Any ADD adults out there?

[shortbun]

My husband and I are investigating the posibilities of both of us being ADD. We've discussed meds and a diagnosis with our doctor and a social worker. We are looking into possible meds but hate the idea of taking speed. Anyone have experience with alternative treatment or simply therapy? Just fishing for information. Thanks!

 

[Mishetta]

I was diagnosed about 3 years ago (while filling out information on my DS who is ADHD.) I found out I was ADHD too (& so is my little guy). All of us were put on meds & I can't tell you the difference in my kids' school work! They went from just barely getting by to A's & B's!

I do not take my meds daily because I do not work out of the house. I do take my Adderall when I have a school meeting to attend or a doctor's appt ~ something where I need to stay focused & be able to retain the important information. I also don't like the idea of us being on a form of speed but my kids need it for school & for self esteem. I also take a pill when I need to organize a closet (or some big project) at home. It takes that "overwhelming" feeling away & I can do such a great job in less than half the time because I'm very organized when I'm medicated.

I never checked out other avenues other than the meds, so I can't help you there. Good luck. If you need to take the meds, you will be surprised at how less confusing simple tasks become!

 

[shortbun]

Interesting that you only take it when you need it. I didn't realize that was possible. I may reconsider.

 

[tikilyn]

I jus did a google search and came up with this minnie test. According to it. I'm leaning strongly to add! http://www.healthyplace.com/Communities/ADD/ask/diagnosis/checklist1.htm

 

[mommiepoppins]

yes I am adhd I have not taken meds sense 1998 and I am against them comming off them is scary you become very moody and I have tried all different meds. I just learn to deal with God gave me.

 

[paigevz]

Oh, sorry, I wasn't paying attention when you asked!

Present!

Speed isn't speed if you're ADD, because you're already revved up..........it sloooowws you down.

I've only take Ritalin once. Otherwise, I just cope. Little brother takes it when he needs to concentrate, as in an important meeting. I just sit by someone who takes notes!

Little brother (6 foot 3 inches, but always my little brother), says it hampers his creativity.

 

[Mermaid02]

Possibility here- I can't complete one household chore before starting the next one.... and I never know it until someone points it out. My son is ADHD so it is a strong possibility.

 

[lsyorke]

I jus did a google search and came up with this minnie test. According to it. I'm leaning strongly to add! http://www.healthyplace.com/Communities/ADD/ask/diagnosis/checklist1.htm

Did you notice that every single sponsor on this site is a drug company??

At some point in anyones life we can fit into the categories.

 

[HomeSweetDisney]

I was diagnosed about 3 years ago (while filling out information on my DS who is ADHD.) I found out I was ADHD too (& so is my little guy). All of us were put on meds & I can't tell you the difference in my kids' school work! They went from just barely getting by to A's & B's!

I do not take my meds daily because I do not work out of the house. I do take my Adderall when I have a school meeting to attend or a doctor's appt ~ something where I need to stay focused & be able to retain the important information. I also don't like the idea of us being on a form of speed but my kids need it for school & for self esteem. I also take a pill when I need to organize a closet (or some big project) at home. It takes that "overwhelming" feeling away & I can do such a great job in less than half the time because I'm very organized when I'm medicated.

I never checked out other avenues other than the meds, so I can't help you there. Good luck. If you need to take the meds, you will be surprised at how less confusing simple tasks become!

I use Adderall as well and use it the same way you do. Works well for me

 

[tnkbl]

Adderall works well for me. I only take it during the school year or when I have to go to classes/meetings during the summer. I also take it on Sunday so I can pay attention in chruch and the back ground noise won't drive me bonkers!
I was diagnosed ADD in junior high, my doctor said I should just learn to controll myself. I am a much happier and well focused now. If I had taken medicine when I was in junior/senior high, I would ahve made a lot better grades!

 

[Mishetta]

Adderall works well for me. I only take it during the school year or when I have to go to classes/meetings during the summer. I also take it on Sunday so I can pay attention in chruch and the back ground noise won't drive me bonkers!
I was diagnosed ADD in junior high, my doctor said I should just learn to controll myself. I am a much happier and well focused now. If I had taken medicine when I was in junior/senior high, I would ahve made a lot better grades!

Oh ~ I agree with you there about making better grades if I had been medicated while in school. I did lousy in school yet I think I worked harder & studied more than anyone else in any of my classes. I just couldn't retain anything. Then heaven forbid if there was any noise in the house when I was trying to study, the noise would just intensify & I would have to keep re-reading the same sentence because it made no sense to me! I never went to college because I knew I couldn't cut it. If I had been medicated back then, things would have been very different for me.

This is the reason I'm not going to hold back on the medication for my boys. They feel so much better about themselves & actually don't mind school anymore & come home & sit down & start their homework promptly because they know when their meds wear off ~ their work will all be Greek to them!

