Dear 2431: Here are some of my thoughts on your post. ADD/ADHD is widely believed to be present from a very early age. Do you recall being inattentive in grade school? Daydreaming, even at the most inappropriate time? Constantly fidgeting, squirming in your seat? Toe tapping incessantly, etc. Many more more symptoms than I am describing here. There are some excellent websites out there, just do a search. Each one seems to have some really good information that might assist you re: ADD/ADHD and perhaps you will have a better understanding of this diagnosis and if it truly applies to you.

Advice on how to bring up this to you parents. What I think I might try is this. Engage them in a general conversation about your childhood and growing up, attending school or something along those lines. Then I would ask them if they thought that you were particuarly hyperactive as opposed to the other kids. Or perhaps more inattentive than your peers, etc. If they answer you in the affirmative, maybe bring up the thought of you possibly having ADD/ADHD and let the discussion go from there.

Next part gets a bit harder for me to respond. Everyone's insurance is so different and cover medical problems vs. mental health care differently. I am sure that you have to follow some protocol, which may or may not include seeing Primary Care Doctor first for a mental health care concern. Most insurance companies have websites and with a little research, you may get the answers you seek without dealing w/the PCdoc. If not the website, call the insurance company at their 1-800 # and ask what you need to do. More than anything, it is wonderful that you are looking into this and seeking the help you need. Just stick with it, you more than deserve to feel good and if you are diagnosed w/ ADD/HD, the meds could make you feel like a new person and really change you life. I hope this is somewhat helpful, I have severe ADHD and do not function well at all w/out the meds, so it vital to me. Let us know how it goes for you!