Do I have ADHD?

My friends were discussing about it the other day so as usual I got interested and went online to research more about ADHD (just out of interest) and somehow all the symtoms and descriptions seems to fit me so I am wondering whether I really have it or not because I don't seem to have had any major problems in my life before.

Just that I really could not concentrate, I do not listen in class (when I was 16 I would just walk around the class when made to stand at the back, even when the teacher is talking. And it never occured to me not to do that), and I used to get into a lot of trouble for not doing homework..

I don't remember but many people told me that I am a kinda trouble maker in school but it was still not that bad.

I also have trouble finishing any sort of projects I started with and I really have lots of ideas for lots of stuff I wanted to do but never got around to finish doing them.

Other stuff that I had read that seems to hit home is that, I can drift off and not finish my sentences for no right of reason, I drift off when people/teachers/friends are talking and I do not remember what people actually say. My mother used to say it is because I have failed to actually CARE what people are saying and that is why I dont listen.

But I've realised that even when I am really intersted in what is being said, I'd still THINK that I am listening when I am actually thinking about other things.

I also say a lot of rude things, even to strangers, without thinking and do a lot of things on impulse.

Many people say that I am hyperactive though I never really felt I am unless I ate sugar-high food/cafaine and then I'd get really high (I once got so high on NOTHING people even thought I was drunk when I am not). I can also function perfectly well sleeping only 1/2 hours a day for a few days until maybe the 3/4th day when I would start to get a litle tired but compared to other people who stayed up a night, I am still fairly high.

But I never felt like what I seem to read, of how people not being able to fit into society and such. Another thing is that I have OCD and I hate dirt etc. but I am a naturally messy person. I am neat, but still not that neat and my whole character seems to just contradict itself.

I don't really remember much of my childhood though because for some reason, I seemed to read a lot as a child though I used to read many books at one time even then. As I got older I got addicted to the computer but I realised the other day that even so I have at least 5/6 programs all on at one time and I can surf around 10 web browsers at one go.. but when I am doing such things I do not shake legs, play with pens as I do usually..

So I am not really sure if I really have ADHD though my friends say that I probably have. Just that it never seemed to be a problem to me except that I can never settle down to read my school books because I am always distracted.. (like I am supposed to be doing homework now but instead I am surfing the net for random stuff)

With all your experiences, do you think I might actually have it?

It is possible................... but seeing a doctor will be the only way to know for sure - please make an apt with your GP.... he/she will discuss this matter with you and probably perform a test or two to help determine if you have ADHD or not.

Good Luck....... ((( hugs ))))

LoVe,
Rhapsody -

well it does sound like you do have symptoms of the illness. You are helping yourself by doing research on the internet... and I know that there are a lot of online tests that could help you see if you do have it or not... but answer them as truthfully as possible.

lots of people here can tell you whether or not you may have ADHD but a doctor will be able to give you the best possible diagnosis.

Take care x
Blue Eyes

You probably should get a doctor to check it out, see if there's anything that would be helpful to work on. Some of your symptoms sounded like they could be bipolar disorder also. Others just sound like your mother was right :-) and/or you were never "taught" to pay attention and/or interested in persuing any project to completion. I was like that growing up (I'm 56) and I am not ADHD though my sister-in-law teases that my 65 year old brother is. But if you're not unhappy with how you do things, if they don't interfere with how you want to live your life, then it's not really a problem? There's a certain amount of truth in the proverbs like "Defeat isn't bitter if you don't swallow it." If you are having trouble holding down a job or are working hard to get good grades but you keep getting in your own way, then see a doctor/specialist and see if they can help?

