[Amanda_1981]

I've always wondered if I have ADHD. I have a hard time focusing on one thing at a time, especially when I'm reading.. sometimes it takes me over an hour just to get through 20 pages! I just can't focus my mind and concentrate.. my mind wanders all the time, I get fidgety, and when I was in school, I found it difficult to study.. I'd always have to take lots of breaks (at least every half hour, if not more). I just couldn't stay focused for very long. When I am sitting down (at the computer desk, or watching tv), I am constantly moving my leg up and down and also (I know this sounds weird) but I wiggle my toes ALL the time. I just feel like I can't stay 'still'.

Are those symptoms of ADHD? My mom did tell me I was a very hyperactive toddler when I was little, although as I grew older I became a lot less hyper and really really shy. All my life I just thought I was a little unfocused but today one of my friends was watching an old video clip of me from when I was 16 and the first thing she said was "you look very ADHD in that clip.. you won't stay still" (I was sitting at the computer desk in the clip). I also have always had major insomnia problems.. is that also associated with ADHD?

Do you think I should be getting tested for it, or am I just worrying for nothing?

[Aunt Donna]

It is definitely something to look into. You can try taking one of the quizzes that PC has. The quizzes help you understand a lot about yourself. I am surprised how many of my friends that have it. I have some tendencies of it, but I work on controlling. Like if I am listening to a speaker, I take notes to keep my concentration.

[Junerain]

Rude comments hurt us and we should try not to take them to heart...if your symptoms have not forced you to lose your job (Like my ADHD did) to lose friends (like mine did) to basically ruin your life....perhaps you should look into insomnia and getting help for that or wherever you feel you need the help....I tap my leg all the time too, and feel there is nothing wrong with that...some people feel the need to make inappropriate comments with no thought about how this will affect someone..

[Briester]

My case is similar though I've not really discussed it with my Dr. considering I finally HAD to get some help with depression so I didn't want to hit her all at once and have her think I'm a hypochondriac.

I have a lot of difficulty focusing and pretty much have to be moving most of the time. Being as I work in IT I can usually make an excuse to get up and move (have to take a service call, etc.) When I'm sitting down I usually have to move something or rock in my chair.

When I took the ADD quiz here on PC, I think I got like an 82 which pretty much means I have it seriously.

The next step will be talking with the Dr. I just have always, all my life, avoided Dr.'s and medicines (well, occasional heachache or pain killers aside). I'd speak with your Dr. at least and let him/her know what you think.

Good luck.
Chris

Originally Posted by Amanda_1981

I've always wondered if I have ADHD.
Do you think I should be getting tested for it, or am I just worrying for nothing?

Get tested, if possible. I was diagnosed with ADHD after: A psychiatrist administered tests involving puzzles, numbers, and one involving hand/eye coordination. An MMPI (personality inventory). MMRI (being in a magnetic tube that booms around you. Afterwards I got to see a picture of my brain. Neat!). A detailed childhood history, mailed directly to him, by my mother (describing my behavior as a child, with a history).

After all the above, my psychiatrist put me on Ritalin, and basically let me choose my own dose; he also allowed me to try Adderall and all of the other stimulants. I liked Ritalin best.

If you really have ADHD, stimulants will have a paradoxical effect on you and calm you down. It's complicated.

I took 80mg of Ritalin daily for years (60mg daily is the highest recommended daily dosage). I built up a tolerance quickly, as I do with all drugs, and took myself off of stimulants -- except for coffee, which I still consume in large amts -- a few years ago. They calmed me down and focused me, but were not good overall over a long period of time.

But they are definitely useful for awhile, if you have ADHD.

Most people with ADHD have a mind like a hellish, frantic carnival; constant distractions accompanied with bizarre periods of hyperfocus and intense concentration. Very uneven and chaotic. But you learn a lot when you have 200-300 passionate interests, so it isn't all bad. Mike

[Briester]

Originally Posted by cypher

But you learn a lot when you have 200-300 passionate interests, so it isn't all bad. Mike

Wow isn't that the truth. That's exactly what I've been going through all these years and one of the reason I don't do for a living what I'd like to do because I could never decide and focus on one thing. I loved the sciences (social and physical) as well as law and medicine but I wasn't able to concentrate on knowing what I needed to to do any of those and so I just drifted and find myself 39 and still not sure what I want to do.

Of course like you said you learn a lot. My parents bought my a complete hardback edition of the World Book Encyclopedia when I was 10 years old and by my 11th birthday I had read every single volume cover to cover (except the index volume)...I just wish I had that focus and determination in my daily life or my career goal.