[Simmy22]

Everyone thinks I don-t focus because of depression. However, I think I have adhd, because >
When I was young I used to forget a lot of things, and she used to come to school with them, like, lunch, hw etc. She said I used to do hw on the bus or just before class, and whenerver I didn-t manage, she used to write letter of excuses to the teachers, saying I was sick. I used to talk excessively and she couldn-t take me to church as I would repeat word by word what the priest was saying out aloud. I never had many friends. I don-t remeber much, as then I fell into depression at about 10 years old. Then I got treated at 19, but now I can-t focus on my studies, my bf says be talks to me and I don-t seem to listen, I am tired after 3 hours of trying to focus. Really I -m always tired! I can stare at a page trying to read it for hours and not managing as my minds drifts away over another million things, not related to it, then I re read and re read until I get frustrated, and get depressed.
What do you think?

[Maus5321]

Sounds like it could be to me. hang tough. You need to change doctors and find someone who specializes in ADD. Often times people who have ADD will develop depression due to there self esteem taking such a huge hit over there lifetime. Not to mention we are afraid to engage people in conversation as they think we are not listening to them, which give them the impression they are uninteresting. When in fact it is not your fault nor there's for what occurs. We also feel a lot of times we can never do anything right which forces us further into depression. Often if ADD is diagnosed correctly and treated with medication and the medication works. Self esteem will rise, depression will get better and confidence will reemerge. So I suggest trying to find a new doctor and see where that takes. You it is not an easy road to find one sometimes. I had been through 3 doctors over my life before I found the right one. She was my 4th try. I got the same diagnosis as you from the first 3 doctors I saw + a few other conditions. They told me I had anxiety, depression and social phobia. Ocd like tendencies. Once I was diagnosed with ADD they all made sense and were all cause by my ADD. All the conditions could be perfectly explained by my add. Hope this helps

Doctors label people with depression/anxiety because it is easier to diagnose. Plus there is a lot less yellow tape to navigate when someone is diagnosed with them vs ADD. Doctors have to watch there ADD patients for signs they are abusing the adderall etc.

[Simmy22]

The fact is that where I live, there are only few psychiatrists! I live on an island. So its more difficult for me, besides, I m not rich to travel, since I m still a student. My goal is to become a psychiatrist, and try to understand people more, as I think that if you don-t pass trough these things you will never really understand!

[Maus5321]

Originally Posted by Simmy22

The fact is that where I live, there are only few psychiatrists! I live on an island. So its more difficult for me, besides, I m not rich to travel, since I m still a student. My goal is to become a psychiatrist, and try to understand people more, as I think that if you don-t pass trough these things you will never really understand!

I truly Agree! The best way to understand someone is have walked down the same path. I wish you the best of luck. I wish I could offer more advice. But you are just gonna have to stay with. Things will turn around!

I am sorry you do not have more options available to you.

[Perna]

You could have both: ADHD Related Conditions: Depression in ADD Adults | ADDitude - ADHD & LD Adults and Children

ADHD and Depression: Common Bedfellows | World of Psychology

I would work with your doctor to make the depression meds work well (so you aren't tired all the time, sounds like that's new) and bring up the other problems you are having.

[Simmy22]

The fact is that I managed to pass my exams somehow, I usually manage to study only the last week, or the last day before my exams. I was coping well till A levels, then i always felt I was falling back in uni. I got into depression after the first year. I managed to pass the other 4 yrs, by postponing exams, or resits. I had a better IQ when I was young.

[2_b_free]

That doesn't sound like ADHD, it sounds like college life. A very large group of college students fake ADHD to get medication to get through marathon study sessions. If you are getting A's and passing exams, sound like you just need to buckle down and get to work. There are people who really have ADHD and they can't get medication because too many college students are lying to get speed.

[Simmy22]

I-m not getting A-s. I am getting C and D or having to resit, when I used to get A-s. I m not facking anything. I can-t study!

