college and still getting good grades.

I believe whatever is different in the brain of a person with ADD, my brain
may have similar conditions, however maybe not as severe. Some people
tell me I'm trying to make excuses for my behavior with a label, but I'm
just trying to understand why I behave the way I do and how I can
improve myself!! There are just too many similarities between myself and
a person with full-blown ADD/ADHD.

Speaking of medication, which medications shorten your life?I absolutely agree with you.  You sound like you have it worse than I.  My main suggestion would be to find a different therapist.  The fact that it's problematic in your life should be sufficient.  I can totally relate to the difficulty of prioritization & that's major.  I know I'll never get past the front desk despite my degrees, because even though I'm highly organized I can't prioritize & if that's a problem answering the phone, well the future's not lookin' too bright . . . [QUOTE=floofthegoof]

I think it's odd that you weren't diagnosed. Maybe it's because your early school experience was ok. However, take some comfort in that even if you were diagnosed, there's little they can do to help you anyway. The meds are nothing close to a miracle cure, and have side effects that in some cases can shorten your life.

Okay, Mr. Goof o' Floof--break it to me--how soon am I going to die because I'm on Adderall XR ?  I think it only fair I warn my children & make an informed decision, so please illuminate me.  Sincerely--thx!

Someone please tell Mr. Goof that I need to know how soon I'm going to die (how MUCH sooner) from taking Adderall XR!  Please ! Please!! Please!!!Ugh.  School has been a living nightmare for me.  I can't wait to get out. 

I'm with you Terrie, I loved school.  I am a teacher now because I loved it so much.  But I'd rather be the student.  Everything is organized for me and layed out.  I don't have to come up with what to do!  And I love learning new things. 

A really helpful sight is the one of Dr. Amen's.  He does brain scans for ADD and ADHD.  He has a test that tells you what type of ADD or ADHD you are.  I think it is really interesting.  I am the inattentive ADD type.  He has suggestions for herbal, diet, and medications also.  Just search for Dr. Amen and ADD on a search engine.

 

Hey guys,

Thanks for all your insightful opinions. Although I still don't know what
the heck is wrong with me (and maybe that's OK), you have made me feel
a lot better about my diagnosis (or lack therof).

Many of you mentioned key elements for ADHD diagnosis, such as
fulfilling certain criteria before age 7. Well, that may have been one of
the problems. I was a completely "normal" child before 15, at least
academically. I was reading adult-level novels by the time I was 8. I had
more behavioral problems, like throwing temper tantrums, being defiant
with my parents, problems with impulsiveness and following directions,
problems with shyness and social inadequacy, but that doesn't mean I
had ADHD.

On top of that, here is the strange thing about my organizational skills: in
my mind, I know that I am naturally disorganized. I am scatterbrained, I
forget details often, I lose things unless I make a point not to. Most
people how know me see me as quirky, with a lack of common sense,
airheaded but with "booksmarts." Also, I am terrible at multitasking- I
have failed miserably at three administrative entry-level type jobs and I
am only 25. I am also clumsy, uncoordinated, and left-handed. (The
problem with multitasking made me think there was NO way I could have
ADHD- most ADHD people thrive on multitasking). I think if I am
overwhelmed with diverse information flooding in all at once, and with
constant interruptions, I can't grasp anything and get easily flustered. I
would be VERY disorganized if I didn't work hard and spend a lot of time
making sure I AM organized. Knowing this, I spend a lot of time making
file folders and folders, writing lists for EVERYTHING, cleaning my
apartment so that it is usually immaculate (because messiness gives me
this chaotic feeling, and if I didn't work at being organized I would forget
EVERYTHING, nothing would get accomplished, and my life would be a
complete mess...I know this because this happened in high school). Does
this still sound like ADHD to you?

I also disagree with using intelligence tests to diagnose a behavioral
"disorder." (What the heck in a disorder anyway...just something that
deviates from the so-called "norm??") Honestly, I think they are designed
to exclude the possiblity that you're just plain dumb! Now that these
tests have determined that I not dumb, what now?

I have not had kids yet, but I am terrified of the possibility. I know how
stressful life is for me just working a corporate full-time job in New York
City (I feel like I barely have time for anything then), so I can't imagine
having a full-time job plus kids. I already tried working full-time and
going to school at night, and that proved to be a disaster. I have so
many goals and dreams and ideals, and I feel like they will never get
accomplished with my inability to juggle multiple priorities and
responsibilities.   Maybe I just don't handle stress well. Maybe I just have
a procrastination problem. Maybe I spend so much time trying to
organize myself and unwind from the stress of the day, that I can't juggle
anything else. Maybe I'm just lazy....

