[sakera]

I sought psychiatric help about 2 years ago after suffering a panic attack. Before that I've had sort of mild anxiety, but never depression, since early 20s.

I always had problems concentrating, listening to instructions (just zone out or start thinking about how the person's voice sounds like etc). In school at younger age I did OK but I was always told I never met my full potential. I went through school and 4 year college with OK to good grades without ever reading a single book. Passed the exams somehow.

My psychologist had me taking a TOVA test. And he said the result was not conclusive. So he asked me if I wanted to try treatment or take another test. So I took another test, I think it was called CPT and I nailed it, I even enjoyed taking it, it felt like a challenge! So I had very good result and my doc concluded no ADD.

So I kept taking meds for depression, and cognetive exercises for anziety, but it's not getting any better, it's getting worse.

Then my wife read an article about ADD and told me it completely matched my personality, with a few exceptions. So I read up on it, and took a few of those quizzes and everything points to adult ADD.

Has anyone had experience with depression misdiagnose for ADD and false negatives on assessments like TOVA etc? I am seeing my psychologist next week again and will discuss this.

Also, if I do have ADD, does my anxiety/depression stem from it, or is common to independently coexist?

Thanks

[kaliope]

I think the anxiety and depression could stem from it. if the add is affecting your life in a detrimental way, this could create anxiety and leave you depressed. I would mention all the symptoms that the tests you took for adult add list to the doc you are seeing. sometimes tests are wrong. maybe you are just a good test taker

[TurtleKid11]

From a newly diagnosed ADHD person, many doctors I have seen have said its very probable. I was diagnosed with Depression over a year ago, and then dropped out of university because of it. I recently got a psyc evaluation and I was told I have adhd and that is the cause of my depression. I never wanted to do anything because it was boring as a younger kid then that turned into me not doing anything at all because I just wasnt happy from not doing anything. Im not sure how to say it, but I am living proof that what you are speculating is happening to you has already happened to me.

[sakera]

I saw my psychologist earlier this week and we did another assessment which concluded I do have ADD. He also said that the CPT test has the most false negatives, which was the test I nailed.

I didn't like the SSRIs I tried for my "depression" (horrible horrible experience) so I've been taking xanax for 2 years, 1-2mg per day which hasn't really helped at all, just sortof curbes my biggest mood dips, which was my biggest problem along with impatience, severe irritability and procrastination.

Now I was prescribed Adderall, a stimulant and been taking 30mg/day for a couple of days. I feel so good, it's amazing! All negative thoughts and stress and anxiety are just gone I feel calm and rational. I stopped grinding my teeth and biting my nails. I can do things in order and not sidetrack or getting distracted and I drive much better, can think of like another 100 positive things no need to get into all of them

I don't feel a need to take the xanax anymore, but I still will take a little bit and try and taper off.

Besides getting appropriate medication, it feels really good to get a medical professional explanation of the feelings I've experience since I was little, with the problems I ran into and the struggle in school, work or just everyday life and which later in adulthood (I'm now 34) lead to severe depression.

It's not all great tho, the medication has alot of "little" side effects, I hope some will go away. The biggest problem being loss of appetite. I'm already a pretty skinny guy and I love cooking But it beats not wanting to live..

[jstankis]

That is great that you feel so good, but if the loss of appetite is a problem, there are other classes of medications that don't have that side effect, Straterra for example. Good luck, so glad you perservered.