adult add?

I have a question about ADD vs. being absent-minded and forgetful. People have told me since I was in high school that I seem to have my head in the clouds. It has come to a fore with a job review last week in which I was told that although I have strong technical skills, I don't listen well and follow the directions I'm given on various tasks. My cycling coach has also been telling me the same thing lately, and it's true that while I'm on the bike (riding in a paceline or group) I'll forget to do what's needed like calling out debris in the road, etc.

I'm already seeing a psychiatrist for major depression and he suggested we do a trial run of Ritalin to see if it makes a difference - I'm to start that tomorrow.

I wonder how I'll know if I just have bad work habits or ADD. I always did well in school because I worked hard, but I did have a low tolerance for frustration, something I read can be typical of people with ADD. I also do find myself rushing through things and forgetting a lot. For example, I'll be filling out a form, and start on one line, then jump down to the next box, and have to go back.

I'd appreciate any advice you can offer. I'm really concerned about doing well in my job . . .

Thanks.

I have bipolar 1 & was put on Concerta as well as other things. I did take a test for ADD, but never really discussed it with my provider because I was so focused on the bp. Recently I needed to get my meds through a new mail-order service & they required a diagnosis for all my drugs. She did put down, I think is was, 3149. I looked it up on this site & it was ADD. I have memory problems that I think are compounded by my meds.

I also have trouble concentrating & can get very anxious when put on the spot with a question that requires some math skills or spelling. I didn't do very well in school, but I was also brought up in a very chaotic atmosphere with a bp/alcoholic mother & alcoholic father. They never helped me with any of my work. I didn't learn how to tell time until I was in the 6th grade & my teacher finally pulled me aside & worked with me. The other kids had learned it years ago.

My "learning style" was to read everything out loud & to basicallly copy the textbook into notes. Writing it down & reading it aloud somehow helped me retain better than just reading the text silently, but it never did help me with math, geography or science. I just couldn't get those subjects.--Suzy

Hope all is well with you. Did you begin your ritalin prescription yet? If so, how has it affected your symptoms/condition positively or negatively?

Peace to you this holiday season

Hi Breezer,

Thanks for your reply. I did begin with Concerta. At first it made me very drowsy after a few hours, and then I'd pop wide awake at night. It did improve my mood, but I'm not yet sure about how it's affecting concentration.

Have a wonderful holiday.

Suzy, you sound a lot like me.

Kuneamie, you mentioned depression......so is Concerta now the only med you take or were you already on something for depression?

When I was first diagnosed with ADD I had the same "am I really ADD or just forgetful and absent-minded?" kind of questions. At one point I was practically in denial and felt like maybe I had somehow not been quite truthful or just overexaggerated my symptoms.
I'm quite alright with it now however, as I've realized through books and other sources that yes, I am really ADD not just lazy/forgetful/absentminded/stupid etc. I don't want to insist that you are ADD as well because I'm no professional either. But it sounds to me like the possibility certainly exists.

I'm glad that you are seeing a psychiatrist though. I know that I learned so much about myself and my ADD through mine, and I recommend seeing one to anyone who wonders about ADD.

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I wonder how I'll know if I just have bad work habits or ADD. I always did well in school because I worked hard, but I did have a low tolerance for frustration, something I read can be typical of people with ADD. I also do find myself rushing through things and forgetting a lot. For example, I'll be filling out a form, and start on one line, then jump down to the next box, and have to go back.

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That sounds a lot like me actually. I'm almost finished with high school myself, but some things that I figured out at this point would have helped me so much earlier. Part of my denial with ADD at first was based in my idea that people who "really have ADD" must have much worse focusing problems then me anyway. But after being diagnosed with ADD, I started to really observe myself in situations. I had never realized before how much I really had to focus to pay attention, in volleyball for example, the coach would be talking and I would be drawn in the direction of each distraction (sounds from other team practicing, something falling, ball bouncing etc) and when I looked in the other direction I would habitually have to pull myself back almost violently at times, until I was completely fixated on the coach. But even then, I would be staring at him like a deer in headlights focusing as hard as I could, as I knew what he was saying but couldn't quite feel it sink in. I think I have always had a tendency to overfocus when listening though (possibly because my dad who also has ADD makes me so mad when he doesn't listen, even though he says he is). Yet, I never noticed how much work went into it either. My psychiatrist thinks I learned to be a pretty highly functional person with ADD, and I think that's also why I have a habit of asking a bajillion questions when people give directions (just to make sure I get what they are talking about).

Being on medication I've been more aware of how I am without meds and at the source of my ADD. Another thing I had never noticed before was how tired I was mentally. My mom would drive me home from school at times and even though I had all these things to tell her about school earlier, being in the car then and trying to visualize all I wanted to say, I felt exhausted like talking was too much work. Sometimes I felt so mentally tired from the day that I would have to lay down and sleep, just to feel able to deal with everything in my head.