By the way, I did read "Driven to Distraction." I also read "Women with
ADD." Both books sounded a lot like me, but it's impossible to self-
diagnose. Plus, there are still some things that don't quite match up- e.g.
the fact that I try to be organized, the fact that I did well in school until
high school, the fact that I was never jumping out of my seat. I'm not
trying to make excuses for my behavior as some people say- but I admit,
I want a label, so at least I can have a disclaimer and not simply a
"personality problem" that has no remedy. I hope you all understand.

Well, thanks for listening. Any comments are appreciated.

Delivered From Distraction is a follow-up book to Driven to Distraction.  I got alot more out of the second book than the first.

I also want to point out that I didn't show 'symptoms' before age 7.  I can clearly remember showing symptoms from the time I was 13.  But I also had a head injury when I was 13.  One book I read talks about head injuries being the catalyst for ADD.  Maybe that's what started it in my case.

Basically I was running down my school hallway and someone was opening a door that threw me across the hall (about 15 feet or so wide) and I banged my head against the opposite wall.  I never saw a doctor for that accident.

Just because you didn't show symptoms from before age 7 does NOT mean that you don't have ADD.  That's my point.

Add adults is common and were most likely are but they say just cope I suppose. I think we learn more auditory/kinetic .Traditional schools aren't made this way. The staff think get them to focus and will change. What a joke. Not everyone can do meds and the effects are bad. To me they are changing who we are the staff in schools. Let's have schools that are this style of learning since there are more of us like this now than before. My guess the Govt won't realize it til later down the road. Intelligence tests in general are kind of useless, in
my opinion. More important as far as utility goes are
those learning styles tests, once you finally find a
good one, because you can use that information in
your daily life (i.e. using voice recorders, big
calendars, etc. depending on what works best).
HOWEVER...
intelligence tests are useful in an ADHD diagnosis
to determine where there are differences in ability -
so I had pretty similarly scores in most areas, but
there were a few areas that were much lower. Those
areas were the ones that would be affected by poor
concentration, short term memory, impulsivity, etc.
(I'll look up what they were later, I forget right now:)
There were no significantly lower scores in places
like spelling, math, etc. and I didn't complain of
seeing backwards letters, words swimming on/off
the page, etc. so the test confirmed that I probably
don't have a specific learning disability.
If you have a good doc giving the test, that's how
they'll use it - to see RELATIVE differences.
It's only one tool amongst several, though, and if it's
not used in that way, I can see an iq test being
actually harmful in the process. It's got pretty cultural
specific (i.e. white middle-upper class - sorry to
generalise) information required, and anyone who is
primarily auditory but doesn't know this would have
lots of dificulty (is there even a oral version of the
test?)I think if I am overwhelmed with diverse information flooding in all at once, and with constant interruptions, I can't grasp anything and get easily flustered. I
would be VERY disorganized if I didn't work hard and spend a lot of time
making sure I AM organized. Knowing this, I spend a lot of time making
file folders and folders, writing lists for EVERYTHING, cleaning my
apartment so that it is usually immaculate (because messiness gives me
this chaotic feeling, and if I didn't work at being organized I would forget
EVERYTHING, nothing would get accomplished, and my life would be a
complete mess...I know this because this happened in high school). Does
this still sound like ADHD to you? &Most
people how know me see me as quirky, with a lack of common sense,
airheaded but with "booksmarts." Also, I am terrible at multitasking Utopia747--Pretty much me completely--maybe we're NOT ADHD, but I have astrong feeling we are.

the fact that I was never jumping out of my seat. I'm not
trying to make excuses for my behavior as some people say- but I admit,
I want a label, so at least I can have a disclaimer and not simply a
"personality problem" that has no remedy. I hope you all understand.

Well, thanks for listening. Any comments are appreciated.

Utopia747--I TOTALLY understand.  I NEVER had a problem in school all the way through my Master's. 

And don't worry about kids--you'll do fine.  ADHD parents' kids I think are better off in many ways than kids wilth normal parents--we PLAY with our kids, can get on their level/are already there, much more easily.  I was "tricked into twins" when I was 31 & probably never would have had any if it was left up to me/the direction I was going--no committments/no possibility of divorce. 

I miss school LIKE MAD!!!  If I had my way, I'd wait tables & earn degrees for the rest of my life.  But you obviously can't do that with kids (I can't--school would win out) & I'm really glad it turned out that way--raising kids is an experience nothing will ever replace & it will encourage you to fully love yourself more I think when you see your children--maybe it nurtures our child inside--well, I'm narcissistic. 

