[30noer]

Hi,

I have a simple question(not really). Where do I as an adult go to, to get tested for add? Every job(works the same with everything in life) I have had, I start off really motivated really great worker but as soon as I've been there for a good couple months my quality of work decrease severely. I find I have a ton of the ADD symptoms but then again it seems a lot of people think they have ADD. I find it difficult to stay still in my cubicle, always try finishing peoples sentences or answering questions before it is asked(catch myself and apologize), find myself regretting a lot of things I say off the top of my head. Not very good at being social, seems I can't think fast enough to keep a conversation going. Some days I'll feel great and be very funny and witty but when I do have a day like that I find the next day I am deprived of energy. I am starting to think that when I get excited or have a great time or just something good happens, perhaps my body releases too much dopamine and I can't control mood. Well at least less than the majority. From the 1st time in 1st grade I made someone laugh, I could not shut up in class, seems like every year i promised myself I would try to stay quiet. Never did. I always wished I could be into reading and all, occasionally did read a good chunk out of a book but for the most part I read really slow and its a pain to read. My head hurts, often even if I read it out loud I will not know what I just read. Anyways, I am sure there are plenty of people like me who have typed just this. What do I do?

Best regards,

Lcpl Smuckatelli

[Miswimmy1]

I suggest seeing a psychologist or a psychiatrist. If this is urgent, i would skip going to your local doc and go straight to the professionals. Both can diagnose, although only a psychiatrist can prescribe meds.

[krisakira]

You need to tell your general physician everything you just said here. S/he can refer you to a psychologist who can assess you.

[Tsuki632]

Go to the first doctor with an M.D. after their name that you can see. My doc's view was, "yup, sounds like ADD, let's see if Concerta works, if it doesn't we'll know soon and no harm done." Unfortunately for me, meds don't work, but everyone is still pretty sure I'm ADD. For me coping skills have been helpful. I found a job that is different every day. I'm an x-ray tech, so I know I'll be taking x-rays, but I never know what's going to walk or roll through the exam room door on any given day. I've given up trying to be good at any hobby, once I figure out how it works I get bored and move on (I only ever made it to level 3 on Mario Brothers.) So I've become content with dabbling. When it comes to important conversations, I have to write things down, or get the other person to write them down. Email is great for this. It's not easy some days, especially in social situations, but it's manageable.

Meds do work for a lot of people I know. If you're not opposed to them, give them a shot.

[30noer]

Originally Posted by Miswimmy1

I suggest seeing a psychologist or a psychiatrist. If this is urgent, i would skip going to your local doc and go straight to the professionals. Both can diagnose, although only a psychiatrist can prescribe meds.

Thanks, I asked this a long time ago and wasn't familiar with how forums work but I finally stopped procrastinating and got insurance a couple months. Went to the Psych and got prescribed Vyvanse. Since then have been also prescribed a stud dose of adderral for days i need a little extra push. I did horrible in grade school and am now after 5 years out of high school, getting A's and B's in college. Reading is now possible for me and i can actually visualize what I'm reading and most importantly i enjoy it. Great medication! it sucks that i need it to function as others do without it but its better than nothing !

Thanks for your replies

[30noer]

Originally Posted by Tsuki632

Go to the first doctor with an M.D. after their name that you can see. My doc's view was, "yup, sounds like ADD, let's see if Concerta works, if it doesn't we'll know soon and no harm done." Unfortunately for me, meds don't work, but everyone is still pretty sure I'm ADD. For me coping skills have been helpful. I found a job that is different every day. I'm an x-ray tech, so I know I'll be taking x-rays, but I never know what's going to walk or roll through the exam room door on any given day. I've given up trying to be good at any hobby, once I figure out how it works I get bored and move on (I only ever made it to level 3 on Mario Brothers.) So I've become content with dabbling. When it comes to important conversations, I have to write things down, or get the other person to write them down. Email is great for this. It's not easy some days, especially in social situations, but it's manageable.

Meds do work for a lot of people I know. If you're not opposed to them, give them a shot.

Thanks for the reply! i can totally relate. I finally got to see a Psych and life is slightly better. I have been confused about the issue my whole life but now understand why at least.

[Miswimmy1]

Originally Posted by 30noer

Thanks, I asked this a long time ago and wasn't familiar with how forums work but I finally stopped procrastinating and got insurance a couple months. Went to the Psych and got prescribed Vyvanse. Since then have been also prescribed a stud dose of adderral for days i need a little extra push. I did horrible in grade school and am now after 5 years out of high school, getting A's and B's in college. Reading is now possible for me and i can actually visualize what I'm reading and most importantly i enjoy it. Great medication! it sucks that i need it to function as others do without it but its better than nothing !

Thanks for your replies

Glad that you got the help you needed! It's really amazing what medication can do... and don't be ashamed for taking it. If you had diabetes or something, you wouldn't think twice about taking insulin... If it helps you, that's all that matters

[Arwen_78]

Originally Posted by Miswimmy1

I suggest seeing a psychologist or a psychiatrist. If this is urgent, i would skip going to your local doc and go straight to the professionals. Both can diagnose, although only a psychiatrist can prescribe meds.

Miswimmy1 I think this was awesome advise as I think people should just go to the professionals in the first place. Not every doctor is willing to listen to you when you think you might have ADD/ADHD. Not to think the people around you.

[Miswimmy1]

Originally Posted by Arwen_78

Miswimmy1 I think this was awesome advise as I think people should just go to the professionals in the first place. Not every doctor is willing to listen to you when you think you might have ADD/ADHD. Not to think the people around you.

yeah, I wrote a piece on the abuse of ADHD medication. And primary care docs are actually not trained to prescribe psych meds. They can do it. But they don't have the knowledge that psychiatrists do. Many are way to quick to write a script. On the contrary, abuse is becoming wider known and for that reason, some doctors refuse to write scripts for ADHD medication. So it can go both ways. Going to a psychiatrist is the best option because they can properly diagnose you and treat you. It's a win-win.