[montanan4ever]

Have you had a very thorough medical evaluation, including extensive bloodwork? You could have any of a number of conditions, such as anemia, hypothyroidism or lots of other things that cause fatigue and brain fog.

You are self-diagnosing. That's why people are looking askance at your assertions. Please get fully evaluated.

[Simmy22]

I did all blood work already, all normal

Not to be rude or anything but in my opinion is sounds like you're trying to find an excuse for no longer getting A's, but I just don't think ADD is the right excuse for your sudden drop in grades. I've never said "I can't study" I get bored, I get distracted, I talk way too much, I procrastinate, but I CAN study when I am well rested, take my medicine, and tell myself what needs to be done before I can have a break. It's not easy nor is it fun to make sure I am disciplined but I make it work, I adapt, and get good grades despite it all....and I never use ADD as an excuse for not doing something. Your depression diagnosis does sound more accurate to me. It's just my opinion, and really, what do I even know.

[-jimi-]

I know we love to judge in here but mix nine years of untreated depression with an underlying problem... My ADD wasn't much of a problem before I became depressed because I could compensate in different ways. When depression became too bad, I lost the means of compensating. I used to do things in a hurry, but suddenly I was way too drained to use that approach and since it was the only one I knew I didn't know how to handle things.

But maybe I just wanted things handed to me what do I know???

I didn't judge anyone. I only gave my opinion so settle down. You're right, what do you know... certainly not me!

[montanan4ever]

Originally Posted by jimi...

I know we love to judge in here but mix nine years of untreated depression with an underlying problem... My ADD wasn't much of a problem before I became depressed because I could compensate in different ways. When depression became too bad, I lost the means of compensating. I used to do things in a hurry, but suddenly I was way too drained to use that approach and since it was the only one I knew I didn't know how to handle things.

But maybe I just wanted things handed to me what do I know???

Good heavens. You think this place is judgmental? Apparently you don't get around internet forums much. This and the other Psych Central boards on which I have posted are some of gentlest, most accepting places I've ever seen in my nearly twenty years of internet communications.

I'm a student myself. I'm 49 and not 21. I run a home and household, commute 45 minutes one way, six days a week, work some 25 hours a week on top of my course load. I suffer from very dreadful depression, currently THANK HEAVENS well managed since a recent meds tweak and with ongoing therapy. I was also just diagnosed with ADD and started medication for that.

I had to go through quite an evaluation and sign a contract in order to receive a prescription for Adderall. Why? My psychiatrist was very clear: Because people who are under a lot of stress, particularly students, are very prone to seek this type of medication to improve their performance. There's a lot of evidence to back up that assertion. He could lose his license if he's found to be prescribing highly controlled substances inappropriately.

That's serious stuff.

Now, the OP is self diagnosing and looking for validation of same in an internet forum. That's not the way to go about getting good treatment, especially for a condition for which the primary treatment is speed. You have to dot your i's and cross your t's and do. it. RIGHT.

I want her to have APPROPRIATE treatment. Call that judging if you like. I'll tell you in that case to grow up.

[Simmy22]

Well guess what dear court knee, ADD is no excuse. When you spend about 2 hours locked at home trying to study the same page and not managing, it means that you are trying hard. I got a diagnosis of ADD together with my depression. Happy about it? No , but it shows me that it may have hindered me from getting higher marks. I compensated well till A levels. But in Uni it-s different. I just hope that no one passes and feels what I have, as it-s really not fun.

[venusss]

There are also different ways to study. Get a book on that and try find a way that suits you.

That you got As on high school and not in Uni... uh well, harder classes. Different study style... it just doesn't automatically mean you have ADHD.

Depression can also take toll on your work and studies. I know myself when I am really down... I can't concentrate, can't remember, can't get motivated.

[Maus5321]

Originally Posted by Simmy22

Well guess what dear court knee, ADD is no excuse. When you spend about 2 hours locked at home trying to study the same page and not managing, it means that you are trying hard. I got a diagnosis of ADD together with my depression. Happy about it? No , but it shows me that it may have hindered me from getting higher marks. I compensated well till A levels. But in Uni it-s different. I just hope that no one passes and feels what I have, as it-s really not fun.