I'm here--don't stress.  God will take care of everything.  Promise.

Agreed, Terrie. School was way, way easier than the rest of my life has
been. The best thing was that every semester, the classes changed and
there was a fresh start and a sense of novelty.

[QUOTE=terrie]Someone please tell Mr. Goof that I need to know how soon I'm going to die (how MUCH sooner) from taking Adderall XR!  Please ! Please!! Please!!![/QUOTE]

I depends on how strong your heart is I suppose. How is your blood pressure on Adderall? Mine goes up maybe 20 points. Sustained High blood pressure is definately not a good thing. Supposedly, stimulants also increase your risk for heart rythm problems etc. If it makes your life better, enough to be worth the risk, great. I find that the meds help only a little, so I take them only when I really need them, not all the time.

floofthegoof38593.5099884259

Utopia,

I recommend reading 2 books - Driven to Distraction and Delivered from Distraction by Dr. Ed Hallowell.  What I find most interesting is that he talks about how testing particularly children can be very difficult because they are interested in the tests, therefore they focus on the tests and then can't be diagnosed due to the tests results.  Sounds like you!

He stresses in his books that diagnosis has to be done by comparing childhood, school, adulthood, etc.  Which seems how you need to be diagnosed.

You definitely sound like you have it to me.  I had a hard time coming to grips with the fact that I have ADD, because I was functioning very well before I had my son a year ago.  But alot of this was denial on my part.  I function well with my husband, who's great with structure and disclipline.  I can follow his example very well until I get overwhelmed (which children can do to you). 

When I remembered back to how I lived by myself before I met my husband - I was a classic example of ADD.  My house was a mess, I had trouble making it to work on time, my bills would go unpaid, I didn't use a checkbook - I used my ATM card for everything, etc.

If it feels right to you that you have ADD - don't let anyone dissuade you!  My therapist diagnosed me with ADD but my regular doctor doesn't believe in ADD in Adults.  So I'm shopping for a new primary care doctor.

Pick up ADD books and read them - they've given me the greatest comfort that I've been able to find. 

Good Luck!

Autumnstar

[QUOTE=Wordwoman]Agreed, Terrie. School was way, way easier than the rest of my life has
been. The best thing was that every semester, the classes changed and
there was a fresh start and a sense of novelty.[/QUOTE] Absolutely!  I would be SO excited for the first day of school I couldn't sleep all night--it would be like a brand new fashion show with brand new cute boys to choose from--wow--did I really say that?  So much for thinking before I speak, but then I guess if I did that I wouldn't be here on this board!

And I adored college--someone should give me a scholarship just for loving it so much!

I didn't like school but being an adult has been alot harder.

With school I had so many things to keep track of, things to do, done by certain dates that I'd forget often.  Bah!  But I feel that if I'd known I was ADD back then, I could have gotten some habits that could have made my life easier.

But college and adult hood.  Ugh.  College, I nearly had a melt down from going to school full time, then 2 part time jobs (one almost full time).  From 7am to 11:30pm I was nearly non-stop.  Amazing that I found anytime for friends or me time.

It was better in the military.  Regular schedule, certain dress code.  Relaxed work environment.  But I only stayed in 4 years.

Since then it's been tough getting myself to work on time, getting bills paid on time, taking care of things as I should.  Much less cleaning, etc.  Life became easier when I started to date my husband.  I can follow a good example easily.  I'm so lucky I found him. 

I'm with you Terrie, I loved school.  I am a teacher now because I loved it so much.  But I'd rather be the student.  Everything is organized for me and layed out.  I don't have to come up with what to do!  And I love learning new things AnnidAgostini:  Me, too! What was it Jimmy Stewart said in "Vertigo"--something about being a "very apt pupil . . ."

It was better in the military.  Regular schedule, certain dress code.  Relaxed work environment.  But I only stayed in 4 years.AutumnStar:  I agree.  The military is what I think has prevented my sister from showing many ADHD signs--she's been in since high school & is a 36 year old CO, now.  It paid for all her degrees which is initially why she started.  All structure & routine--what a paradise!

Utopia....whoever suggested you get a second opinion....I agree. There is a 'guideline' to ADD diagnosis, that one must have exhibited symptoms before age 7. I believe that specific age has been eliminated....and the aspect of childhood symptoms now acknowledges that children who are ADD-Inattentive are often not seen as having 'problems'....and this is more true of girls, who 'traditionally' seek to please...and will learn better how to act 'as if' everything is okay when it's not. Besides....I think there are still teachers out there who will simply classify a student as ditzy or not too bright, and stick with that assessment without looking further into what's going on....of course, you seem to have done well.....and could have easily 'slipped by'.