I don't mean to bore you with stories about myself too much. (Actually, I find that when I'm in my happy mood, like right after the meds start kicking in and, well, now, I'm very happily talkitive lol). But I hope that you might be able to see more similarities/differences you might have because it's terribly frustrating at times and I'm so grateful that I got help when I did.

I'm seeing a psychiatrist for depression and ADD counciling currently as well. So I've been on quite a few medications myself. I think someone else asked this and I'm wondering too, are you also taking something for depression? Or is your psychiatrist perhaps thinking that your depression is a result of your ADD? I was just wondering because I know that even before I went to the psych doctor I had been on anti-depressants for a few years (my mom is a doctor and had relatively easy access) but the psych switched those drugs too. For depression I took Prozac (I don't remember much, but I didn't get a whole lot of effect from it), Cymbalta (I liked it at first but it had a tendency to let me be able to see all my stressors and then push them away almost completely to the point where I would forget, and this led to even more stress with the ADD tendencies), and I'm currently on Lexapro (so far pretty good, it's so hard to describe the direct effects of anti-depressants though, I think I notice more when I don't take them). And for ADD I've been through straterra (Didn't quite work with me however, this was before we had both realized how big of a dose I really needed, and the straterra dose wasn't even close), concerta (I was on this one for a long time, in fact I didn't switch until this fall. It made me feel "happy", as I described to my therapist, and he said this was my interpretation of it working for me. My main problem with it though was just that, even when taking my meds, I would have a tendency to oversleep, and after taking concerta I could hardly resist going back to sleep in the morning because I was so happy and had such pleasant dreams.), ritalin (briefly, but it didn't seem to affect me much for some reason), and now I'm on Aderall which I'm pleased with overall (Psych had told me it was just like concerta, and it is I think, but it has a boost that gets me moving, and that's definetly something I needed).

I hope your trial goes well, too. I just encourage you to be patient with it, if anything. When I first started on meds, I wasn't sure how I felt, but I especially knew when I wasn't taking them once in a while, and how icky (irritable, tired, frustrated, upset, etc, my mom could probably tell you better though lol) I felt. But I knew it helped more and more as the psych upped the dose closer to what I needed.

I understand your concern with your job and I really hope you'll find some help. So if you do have any additional questions (personal, medical, ADD related etc) don't hesitate to ask. I'll try my best to help you out and I know others here would do the same.

Good luck

Hello, I am a newbie here. I have been diagnosed with depression and anxiety since 19 yrs old. Been taking meds half my life, well, since I was 19, I am 33 now. I always had issues with concentration and forgetfulness and being irritable. I'd always have to pop a Xanax because I would be flying off the handle if I didn't. So, finally, about 6 months ago, I found an ADD test online, I took it, printed the results and took it to my psych doctor. I scored very high in Adult ADD, there was no doubt that I had this, and probably had it since High School.

Every time I read, I get distracted, even when a car comes by, or my kids are whispering or if the tv is on, it feels like my head is some radio with all the channels going on at once. I love reading and it's been getting harder and harder to do. I refuse to take anymore meds. I have been looking up Adderall, and others and I just don't want to add anymore. I am already on Wellbutrin XL, Lexapro, Ambien, Levoxyl cause I have Hypothyroidism and 5 years ago, I was diagnosed with MS and was taking Avonex shots, which I am no longer taking cause of the side-effects.

Adding more meds seems inconceivable right now. But I know I need to do something, or else I will never be able to read like I used to. I am lucky to get through 3 pages at one sitting and I can't go through 1 paragraph without thinking of something else, I just can't concentrate and I forget the simplist things like where I left my cup, keys, anything.... Or I walk into a room and wonder why did I come in here, I know to get something, but what? Drives me crazy!!!

I am thinking of going into herbals. I know I need to be careful of these but I just want to be able to get through the day. I don't take Xanax anymore, I mediate and for the most part, it helps. I have them in the house for emergencies, in case I have a full out panic attack. It's been awhile since I had one. I just need to get my ADD under control. I hope you welcome me to your forum and I will be an active member. Hope you have a peaceful, great day!
Tracie

Hi-

I haven't been back to this site for a while, but really appreciate getting such detailed responses. Since I last wrote, I was definitively diagnosed with ADD, the inattentive variant. When I got an increased dosage of Concerta (27 mg/day), I was amazed at the difference. I could really sit down and focus. I've been reading up on ADD ever since, and a lot of things are starting to make sense to me - i.e., things that were difficult at school, work, and otherwise. I'm still taking 40 mg. of Prozac a day for depression, but the Concerta seems to help my mood too.

