Hey everyone.
I'm 15 and female and I have OCD, depression and psychosis, and I'm wondering if you think the following symptoms could be related to ADD? I know I can't be diagnosed online, I just wanted some opinions.

I have been a daydreamer for my whole life. I find it very difficult to focus and concentrate on tasks at school unless I find it interesting, and so I rarely get them finished. I've lost all motivation and I always find my mind wandering and my thoughts racing, so it's hard to get a hold of them and just sit and do something. When I say daydreams I mean completely zone out for long periods of times (sometimes hours). I can't focus enough to do my work unless it really interests me.

I can read text over and over again but it doesn't sink in. I can't usually concentrate well unless it's very interesting or set out in a certain way (not loads of small text with no spaces).

People around me tell me I have a very short temper and I'm very irritable. I've always been sensitive and upset by things others would think are trivial or minor, but to me they are huge.

I can be impulsive and say things before I think...and then I later regret saying them. I also can't wait my turn in groups and I find it very difficult to make friends. They either think I'm too annoying or I just don't 'click' with them.

I have to always move. I have to bounce my leg up and down or rub my hands together or click my fingers and just do something to keep moving.

My moods go from very high to very low and I am offended quite easily (I still try to come across as strong though).

I have great trouble planning what order to do tasks in, and end up never finishing many of them (I can take on too much) and I'm a perfectionist.

It feels like there is a TV on in my head all the time and my thoughts race constantly. This worries me because I am very disorganised (thinking and behaviour) and there is lots of chatter in my head. My mind becomes so cluttered that it's hard to stay focused and I just cannot stop daydreaming (I've tried everything). My thoughts also jump around a lot.

I took the quiz on here and scored 111. Do you personally think this could be ADD?

[bipolarmedstudent]

Aspects of this sound more like mania to me (like the racing thoughts).

I have ADHD and it doesn't matter how interesting the work is, I still can't focus on it. Also, I have just as much trouble with 'fun' things like watching a movie, reading a book or magazine for fun, watching tv, etc.

I think it's pretty normal to have trouble focussing on your work if you don't find it interesting. IMO, what makes it 'adhd' is when you have trouble focussing even when you do find something to be fun and interesting (like reading a magazine article for pleasure, going shopping, or watching a movie). That's when you know you have a neurological deficit.

Originally Posted by bipolarmedstudent

Aspects of this sound more like mania to me (like the racing thoughts).

I have ADHD and it doesn't matter how interesting the work is, I still can't focus on it. Also, I have just as much trouble with 'fun' things like watching a movie, reading a book or magazine for fun, watching tv, etc.

I think it's pretty normal to have trouble focussing on your work if you don't find it interesting. IMO, what makes it 'adhd' is when you have trouble focussing even when you do find something to be fun and interesting (like reading a magazine article for pleasure, going shopping, or watching a movie). That's when you know you have a neurological deficit.

thanks for the reply tbh i do find it extremely hard to concentrate even if i enjoy something. I feel like i just cant start/finish projects even if its something i like doing. i was wondering because i can relate to a lot of the symptoms but im not sure. ill bring it up with my dr on thursday.

[maybeBP]

I am disgnosed as having ADHD (ADD) and most of what you said, I can relate to...to the point that I could of almost wrote it myself. I do not see myself as being very irritable and short tempered though (most of the time), as you stated you can be. The thing is, I am also exploring the possibility of being bipolar.

Some of the things you said sounds like you may also be bipolar. You should look into this and talk to your pdoc. Some of your other diagnosis may be part of bipolar. I am not a medical professional so it's hard for me to know what exactly your case is, but you may have ADD, bipolar, and whatever else. I hope that you have a good doctor that will help you figure it out!

I know that trying to get to the bottom of what is going on in your head sucks. I know that I just want to figure out how to be "normal" or how to function properly in everyday life, which I'm sure is all of our goal. I wish you luck in figuring it out!

I hope this helped!

[maybeBP]

Oh, I would also like to add that I have been taking Adderall for ADHD and it has made my moods very unstable. You may want make sure to find out if you could be bipolar too because I have made a whole mess of my life since I started taking Adderall. I have read that stimulants can have a negative effect on the lives of people with bipolar disorder. So, please be careful. I would not wish my current mental status on anyone. Again, good luck!