 

[IwasatWDWforamonth]

Me since about the second grade but ive never had any medication

 

[shortbun]

I'm reading "Driven to Distraction" and getting some ideas there. Do the meds change your personality? I'm wondering about both my husband and I getting treated and how it will change our relationship.

 

[Mishetta]

I'm reading "Driven to Distraction" and getting some ideas there. Do the meds change your personality? I'm wondering about both my husband and I getting treated and how it will change our relationship.

When I take my meds, I'm a much calmer & more organized person. My DH loves me even more in this state!

 

[Froggyswife]

According to the test I am and have been all my life. Hmmmm imagine that. Has never bothered me. I always called it tuning out the background. Learned it when I had kids lol. Those test are so general that It seems to me like anybody who takes it at one point in their life or other they would have been diagnosed with ADD. It is amazing that these tests are all sponsored by drug companies.

 

[Christine]

I'm reading "Driven to Distraction" and getting some ideas there. Do the meds change your personality? I'm wondering about both my husband and I getting treated and how it will change our relationship.

Yes, it changes a bit--usually for the MUCH better. My co-worker (who is 56) has ADHD. Sometimes he goes off his meds for a drug "holiday." It is terrible for those around him. He is exhausting. Much better on the meds. But they don't change who he is at all.

 

[Mishetta]

According to the test I am and have been all my life. Hmmmm imagine that. Has never bothered me. I always called it tuning out the background. Learned it when I had kids lol. Those test are so general that It seems to me like anybody who takes it at one point in their life or other they would have been diagnosed with ADD. It is amazing that these tests are all sponsored by drug companies.

I suppose it is true that at one point or another almost everyone 'seems' ADD/ADHD BUT what my doctor told me was that if a NON ADD person took the ADD pills, it would make them more hyper. When an ADD/ADHD person takes the appropriate pills, it makes them calm down or slow down & thus able to focus & complete tasks. It doesn't really "slow" you down though, what it does is that it makes the neurons (?) connect & this allows ADD/ADHD people to actually be able to focus/concentrate & complete whatever they started. We have a missing link to that connection that is needed to be able to focus & stay on task that people with no ADD issues take for granted.

 

[KimR]

I have been diagnosed as having ADD and have been on meds, though I was on Wellbutrin instead of Adderall. My Dr. would only prescribe Wellbutrin for adults and while it helped some, I would have much preferred Adderall. I've been med-free for the past several years now because it seems I've either been pregnant, breastfeeding, or TTC, so - no meds. As a result, my house is a disorganized mess and I can't do anything about it!

Also, (and I'm sorry if this constitues thread hi-jacking), but do any of you with ADD also have sensory problems? I get easily over-stimulated and highly agitated in nosiy, crowded or chaotic situations. My Dr. said that was fairly common in people with ADD; however the meds did not seem to help that. Somewhat related to that, I cannot multi-task AT ALL. For instance, if I'm at the store looking for a particular item, my kids cannot ask me a question, because my brain cannot process both things at once.

Edited to add: Interestingly, I have read that ADD is considered to be a part of autism spectrum disorder. Which is intruiging to me because before I was diagnosed I knew something was wrong with me, I just didn't know what it was. I had a friend with an autistic child, so I did some research on autism and it occured to me that while I obviously wasn't autistic, I strongly identified with some of the traits. Then, a few years later I was diagnosed with ADD and discovered that it may, indeed, be related to autism.

 

[Beth76]

OK, so I took the test (yes the drug company sponsored test ) and got a 24. They said any score over 20 indicates a strong tendancy towards ADD. Yikes!

I've always had trouble concentrating. I'm not a good reader. Yes, I know how to read, I'm literate. But to sit down and read a book takes me forever and I'm not likely to remember what I read 30 seconds ago. And forget about finding the symbolism and stuff like that. I'm also very disorganized and can't keep things on track. I'm a huge procrastinator. I have trouble sleeping and I get tired (sluggish) during the day frequently (although not as much if I exercise that day).

I'm curious about those who say they take pills when they need to work on projects or attend a meeting. I'm very hesitant about medication (for myself). But wonder if I do have a problem. Other than this quiz, can anyone recommend where I could go for testing/diagnosis? Is this something a general practictioner can deal with?

 

[KimR]

I'm curious about those who say they take pills when they need to work on projects or attend a meeting. I'm very hesitant about medication (for myself). But wonder if I do have a problem. Other than this quiz, can anyone recommend where I could go for testing/diagnosis? Is this something a general practictioner can deal with?

I was diagnosed by a psychiatrist who specializes in adults with ADD. I'm not sure if a general practitioner would be familiar enough with the symptoms or treatments in adults.

Oh, and on the reading thing: I read somewhere that if you have ADD you either CAN'T read (not literally can't....you just hate it) or you HAVE to read - there is no in between. I'm in the have-to-read group: I read constantly - anything and everything and have found that it calms me and gives my mind something to focus on.