Adult ADD without hyperactivity? Anyone?

"I can't for my life start at a starting point naturally and go through doing something and then complete it. It's impossible. evenUsually I think about a single action days before, and I almost panic when I really have to do it. Because I know how bad it will feel. I'm not sure why simple tasks are so draining for me, but they are, to the point where they scare me. If I really manage to start up a project I can sometimes have a hard time stopping ."

... Not sure if this will help you any but just knowing /realizing it has helped me. .. I have read that the not being able to start things and not being able to stop once you get going on things is very common for ADD suffers. If I remember correctly I read that we have times where we just cannot focus and other times where we are "hyper-focused".
In the past, prior to my diagnosis, and marriage and kids, when my schedule was more my own, I was aware that there were times that I could really be on a roll and get things done / completed, and other times that I just couldn't do boring things like paperwork or dry reading and I learned to go with it. If I was on a roll and getting things done I just kept on going regardless of weather or not I had originally planned to be doing something else or needed to get to bed or what not. I felt I was better off taking advantage of the time that I was effectively getting things done and "make up" the other stuff and in the times that I just couldn't do the tedious, focus requiring stuff I would do repetative, physical work, or chores that I enjoyed more.

Thanks for the info. And thanks for the offer to Pm but unless u have an answer that you would prefer not to share in the forum I would prefer to keep it online in case some of our convo may help someone else. I definately agree regarding the books, many good ones and most bring ah ha moments for me, some a few, some lots. I find even the less helpful ones still have somethings I find useful. Did some more research on meds ... blaaahh. I'm getting educated and minimal understanding but not really finding answers, maybe they don't exist.
So, If I am understanding this correctly, I found that when I take Adderall XR 15mg, as I am now, it releases 15mg immediately, and then another 15mg 4 hours later and from what I'm reading, is only meant to last 8 hours. If that is correct then that would explain why I am having issues and feeling as if my meds are wearing off in the evening, my day starts around 7 and usually ends around midnight. ... And, YYZ you are taking twice the dose I am and splitting it up into 3 doses daily. And No side effects for you? I'm still having side effects on my little 15mg. and did you ever do a time released version, and if so what were your experiences compared to what you have now? Realize that I'm patheticly crossing my fingers that you r going to tell me what I want to hear. That XR gave you side effects and less symtom improvement and non XR is great so I can have a quick and easy solution without med hopping.
Thanks again.

I don't have the hyperactive part, either. What's frustrating about this is the inability to find information on the disorder WITHOUT the hyperactivity part being thrown into the mix. I had actually taken a bunch of online adhd tests to see if I should mention my symptoms to my doctor but ... they all had the hyperactive part in them!

Yes, I have this as well. Although I believe what you mean is you are not OUTWARDLY (i.e. physically) hyperactive, but your brain is.

This is defined as Type 2 ADHD by Dr. Amen and was confirmed by my psychiatrist. (check out amenclinics dot com)

I am unfortunately having the same issue. It's difficult to find information that relates to ADD without the hyperactivity.

I don't have the Hyperactivity either, which is probably why I went 43 years without anyone noticing.

I would recommend a couple of books, both written by ADDer's, so they are easy reads.

1 - You Mean I'm Not Lazy, Stupid or Crazy
http://www.amazon.com/You-Mean-Lazy-...tupid+or+crazy

2 - Delivered from Distraction
http://www.amazon.com/Delivered-Dist...ref=pd_sim_b_4

Ah, thank you! I'm definitely going to check those out.

I never had anything like hyperactivity as a child. I've been told I am the inattentive type. It's a bit misleading as I can be VERY attentive, as in hyperfocus, when doing stuff I love to do. When I worked full time in a job that was perfect for me, I was basically encouraged & rewarded for hyperfocusing, and everything was great. Then I had kids, and the tasks associated with THAT job are numerous, constantly shifting, and most of them are tedious to me. Now my inattentiveness is provoked and a huge problem. Supposedly the issue chemically with our brains is that it takes more stimulation to start the happy chemicals flowing than it does for most people, therefore the only times we feel great are when we're doing the things we REALLY love doing. That echoes my personal experience.

As for treating... I don't have it figured out yet. For me, Ritalin does little... Adderall (amphetamine salts) is far more helpful... and I am trying Wellbutrin, which helps a lot BUT I can only handle half the recommended starting dose or it makes me irritable. Along with those meds, I take Prozac... and I have to work on restructuring my daily life so that I have less of the duties I can't stand. Which is not easy.

Is that helpful at all? Hugs to you!

I have ADD ...no hyperactivity though.

ADHD combined type, without the H (i.e. predominantly inattentive) dxed at 30 after years of thinking I just wasn't smart like the other kids.

So re: 15mg xr; it's my undersanding that xr basically means you get half the med up front shortly after you take it and then the other half hours later. So in your case it would be 7.5 mg shortly after taking it and 7.5mg is released lateron in the day.