Yes, I'm learning that it's important for me to ask lots of questions too to make sure I'm understanding directions. Saves me turmoil at work!

Take care.
Kyla

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Glad to hear you are feeling and doing well

The difference between absent minded and ADD is that ADD can cause major dysfunction if one's life. Problems being in relationships, work, especially keeping one job. I am on social security disability because of ADD.

Hello I hope you are having a good day today. There are medication for ADD at this timethat have helped many. If you PM psisci here under the drug forum he can suggest what wouls be the best thing to take for your ADD. I take meds for ADD and it helps greatly, really. I hope things get better for you soon. Take care Soidhonia

does anyone else do this:

i will read a sentence not by starting from the first word and reading linearly. but skipping around then putting the words together to form the sentence.

reading lists, i skip around, i don't start from the top and systematically work down to find what i need.

<raising my hand> Yes. I do that with my sentences too.

There is an enormous range of disability with this illness - and yes, I call it an illness. I'm not sure if you are a man or woman, but from my own experience it seems we women tend to have symptoms of ADHD brought on by our society's expectations for us to be multi-tasking superwomen. This same kind of expectation is placed on men and children, but I think it's worse for working mothers. Because of this it is harder to determine if it's truly ADD. You say you did well in school. Some folks with ADD can excel at certain things and ADD has nothing to do with intelligence or IQ. I think many folks can go through life with a mild case of ADD and never need treatment because they are able to adapt. When your adaptation skills have failed, you reach a point to seek treatment. I think you have reached this point. I hope the Ritalin works for you.

I am curious to know what it takes to get disabiltiy for ADD/ADHD. I applied for my son when he was a child but was denied. Now he is 23, has been through dozens of jobs, all of which he never held for longer than a month because he couldn't grasp what he was supposed to be doing. He now works at a labor job and has lasted 1-1/2 months but I think it's only because his brother works there too and helps him along including getting him up in the morning and out the door on time.

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ADHDMom said:
I am curious to know what it takes to get disabiltiy for ADD/ADHD. I applied for my son when he was a child but was denied. Now he is 23, has been through dozens of jobs, all of which he never held for longer than a month because he couldn't grasp what he was supposed to be doing. He now works at a labor job and has lasted 1-1/2 months but I think it's only because his brother works there too and helps him along including getting him up in the morning and out the door on time.

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It varies from state to state, and even county to county. But in general, after applying, the Bureau of Disability Determination (what it's called in my area) will request psychological testing if they believe the application appears to have merit. The testing likely would involve a clinical interview and history, intelligence testing, and tests specific for ADHD. A report would be sent to the bureau who would then use this along with any other information they've collected to make a determination. However, many bureaus are scaling back how much testing they require and how many folks they refer for testing, so this may not apply. Again, it varies.

You could also have your son see someone on his own to obtain a diagnosis. Again, this should involve psychological testing in order to be as accurate as possible. This would give him more information about exactly what deficits he may have and suggestions for improving or compensating for them.

hope this helps

gg

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AlliKamikaze said:That sounds a lot like me actually. I'm almost finished with high school myself, but some things that I figured out at this point would have helped me so much earlier. Part of my denial with ADD at first was based in my idea that people who "really have ADD" must have much worse focusing problems then me anyway. But after being diagnosed with ADD, I started to really observe myself in situations. I had never realized before how much I really had to focus to pay attention, in volleyball for example, the coach would be talking and I would be drawn in the direction of each distraction (sounds from other team practicing, something falling, ball bouncing etc) and when I looked in the other direction I would habitually have to pull myself back almost violently at times, until I was completely fixated on the coach. But even then, I would be staring at him like a deer in headlights focusing as hard as I could, as I knew what he was saying but couldn't quite feel it sink in. I think I have always had a tendency to overfocus when listening though (possibly because my dad who also has ADD makes me so mad when he doesn't listen, even though he says he is). Yet, I never noticed how much work went into it either. My psychiatrist thinks I learned to be a pretty highly functional person with ADD, and I think that's also why I have a habit of asking a bajillion questions when people give directions (just to make sure I get what they are talking about).

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Sheesh. That is exactly how I feel/experience it, up to the same thing with *my* dad. The feeling that you have to *drag* your attention as if through thick treacle and, after a moment's *not* noticing, it flies off again as if attached to infinity with a rubber band.
I learned how all this worked way before I even had heard about ADD at all on a zen meditation course. You *just* sit and observe your thoughts as a non-intervening outsider. It was/is like a pinball machine on speed, but not having any reference I thought that was how everyone's head felt on the inside.

Peace
Luthien