[welsmant]

I think I may have adult ADHD, but I’m not sure. I plan on going to the doctor, but I want to make sure I’m not totally off base in thinking I have it before I go. I’d hate to look like an idiot. So, I’ve done a lot of reading the past few days, and I just wanted to list some problems I had that I think may be related to ADHD. I’d just really like some reassurance that my worry about it is valid before actually seeing a doctor about it. Also, I’m a 22 year old college student, if that’s relevant.

• I procrastinate constantly. Whether it’s with cleaning my house, doing school work, dealing with hygiene or whatever else. This is mainly a problem when I have big papers due for school, I never start them until the day they are due!

• I can’t motivate myself to do much that I don’t HAVE to. I go days without properly brushing my teeth, I eat terribly and just constantly reassure myself I’ll start eating healthy tomorrow, it’s just so hard to make myself start something, and even harder to keep with it if I actually do start it!

• I often have rude outbursts that I immediately regret, they especially happen if someone is talking to me while I’m trying to do something.

• I also never stay angry long. If I do something to someone, like an angry outburst mentioned above, I apologize and then get annoyed that they’re not immediately over it. Even if someone does something serious to me, I don’t stay angry, EVER.

• I cannot make myself pay attention in class. Up through high school, I made B’s mostly, but that’s because I’m naturally smart, I guess. I never studied or anything, but college is really different. I have to study to pass which is hard, so I’ve turned into a mostly C student, which is really hard for me to deal with. I really feel like if I paid attention and actually studied I could be an A student.

• I always want things to be over. Movies, video games, books, parties, whatever. Even if I’m having fun or love what I’m doing, I’m still watching the clock waiting for the end.

• Sometimes I’m actually to “lazy” to do things I like. Whether it’s catch up on a show I want to see, or play a new video game I bought, I usually just sit on my computer doing random things that don’t amount to anything. It makes me feel like I’m wasting all of my time.

• I’m overly emotional and self-conscious. I get upset easily and cannot take criticism or any slight form of rejection.

• I hate eye contact, and can’t maintain it.

This is all I can think of right now. Could these things be related to ADHD? Are they all worth bringing up to my doctor? I just really don’t want to look stupid. Thanks.

[RisuNeko]

Some of those sound like they might be ADHD related, but could also just be a result of how you were raised. Were you like this at all or similar as a child? I dont know that the last two you listed are neccesarily ADHD related. They could be signs of social anxiety.

But I can relate to some of the items on your list. (I'm 25). It's probably worth being evaluated especially if its interfering with your school work and relationships with others.

Are you able to focus when someone is talking to you or do you sometimes space out and not listen, especially in lectures?

[welsmant]

Originally Posted by RisuNeko

Some of those sound like they might be ADHD related, but could also just be a result of how you were raised. Were you like this at all or similar as a child? I dont know that the last two you listed are neccesarily ADHD related. They could be signs of social anxiety.

But I can relate to some of the items on your list. (I'm 25). It's probably worth being evaluated especially if its interfering with your school work and relationships with others.

Are you able to focus when someone is talking to you or do you sometimes space out and not listen, especially in lectures?

Yes, I feel like I've dealt with these problems for my whole life. I can typically pay attention is someone is speaking directly to just me, but if I'm in a group or in class I usually end up zoning out.

I'm actually diagnosed with social anxiety, and I really don't feel like these specific problems stem from it.

[kanasi]

Difficulty sticking to even pleasurable activities sounds like it could be depressive anhedonia. Like you, I'm suspecting I have ADHD lately (and even came here thinking of making a similar post) but this is one area where you and I differ. In my case, I find that this is one area where my previously diagnosed depression didn't make sense-- I can't concentrate/organize to save my life (almost literally), but if it's something that interests me, I lose all track of time and end up "hyperfocusing" on it. There are a number of quizzes and such about ADHD out there. A lot of them seem to focus on hyperactivity as a defining feature for some reason but the one on this site also appears to take the inattentive subtype seriously, if that makes a difference to you.

Have you been evaluated for depression? Maybe you already know it's very commonly comorbid with anxiety? (It also can often be comorbid with ADHD though, confusing as that sounds. )

[elevatedsoul]

the last 2 things you mentioned sounds like the social anxiety

• I’m overly emotional and self-conscious. I get upset easily and cannot take criticism or any slight form of rejection.

• I hate eye contact, and can’t maintain it

definitely go talk with a doctor about the other things!
if you are concerned then be reassured that you should go to the doc, sooner the better

[welsmant]

Thanks for the replies! I talked to my therapist yesterday, and then another doctor today about. They both agree I most likely have ADHD, so I'm now taking adderall. Hopefully this will help me!!

[elevatedsoul]

thats great! i hope that the medicine will help you

[kanasi]

That's great news welsmant! I'm glad they gave you a careful evaluation and started treatment right away.

[RisuNeko]

Wow my pdoc won't even consider evaluating me for adhd in the next 3 months (at which time I will have to leave that clinic) and I've already been pressuring him to evaluate me for 4 months. It's like he doesn't want to bother to try to help me.
He's quick to send me off for a brain scan to see if I have schizoaffective. I don't understand him and based on our last appointment when he said he didn't want to work with me anymore because I wanted to switch back to my old pharmacy because his pharmacy shorted me by 4 days worth of pills the very first time I used their pharmacy and wouldn't let me pick up my meds until after the four days had passed. That's neglect. And dangerous.