Any adults here with AD/HD?

[frannn]

I was recently reading an article in a Parents magazine, and found that many of the symptoms/signs strongly suggest that I have had this my entire life. It would explain a lot of things I thought were just eccentricities (sp?) of mine. How do they diagnose this, treat it, and what do you find are the benefits of the treatment? I am not a hypochondriac.... What led you to think you had it?
Thanks!

 

[aimee11621]

I think I have ADHD . I have never been able to concentrate, it takes everthing I have to focus. Always daydreaming my thoughts are always changing. I'm doing one thing and thinking of something else.

I am very impulsive. My daughter has been diagnosed with this and I STRONGLY BELIEVE SHE HAS GOTTEN IT FROM ME.

Tasks ie Housework, mail, working in general. Have a really difficult time finishing something before starting another.

 

[frannn]

I also have a major lack of organization, have 10 projects all going at one time (but rarely finish anything except reading a book), have no sense of time, can not concentrate on a tv show if someone else is in the room, can not remember appointments, etc, can not manage my work/time, am very sensitive, obsessive compulsive about some things, lax about others, extremely anxious..... the list goes on and on.....
These are symptoms of AD/HD, correct? Or are they maybe masking something else???
I am just concerned more now than ever, as my DD15 has depression and problems with her school work, as well as other things. She was put on zoloft. I wonder if she actually has AD/HD, and if she got it partially from me????

 

[Christine]

I do not have ADHD, but my children do and I was checked for it because I have some of the symptoms.

First off, for adults, there is no test. Basically, you need to make an appointment with a psychiatrist who specializes in ADHD. Nowadays, many of them are taking a special interest in adult ADHD. In fact, the one I was going to was doing a study on it with free evaluation and free medication through the company that makes Adderall.

Anyway, a very good friend of mine who is 53 has it. He was diagoned about 10 years ago when he was going through getting his son diagnosed. He realized that he had all the same symptoms. He has severe adult ADHD and it has really been a problem for him all his life. The medication has helped him greatly and has helped him finally keep the same job for 10 years.

So, if you even suspect, your first step is a psychiatrist. It is actually much easier to get diagnosed than a child.

 

[2BOYMOM]

I have it. Back when I was in school, you didn't get disnosed, you just got in trouble! I did really poorly in school, couldn't finish my work, couldn't pay attention, etc. As I have gotten older, I've learned to deal with this. I still can't listen to long speeches, pay attention in church, that kind of thing. Very difficult to watch a movie that is over 90 minutes long. My DS15 suffers also, he takes Dexadrine.

 

[jana]

I have ADD and my DS 10 has ADHD. Neither of us are on medication for it. We regulate it with diet and vitamin supplements. We take L- Tyrosine ( a vitamin supplement). I take 1000 mg a day and DS takes 500 mg a day. This helps us immensely with concentration.

 

[KimR]

I was diagnosed with adult ADD (not ADHD) about 6 years ago. Like you, I was reading a magazine article on adult ADD and all of a sudden a lightbulb went off in my head. I went out and bought a few books on the subject and the descriptions of the disorder fit me to a T. I'd known all my life that I was different and 'something' was not quite right and finally I had an answer as to why.

I was formally diagnosed by a psychiatrist who specializes in adult ADD and was put on Wellbutrin. It helped for a while when I was taking it, but I had to quit taking it because I wanted to get pregnant, then breastfeeding, now trying to get PG again, etc. I was only on it for about a year.

I also have sensory problems that are related to ADD. I have super-sensitive hearing - noises that don't bother most people are quite painful to me. Also I get overstimulated very easily and if I don't 'zone out' in order to block out everything I get highly agitated and start to freak out. That is the absolute worst part and, unfortunately, the medication did not help with that - at least not the Wellbutrin. I haven't really pursued trying to find other medications that might help although I probably should becuase this really interferes with my life - I hate it!