So did your Pdoc diagnose you?

[Simmy22]

The psychiatrist yes. happy for a diagnosis, but not happy to have it. But knowing what I have, may help me work on it better. the human brain is too complex, heh

[Maus5321]

Originally Posted by Simmy22

The psychiatrist yes. happy for a diagnosis, but not happy to have it. But knowing what I have, may help me work on it better. the human brain is too complex, heh

Well good for you that you found your answer. You may not be happy to have it. But things should get brighter. Doc starting you on any kind of med for it? GL with your path of working on yourself and getting things to be better hopefully.

[Simmy22]

yeah ritalin, already feeling a bit better, maybe if my mind gets clearer, I will be able to work on my problems and character more. There is a psychiatrist with ADHD in america Dr Hallowell.

he says he likes having ADHD, and it -s a gift to be unwrapped. We-ll see. Check it out

[Maus5321]

Originally Posted by Simmy22

yeah ritalin, already feeling a bit better, maybe if my mind gets clearer, I will be able to work on my problems and character more. There is a psychiatrist with ADHD in america Dr Hallowell.

he says he likes having ADHD, and it -s a gift to be unwrapped. We-ll see. Check it out

It is true. It is a gift in disguise. Just very difficult to unwrap. I have read two of his books. Driven to distraction and delivered from distraction.

[montanan4ever]

Well, obviously the right person DID indeed believe you. Time to focus on that and move forward. Why are you thinking you are not believed, then?

Yes, in going from high school/secondary school of any stripe to university there is *always* a change in levels and almost always a change in grades. Even if the material itself is not too challenging, it's a totally different environment, structure, style etc. This is normal.

I'm a lot older than you are and I'm in post-secondary studies for the second time. I still had a lot of hurdles to overcome along the way. The first two semesters I got straight A's and I thought I was pretty hot stuff. Then the material got deeper and the grades got tougher.

Remember, A's and B's are above average. C work is average work. It's okay to get C's. It's okay to have to resit or get an extension when you are not doing well. I went through a godawful depression flare four semesters ago (this is my ninth semester; I'm going part time) and had to get special considerations from a couple of my professors. Life happens, we dealt with it and moved on.

You're going to be okay.

[-jimi-]

Originally Posted by montanan4ever

Now, the OP is self diagnosing and looking for validation of same in an internet forum. That's not the way to go about getting good treatment, especially for a condition for which the primary treatment is speed. You have to dot your i's and cross your t's and do. it. RIGHT.

I want her to have APPROPRIATE treatment. Call that judging if you like. I'll tell you in that case to grow up.

If that is grown up I'm glad I'm an eternal child. No, of course I was referring to people saying No you don't have ADD, school is hard and you are lazy.

I don't know how that is supportive.

Originally Posted by Simmy22

Well guess what dear court knee, ADD is no excuse. When you spend about 2 hours locked at home trying to study the same page and not managing, it means that you are trying hard. I got a diagnosis of ADD together with my depression. Happy about it? No , but it shows me that it may have hindered me from getting higher marks. I compensated well till A levels. But in Uni it-s different. I just hope that no one passes and feels what I have, as it-s really not fun.

Well, I'm sorry I'm so awful and judgmental.

[venusss]

Nobody used the word lazy.

Saying school is hard is not being judgemental towards the person.

Remember, A's and B's are above average. C work is average work. It's okay to get C's. It's okay to have to resit or get an extension when you are not doing well. I went through a godawful depression flare four semesters ago (this is my ninth semester; I'm going part time) and had to get special considerations from a couple of my professors. Life happens, we dealt with it and moved on.

pretty much this. Where i come from only 12% people have university degree. So it's something only the smartest (or most tough) can get... not acing through Uni doesn't mean you have ADHD. Maybe you are just not academic type. ANd that's okay.