so i don't know for sure

hi, i'm new here, and it is a sort of new discovery in my life that i may have ADD or ADHD (sorry for my ignorance, but aren't they the same?) anyway, i'm wondering... do you have to take meds to deal with it?

tbh, i don't know for sure that i have it, i have not been diagnosed, but i have taken the quizes for it, and every time i score fairly high. when i explained this to friends, none seemed surprised *shrugs* i don't know, i never had the typical problems (or maybe i should say stereotypical) that you hear of kids having in school, in fact i did quite well in grade school, it wasn't until college that i started having issues with focusing, and i always attributed that to some fairly big life-traumas...

anyway, i wonder if anyone has had success with any sort of behavior modification program? and i suppose i am reluctant to see a doctor about it, i've not really been happy with my experience with doctors in the past... don't get me wrong, i'm not 100% opposed, just trying to sort out all my options and what is necessary...

*sigh* sorry for the long post... and i hope all that made sense... thank you in advance for any replies i get.

Hi! Welcome! I know a bit about ADD/ADHD, since my 17 year old son just had confirmation through testing that he has it....By the way, I think the two acronyms are used rather interchangebly, but the "H" stands for "hyperactivity," so I say "ADD" for my son, since he has the "inattentive" type, without the hyperactivity. In fact, that's why we were so long in getting him evaluated. I thought since he wasn't bouncing off the wall, he didn't have that problem.....

I do recommend that you see someone about getting tested, if you are wondering....We saw a psychologist, who was recommended to me. But they also find out about your personal history, including your school performance, and so on....It's not just tests. There are many books out about it, so you might want to look at some of them to see if you still think you meet the criteria. For example, there's "Driven to Distraction."

Best wishes!

hi, o.k. i know a lot about this subject. i myself have ADD and my daughter does to. as for...if there the same. now it is interchangeable but...it didn't use to be that way. in my personal opinion they're very different.
now, it's a good thing to be diagnosis ed. takes the guessing out of it. and if you do, you don't have to take meds. i myself, wasn't diagnosed until college. the amazing thing is, you learn coping skills without even knowing about.strange but true. want to do a little test? drink caffeine. how does it effect you? things like this, work differently on those with ADD. i used to give it to my daughter...it would put her right to sleep. for me, it helps me focus and when I'm tired, it slows the thoughts so i can sleep. but caffeine has only a short time effect. and the pills, doesn't take long for them to kick in. you can go off them at any time. but if you do have it...it's incredible. but, stimulants make you hyper if you don't. he might try a non-stimulate, though. but if it works, after awhile...you will know! behavior modification hummm. don't know of any. but support groups are good, they give tricks of the trade. but get tested, then take it from there. hope i helped. anymore questions, just post. I'll keep my eye's on this thread.