Good Luck! One thing about ADD is that tasks which most people find easy and are able to do without even thinking about it are next to impossible for me. Other people often do not understand and just assume it's laziness. My DH and immediate family finally now understand (somewhat) and as for everyone else...well, I've just stopped worrying about it.

 

[Christine]

Kim,
You may want to investigate trying methylphenidate (Ritalin). When my doctor was trying to diagnose me, we did a trial run with Ritalin just to see if I would improve. If you have ADD or ADHD, 90 percent of the time these meds will work for you. Well, I had the opposit happen. I took it and felt distracted and disorganized!!!

My point though is that I am very sensitive to meds and their side effects and this was one of the most benign medications (to me) that I have ever taken. I did take Wellbutrin for awhile and I felt bad on it. I didn't feel bad at all on Ritalin. I just wished it would have turned me into a superwoman like they say it does.

 

[shelbyjosh]

Wow....someone hit the nail on the head! I was "hyperactive" (they never used the terms ADD or ADHD) as a child 1975ish. I was on Ritalin for few years. Now I can see myself this way again. I cannot just sit and watch tv. I have to be folding clothes, reading a magazine, or something else. I will start dusting then drift off to cleaning glass. I don't finish one task before starting another. I know I have a lot of things to do, but just don't know where to start. When I do start something I find myself starting another project! Can't finish one then start another. My organizational skills aren't the greatest.

 

[pw2pp]

Although I have never been diagnosed, I am sure I have it.
I also have many of the symptoms.....
disorganization
impulsiveness
short attention span,
have to go back and read the same thing over again, etc.....

It even affects how I DIS - I don't like to start reading threads that are several pages long because I don't want to commit so much time to reading it (even though it would only take a few minutes).
I also will not read a thread that is too long.

On the internet....... I jump from one website to another - trip planning, shopping, e-mail, all over the place,....... all within minutes.

sometimes it all makes me so nervous because my mind is jumping from one thing to another that it paralyzes me into doing nothing.

I really need to have it checked out but I am also a procrastinator.

 

[Christine]

Yes, you really do need to get it checked out. Many people who do not have ADD/ADHD do all of the things everyone here has stated: they can be disorganized, have messy houses, lose attention easily, hate meetings, etc. Lots of these behaviors are normal in non-ADD people.

What you have to consider is do this symptoms really interfere with your life. Are you unable to hold a job because they are so bad? Can you not relate to people well socially because your impulsive behavior is offensive? Do you find the din and noise of the distractions so bad that you feel the need to self-medicate (drink or do drugs) to bring some calm and order? That is the subtle difference between normal disorganization and what ADD people deal with.

 

[minniepumpernickel]

I'm not a hypochondriac, nor am I crazy. I have been accused of that in some places, lol!

Let me see if I can help you. Sometimes people who suffer from depression tend to get diagnosed with ADD too. I am one of them. I take lexapro, and it seems to have helped me focus also.

In school I was put in the gifted classes, but I had really big problems staying focused or doing the simplest things. It was like a had a radio in my head that was constantly flipping channels. I could do really advanced math problems, but I couldn't remember where I put my keys, lol! I kind of felt like some type of idiot savant.

I always got by anyway, but I never got the right medication until recently. The lexapro has also made me want to be around people a lot more. Something I used to not be able to tolerate for long periods of time. I just thought that I wasn't a people person.

Well, the moral to my story, is to go get diagnosed. Who knows, it may even change your life for the better. I am dating a nice, doctor now. The relationship is very stable, unlike the volatile relationships in my past....

So.....good luck!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

A pshychologist suggested that I may have ADD--but I was treated for anxiety instead. I don't wish to be medicated--so I haven't bothered looking into formal diagnosis.

I have concentration issues--like today, I've been wanting to clean my house--but here I am.

My dilemmas are in the organization area--things just don't stay organized...I have lost of unfinished tasks.

I find if I set a timer--it helps me--but it has to be a beat the clock sort of thing. But even then, I sometimes catch my mind jumping to do something else and then I have to say--NOPE--can't do that. Very hard to do.

I zone on the Disboards too much--keeps me away from what I have to do.

