Do I have aDD?

I am trying to get help at the moment, I cant concentrate at all. I get distracted all of the time and my thoughts are constantly racing and unorganized. I don't know what to do, my performance at work is starting to suffer, I cant do what I most enjoy any more (reading) because I will read part of a page go into a dream or though, have to go back, start again, have to go back. I am like that until I am exhausted, and when I am exhausted I cant read because I fall asleep as soon as I go to bed. I am at my wits end.

Hi Divideby zero,

i answered you in the thread for adults with trauma history . Id link you but Im a post shy of putting in links so ..


Makes life intresting this way ... Why be normal when you can do things sideways..

or inverted.

I couldn't let you stay at "zero " . Just consider a no response by the others as a kind of group ADHD humor.



Patricia

(((((DivideByZero)))))

Great nickname, btw.
Okay, well, my first question would be to ask you if you have always had this pattern of behavior/thinking since you were a child? You can replace childhood maladaptive patterns with their adult version if that helps you any. For instance, instead of turning in homework late, you pay bills late (or whatever). Were you disorganized as a child like you are now, or is this new? If it's new, I'd be concerned more about depression or something else other than ADHD, keeping in mind that whatever you think of as being stereotypically ADHD behaviors/thought processes might not be specific to ADHD alone.

ADHD has a wide variety of symptoms that can manifest itself in a billion different ways, just like most other disorders.

For instance, hyperactivity may or may not be present in someone with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. There are three subtypes, and one subtype that is "ADHD Not Otherwise Specified" if they can't plug you into a specific subtype of ADHD. Myself, I'm the "Combined ADHD" subtype, representing equally hyperactivity and inattentive symptoms. Some are primarily the "Inattentive ADHD" subtype, and will be without dominant/codominant hyperactivity symptoms (at least overtly). Then there is the primarily "Hyperactive ADHD" subtype. You get my drift.

Do you see a psychotherapist? If not, would you like to get assessed to see what's going on? Even if it turns out that you don't have ADHD and instead it's something else, talk therapy can really be helpful. If you do have ADHD, the therapist who assesses you can refer you with a report to a medical doctor or prescribing health professional (like a Psychiatrist, a General Practitioner, or a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner for instance) to start a trial of medicine to help with ADHD symptoms.

I really think you should look through your local listings for therapists (PhD./PsyD. preferably) who have lots of experience in assessing and treating ADULTS with ADHD. Insurance usually covers all this. Do you have insurance? Are you ready to make the next step?

I'd like to add that most adults with ADHD have a comorbid disorder of some kind at some point in their lives. The most common comorbid disorders (if I remember correctly) are anxiety disorders and depressive disorders. The likelihood of having a comorbid disorder to ADHD increases the longer the ADHD goes undetected/untreated. That's why talk therapy (not just meds) are a good idea, even if you decide to go with medication too. I see a therapist for talk therapy and I take medication for ADHD. It works well that way, especially when first diagnosed and learning to tread water with a name for what's "wrong" with you.

LOL Patricia! You know us (and yourself) all too well! We love ya!

was up till 1:30 too Simcha.. trying to read through a very good artical intructing practitioners about things to be aware of when trying to diagnosis ADHD in children and Adults . A 40 pager so Im not finished.

You explianed how to proceed in a clear orderly fashion . ( envious I am)

I'll link the artical here after Im done .

Say next week if your lucky.. .. LOL!!!!!!!

Patricia

LOL
((((((((((((Patricia))))))))))))))
It's really super helpful to read and learn about ADHD. The more we understand ADHD and how we each individually manifest the symptoms, the better prepared we are to overcome the difficult symptoms of ADHD. I don't think ADHD is ALL BAD, and certainly not if we can learn to control and harness it's power. The way our ADHD brains assimilate and organize input from our lives is what sets us apart from those who do not have ADHD. Ever notice we seem to be constantly on a different wavelength altogether? I certainly have come to realize that in the two years since I was first diagnosed.

I'm a very fast and avid reader, but not as...efficient, per se, at writing.
Little do people know that it sometimes takes me so long to write a board post that the session logs out---and sometimes logs out more than once!

It takes me a bit longer to write quality words and organized thoughts so that it doesn't come out like gobbledeeguk. Even then, I don't always reach that goal! That's okay---practice makes perfect, and the more practice I get at anything the better I get. Most of us ADHD folks have problems in communicating on some level. Something to do with inprocessing and outprocessing information in a logical and coherent manner I think. It would probably help me if I could devote my attention span to one thing at a time more often, but I'm working on that.

-Sam
P.S.: Please post whatever ADHD interesting articles/info. that you have. That sort of support is invaluable, especially to those just diagnosed and/or just beginning treatment with our ADHD.