yes i've done a couple of online tests and they all seem to be slightly high.
the only thing that is bothering me is my inability to concentrate. is there some sort of help for it?
i can stare at a book, read a whole chapter of it and still have no real idea what i am reading because i think about other things when i am reading.
i cannot concentrate in class unless i am doodling and thus all the teachers thinks that i am being disrespectful etc. because if i don't do that i'm afraid i'd distract the people around me by constantly shaking my legs, handsetc. but if i actually doodle i can calm down.
and i can never seem to catch what the teachers are saying. as in i can understand perfectly what they're talking about but i never seems to get to the end of their sentences.
it is not even forgetfulness. i don't even seem to REMEMBER when i first hear the stuff. maybe it is not even ADHD..

but anyway is there anything i can do to help improve my concentration because unless i am thinking to myself, i cannot catch up with other people's conversation esp. in class because i just some how never catch the 2nd end..

i just have to say that everything you are saying sounds exactly...EXACTLY...like me. My doctor said that its either ADHD or Bi-Polar. I know that i am not bi-polar becuase I do not get really depressed...but i just thought it was interesting when reading what wrote becuase can relate to everything you said. I am in college..and my friends actually call me ADHD...as a joke becuase i think it radiates off me..the whole people think ur drunk..that always happens to me but in reality im not at all im just super super hyper..and no one can ever understand me when i talk becuase I talk apparently sooo fast. Unless its affecting your life u wouldnt need meds or anything..And my mom and i just got in a fight the other day becuase she said i just never "care" when i dont remember what she even told me to do.

i dont think someone with adhd would have the attention span 2 read loads of books,must get bored after only 10 mins,i have alot of add symptoms but my love of books as a child rules me out

Kazza, a love of books and the ability to read and enjoy books you really like would not rule you out as having ADHD.

Not at all.

How do you do with books that you HAVE to study.......like math, chemistry or grammar?

How do you fare when trying to remember facts from THOSE types of books?

That's the question.

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Just that I really could not concentrate, I do not listen in class (when I was 16 I would just walk around the class when made to stand at the back, even when the teacher is talking. And it never occured to me not to do that), and I used to get into a lot of trouble for not doing homework..

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That does sound quite a bit like me actually. Especially the homework part :\

How were you a trouble maker in school?
Did you get in trouble for talking out of turn, not being able to sit still, talking with the teacher was talking etc?
Or do you think maybe you had problems obeying authority? (I know I did... and still do lol. People from my daycare years ago, occasionally see my mom somewhere, and occasionally mention how much of a challenge I was even at 2.)

It's interesting that you mention the OCD part. Were you diagnosed by a psychiatrist for that one or are you mostly speculating?
I know I've wondered in the past if I was too. My younger brother probably has OCD (we haven't gotten him diagnosed... but it's pretty safe to say that he's a rather typical OCD and has all the symptoms). I'm not as bad as my brother, especially in the extent of my symptoms, but if I take any tests for OCD online, I end up coming out positive for it still. My mom doesn't think I have it though because my room is so messy (me and organization kinda clashed there lol).

That's interesting that people suggest that you're probably hyperactive too. I find that people who don't know me as well as my immediate family seem to assume that as well for some reason. But you'd be even more likely then me because I adore my sleep lol.

I think there's certainly a possibility you do have ADD or ADHD. But I still suggest you see a psychiatrist so you can find out. The psychiatrist might be able to find other things you didn't see as important that point you in one direction or the other. Personally, I say don't just trust your friends. My friends say a lot of things based on what they've heard and what they perceive as symptoms of ADD. But one thing I've learned is that most people have rather distorted views of ADD/ADHD, even as adults. I encourage you to learn for yourself and look into a psychiatrist instead.

Yeah. I agree that most people don't have the attention span to read a bunch of books *most of the time*.

But another attribute of AD/HD is the tendency to overfocus... so like somebody else already said, things you want to read can be easier to focus on then things you have to read.

I know when I'm really excited about something, I can stay exclusively focused on a book for hours.

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but anyway is there anything i can do to help improve my concentration because unless i am thinking to myself, i cannot catch up with other people's conversation esp. in class because i just some how never catch the 2nd end..

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My meds help me focus a lot better. You can get them prescribed through a psychiatrist.