My Pdoc who's been treating me for depression was pretty good about accepting the possibility that I have ADD, without a whole lot of testing. Actually, I think he's backtracking a bit, because he probably should have considered it years ago....but my main complaint was depression...

Don't give up! Perhaps a trial prescription would be helpful, unless you have some condition that contraindicates it.

P.S. I always tested well...much better than my actual performance. As I recall, whenever they had aptitude tests....not testing on things I memorized....I thought the problem-solving was fun. And because it was not repetitive, and each problem was a new challenge, I relaxed and had fun. I think most of my teachers assumed I was just 'average' until they started giving us the apptitude tests. I'd get reactions like they couldn't belive that 'I' had actually done so well.

[QUOTE=Utopia747]They gave me mostly intelligence tests which tested a variety of things from spacial ability to vocabulary. Both psychologists determined that my IQ was around 128 (according to this test of intelligence, I'm not brilliant but I'm above average). Then they did a memory test. With the first
shrink I scored in the 7% percentile on short-term memory (bad), but with
the second (who gave me an almost identical series of tests) I knew what
to expect so I tried really hard with the memory and scored almost
perfectly. Both shrinks said I couldn't be diagnosed because my attention
span during the testing seemed good. However, I was trying hard to do a
good job, and in some ways, I was interested in the whole process, so it
was very easy for me to sustain my attention.

In elementary school, my main academic problems were rushing into
things and problems with "following directions." I had a lot of social
problems with exclusion because I could not pick up on social cues and
would say the wrong things all the time. I still have this problem.
[/QUOTE]

Joyous5638593.7553125

IT's the old blind test thingy...

Some doctors do not feel something is true unless it shows in a blind test and the human element is taken out. So you can't influence the test itself consiously or unconsiously. The test is, to them, you either pass it or you don't.

To me, its like taking someones tempature, not seeing a fever and saying your not sick.

It totally leaves out patient History, which is the most useful tool of all.

You might not be adhd, there are many things that look like it and have similar symptoms, Bipolar and OCD come to mind, look them up as alternatives, but remember, in the end you are the owner of you. If you still feel you might be adhd, and they are getting it wrong change doctors. Some doctors need all the dots to connect for a diag, but the brain isn't that simple, and like it was stated, you could just have coping skills.

When my young son was tested a second time, the results said that he didn't have ADHD like first thought and his concentration was fine. We told the Doc he was high, and told him to spend a day with him without concerta and see. He said everyone could benifit from Concerta it helps everyone focus. Then he said something that really bothered me. He said 99% of children who are diag with ADHD just have lousy poor or low income parents and displanary issues and just need a firm hand. I looked at him like he had three heads.

The guy was an idiot and obviously had feelings about adhd and overdiagnoses.

Don't let someone elses shortcommings or predudices color the flavor of your health and well being. Sometimes you have to shop at the right place to get what you need. But don't just assume because they said it isn't so they are right, get as many second opinions you need until you feel you have been treated properly.

'

Floof--thx for the info on the shortened life span due to meds. Sage advice.  Since I can't seem to "be all that I can be" on the fairly low dosage I'm on, I may not continue--I'll have to see, & depending if Psych lets me even stay on--since I had no childhood/education problems I may not "qualify" to stay on Adderall XR anyway.  Thank you for responding!

I find it odd that an intelligence test is given to diagnose ADHD or ADD.  Why would that indicate anything? If you want to test for intelligence, then test for intelligence. 

My psychologist asked me a lot of questions.  He asked me what the name of the hospital was that we were meeting in.  I didn't know!!!  I had to look up the name of it to find him.  I had to drive here and see the sign, yet I couldn't tell him the name.  Crazy!  If I had known it was going to be on the test, I would have studied for it!!!

I got straight A's in my first year of college easily!  That dosen't mean that the rest of my life wasn't a mess.  My room, my bed was never made, my life in other aspects suffered. 

As I got older and had more and more responsibilities, things started to fall apart.  I was a stay at home mom for a while, but dinner would never get done until late.  Then when I'm a working person, I change jobs each year, start a business, make a lot of money one year, drive the business into the ground the next couple of years - it helps when you remember to MAIL and keep TRACT of your invoices!! LOL!

ADD and ADHD come in many forms for each of us.  If I had taken the intelliegence test to tell me if I had ADD, I would not have know I do have it.

GET ANOTHER OPINION.  Then relax and go for this crazy ride that we are all on.