[purplehoney20]

hi, i just found this site while looking at google. i have not been treated for adult adhd (since i have no insurance, due to being unemployed), but i have major concentration and multitasking issues while driving.

it took almost 10 yrs for me to get my driver's license right after my 25th birthday last year, and i still have a hard time being behind the wheel. i knew that i had signs of adhd since i was a kid. i felt "different" from everyone else around me. i struggled to pay attention and focused. but my parents thought that i was stupid and lazy. my self esteem was low (and still is in some ways). support system is non existent.

i get anxiety attacks, can easily go into hyper-focus and tune out everything around me w/o even realizing it until someone else in the car says something. after a few months of driving, i felt ok. but after a small fender bender this past january, all the confidence i did have before is now gone. i fear driving and feel like i don't know what the hell i am doing. but all i get from friends and family is to just "get over it". that part is easier said than done. if a 16 year old can do this, then why can't i?

living in an area where there is little to no public transportation is a pain in the butt. i will be starting a new job this thursday, which involves driving clear across town. how can i do it and have faith in myself w/o letting my symptoms get to me?

[carmely316]

I have a hard time with driving with anyone in the car but my husband. I beak off at anyone- start swearing and yelling. If I'm being talked to and I pay attention to the conversation, I will forget what I'm doing and I tend to panic if I see a red light at the last minute even if I have tons of room to stop. I also tend to leave the radio off or on low as it will distract me.

But you learn to cope. Everyone has their ways of handling it... try to be relaxed, stay organized and prepare your day in advance. Get a good night's sleep and if you find you can't fall asleep, take some melatonin or try camomile tea. Eat breakfast in the morning, too... I don't know about you, but rushing around on an empty stomach makes me frantic. Have some snacks with you if the day is long. These are things that I've learned help big time!

Have you thought of trying hollistic measures to help with concentration? It's probably much cheaper than meds- B complex, omega fatty acids, and fish or flaxseed oil (fish oil gave me gas so I was using flaxseed oil as well as putting it in my foot when I had the chance).

You can do it! Good luck at your new job!

I think you should save up to use medication just for when you're driving. We can be very dangerous when unmedicated.

Im not medicated either yet and many very bad things has happened. I'm 16 with ADHD-PI so i'm going to wait to be treated before I drive because last time, when i was with my driving teacher, I zoned out a whole bunch of times and even drifted off and started driving on the wrong side of the road.

There was another time when I was in the mechanics shop and forgot the truck was on first gear when lifting up the tank and I almost drove into another truck. luckily, i turned the key after I panicked or I would have cost the company hundreds of thousands of dollars. I anyone was under the truck fixing it they would have been dead so being properly medicated is serious for me.

testtest

[Maus5321]

I loved driving even when untreated, although that was my way to relax and calm down, and drive fast lol. Sometimes I would just turn the radio down and listen to the engine of my truck, I could drown everything else out and be one with the road and truck lol. Kinda goofy but I love it.

[Miswimmy1]

Your story sounds similar to mine: feeling *different*.

have you seen a professional about it? it sounds to me like ADHD or ADD is probable

[Miswimmy1]

Originally Posted by Alonewithmycat

I think you should save up to use medication just for when you're driving. We can be very dangerous when unmedicated.

I agree with this. I would never drive without my medication.