But I will bounce around threads like you wouldn't believe--so it doesn't seem that I am doing one continuous thing.

If it bothers you that much and you are concerned--a formal diagnosis is best. Good luck!

 

[geffric]

Originally posted by jana
I have ADD and my DS 10 has ADHD. Neither of us are on medication for it. We regulate it with diet and vitamin supplements. We take L- Tyrosine ( a vitamin supplement). I take 1000 mg a day and DS takes 500 mg a day. This helps us immensely with concentration.

Jana are you on Feingold or somethintg like that in additon to taking the vitamins?

Both DH and I have tendencies but in different ways
... I don't sit still well or for long periods of time. That's why I am a sales rep, so that I can move around ( funny thing to see a bunch of sales reps in a meeting and watch as we all have to get up and stand in the back of the room, so we can stay focused without having to sit still.) .. not a TV watcher and vacation at WDW since the thought of going to a beach and sitting still all day is not what I want or can do...

I am a list maker and that helps me stay on task or else I would not get all done that needs to be done.


Dh starts to pick up in one room and then as he is putting things away, wanders off to another room and "gets lost" doing something there.

 

[puggymom]

Wow reading this is like reading a biography of myself. I've had such a tough time trying to stay on task at work the last year or two and now I'm wondering...

HOw do you go about finding a decent psychiatrist?

 

[elemusing]

Please do not flame me, but also please be informed. Methylphenidate has been known to cause deaths. It can load up in your system and overload your heart just like Ephedra did. Check out this website: www.ritalindeath.com and be informed before taking any ADD or ADHD medication.

My son was on concerta for a few days and thank God was allergic to it. The rash forced me to see another Dr. and do some research on my own including calling the drug company - that is how I found out about the deaths. I took him off it and we are just dealing with his ADHD in other ways now.

The risk is small - but there is a risk.

Be well!
Angie

 

[Wishing on a star]

My husband had a co-worker who I SWEAR is a major classic case of adult ADHD..... I would definately recommend anyone who really suspects that that they may have this to look into getting professional advice/treatment. In this guys case, and I think in most peoples cases... it really affects their lives more seriously than they can see!!!! It has affected his work. It has affected his relationship with his wife and family, it affects everything. And I really do not think that he has the first clue that something may be wrong, and that it is adversely affecting him and everyone around him. ( I could NEVER be married to this guy ) His wife has to take care of EVERYthing, as he is too unfocused to be able to. She can never know what to expect in their life, as what he ends up wanting to do is constantly in limbo.... One serious example is that he drove his company issued vehicle right off the road into a ravine, completely totalling it, and nearly killing himself, because he was busy rummaging for his cell-phone and 'forgot to keep his eye on the the road'.

I guess, what I am trying to say is that, it is like somebody who does not see well does not really know what they are missing... They simply cannot know how the condition has impacted their lives until they finally get their vision diagnosed and corrected, and then it is like "oh my god!!!" When they are able to focus, it makes all the difference.

 

[janette]

Originally posted by Wishing on a star
I guess, what I am trying to say is that, it is like somebody who does not see well does not really know what they are missing... They simply cannot know how the condition has impacted their lives until they finally get their vision diagnosed and corrected, and then it is like "oh my god!!!" When they are able to focus, it makes all the difference.

Interesting approach, I also rate very high on any type of ADD checklist. I've never been tested but my youngest DD has and I know I have many of the symptoms.

I do have a good job and manage to compensate so I get by have always looked at it as something that since I manage okay there really isn't a reason to get the evaluation and possibly medications. The thing that probably bothers me the most is driving and that type of thing because it can be dangerous. Often I find myself doing things that are because of inattention. As I've aged I do better but still catch myself doing really stupid things.

I'd love to have a cleaner house and be more organized maybe even finish a few projects but if you've lived this way into adulthood it's very hard to imagine anything else.

 

[jana]

geffric,
We are not on any particular type of diet. We eat less carbs and for DS no red or orange dyes.