I take 20xr twice a day which I think is WAY too much for me but it's gotten to the point I have to take it just to get **** done. Plus im on a pretty sedating AD....bleh.

I have been some research online about ADD-H and there is very little on purely ADD-H and not ADD+H. Which is annoying as they truly are very different. According to one source they even are affecting differnet parts of our brains'. Were ADD-H is primarily focused in the parietal lobe, the sensory processor, ADD+H actually effects many different areas even as far as the size and structures of aspects of the brain being different.

Lance- I wonder if we read the same website mentioning different parts of the brain being affected in ADD as opposed to ADHD. The site I was called ldproud.com, I think. It did have some really good information on the differences, I thought, but. my guess is that not so very many peeps have strictly ADD or ADHD- I think they overlap a little. I agree it's hard to find much about ADD- lots more info seems available about ADHD. I wonder if that's because more research has been done on the subtype with the H component- due to the fact that it's caused problems for more people. -By "more people" I mean the ADHD person, the teacher (if a child) spouse, boss or significant other if an adult. From what I see, ADD causes just as many problems for the person who has it- others don't always SEE those difficulties as easily, that's all. Anyone else think this may be the case? Other thoughts?

Both EXCELLENT books- but if you have to start out by picking one, could I recommend Distraction? Driven to Distraction and Delivered from Distraction are books written by doctors who themselves have ADD - they write in lay terms, yet manage to be thorough, occasionally humorous, and all I can say is that unless their conditions are managed REALLY well, they must have had the editor help with the layout - because it makes so much beautiful sense. When organization is such a problem for most of us ADDers, I admire a nice job with that when I see it. Hallowell and Ratey also make the books very readable- meaning, not a chore to get through them- they stay very much in touch with how ADD affects real life, real people, every day- it's not an ivory tower too-clinical approach.

Hi All- Can anyone tell me what type of physician to see to get treated? I've been treated for many years by a psych doctor, but my ADD is secondary to injury from an accident. My son is also ADD (poss inherited from his dad, who has ADD). My son has been treated since diagnosis by his pediatrician, but he turned 18, and so can no longer see that doctor. He hasn't outgrown anything (believe me ) -and final exams are coming up. Do I find a specialist? Family practice? Psych doctor? If anyone could let me know the route they took and what kind of practitioner they see I woud much appreciate it. Thanks!

I'm seeing a psychiatrist for mine, and so does my husband for his.

Thanks Montana- if first diagnosed in childhood, did either you or spouse have to get "re-diagnosed" by pdoc?

We were both first diagnosed as adults, so that didn't apply to either of us.

Psychiatrist and Therapist

I think I have ADHD PI with hyperactivity of the brain???

I fidget and can't sit still but I don't feel like im driven by a motor or bouncing off of the walls. That's kind of how I was when i was a kid.

When I turned 12 and hit puberty I guess the hyperactivity went from mostly physical to mental.

Is this possible? I think its the reason i have racing thoughts, get irritated and agitated all the time.

I'm ADD. Not hyperactive

I'm an adult with ADD. Been an adult for a very long time. When I was a kid they hadn't invented ADHD yet. I don't remember being hyperactive at any point in my life, but I fidget all the time. I'm always doing something with my fingers, messing with the seams in my shirt or pants, or something. But I don have to get up and move around. I've only in the last few years become aware that my eyes are scanning all the time. I used to think I was very observant, and maybe I am, but it's only because I'm scanning without even realizing I'm doing it. Weird, huh?

I have Add but without the hyperactive part

I stumbled upon this site the other day after finally getting my 21 year old daughter an appointment to be tested for ADD. After reading two Dr Daniel Amen books, I am almost 100% sure this is her issue. I see myself in a lot of the details, too, though suspect I've learned to manage the "important" things that one needs to tend to in life.

Took the quiz and it says:
"Based upon your responses to this adult ADD/ADHD screening quiz, you have replied in a way similar to people who have symptoms of moderate to severe attention deficit disorder. People who have answered similarly to you typically qualify for a diagnosis of ADHD or ADD, and have sought professional treatment for this mental health concern."

So here I am for now. I really want DD to get properly assessed. She will be a senior next Fall. [Major/Psych, Minor/Criminal Justice]

ETA: looks like I should be checked out, too!

Hi Anonymous,
I have been diagnosed with ADD. I get lethargic (would rather sleep all day), spacey, and extremely forgetful. I could not concentrate. You could tell me something a thousand times and I would know it (I thought), then I'd forget. I lose everything. As soon as I put something down, it's erased from my mind.

I started taking Strattera yesterday and already notice a big difference.

You're not alone. There are many people with ADD out there, most don't know it. Described as "slow", "dumb", and "out of it", are labels we've heard before.
Take it one day at a time :-)

Definately me!!