[Melmo]

My 5 year old has an appt today with a pediatrician to be diagnosed with ADHD. My mom has it and I heard it's genetic. When I was in school, and even now I am the most forgetful person ever. I used to lose or forget everything especially my keys. In class I remember tuning out a lot. The teacher would talk about a test on whatever subject and I'd be thinking "When did we learn that??" And I felt stupid for not knowing and was too embarassed to ask. I have social anxiety so never asked for extra help.
When reading a book that I started to get uninterested in my eyes would become unfocused and Id read a whole page or two and realize I havnt actually read a word of it.
I also used to talk a lot as a kid, which is one thing my daughter does now that annoys the crap out of me lol...but I feel bad cuz I was like that too.
I have a short temper and quick to anger, aggitated a lot. I have a very low opinion of myself. My mom always told me how smart she thought I was but ever since I was a kid I always thought I was stupid.
For years I have had problems with impulsivity. I try and try to save money but I am waay overspnding on impulsive crap I don't need. I got a credit card to build credit and I maxed it out.
I have gotten in the habit of ordering take out delivery a lot now which is expensive but once I decide I want it, I can't talk myself out of it.
I have a bad record of relationships because of being impulsive. I meet someone, things move too quickly and we end up having sex. Even in a relationship I just never seem happy and I break it off after a couple weeks/months.
I also am a horrible procrastinator...and I have intentions of starting a project like right now Im supposed to be starting Christmas crafts and baking to give as gifts for my family but I just procrastinate and watch tv or surf facebook instead.
Theresso much more but I definitely feel relieved to see that these symptoms are related to ADHD and not that I am a completely irresponsible and stupid person, which is how I have felt for years.

[kanasi]

Hi Melmo. It does sound a lot like ADHD has affected your life, especially with the family history and signs/symptoms that are very consistent with it. Have you taken the website quiz here, to help you solidify your thoughts about it? That list you made is probably enough to convince a pdoc to follow up, but it might help you to go over the diagnostic criteria too:

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD) Test - Psych Central

[jbuttz]

Sounds like bipolar to me.

[YMIHere]

This was one of the first books I read on Adult ADHD. Love the title huh?

You Mean I m Not Crazy

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1...EGpmFhgbU/edit

I'm not sure if either of these is the whole book, but I know it's available online. I thought I bookmarked the source where I got it but I don't see it. Good book. Helped put a lot in perspective as did "Driven to Distraction" by Hallowell.

The diagnosis saved my life b/c I realized just how hard everything had been for me up until medication. When I started on meds, my first thought was, "So this is ow the other half lives."

I couldn't believe the lack of NOISE in my head. They don't work as well as they did when I started, but I'm still worlds better than I was.

(((Melmo)))

[alwaysin6thgear]

Originally Posted by jbuttz

Sounds like bipolar to me.

Really? and how did you come to that determination? Every one of the symptoms described have very little or nothing to do with Bipolar and all to do with ADHD.

[Melmo]

I took the quiz and I got a score of 40. Inattention 23 and hyperactivity /impulsivity 17.

[Melmo]

I feel like my dr will think I am a hypochondiac if I mentioned I think I have adhd. I have already been diagnosed with depression and anxiety, and I also went to him finally after struggling with an eating disorder (which I still have, just not as bad as it was) so I don't know if I could mention it to him.

[YMIHere]

Originally Posted by Melmo

I feel like my dr will think I am a hypochondiac if I mentioned I think I have adhd. I have already been diagnosed with depression and anxiety, and I also went to him finally after struggling with an eating disorder (which I still have, just not as bad as it was) so I don't know if I could mention it to him.

SO MANY of these things are comorbid. Oftentimes it's the same part of the brain that has the issues. I can't say which, go hand in hand, but a lot do. I was first dysthymic then depressive then ADHD, then Bipolar. It's hard to tell where my ADHD issues begin and my Bipolar issues end, but what you originally wrote reminded me of my undiagnosed ADHD. Talk to your doctor. You have no idea just how much the right meds can set you on the right path. Or maybe you do! But they were the FIRST meds to truly provide an eye-opening experience. As my friend would say, "It's like the whole world got washed off with Windex."

Good luck. Keep us posted.

[Melmo]

I have been reading about bipolar too and I have a lot of symptoms of that too...so I have no idea. It kinda sucks to think that there is so much wrong with me and my brain just doesn't work properly

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[Melmo]

Oh and the ped said my daughter does have ADHD

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[Nike007]

Hello. I wrote a reply, but my internet went down, so I'm sorry about. My thoughts were basically that you should print out the results from an online quiz and show them to a doctor. Anxiety/depression are often co-morbid with AD/HD. They may also ask you to bring someone you know to question them about symptoms they see in you, but I'm not familiar with adult AD/HD so I can't help you there. If you have more questions, just ask me . I wrote a much longer reply, so I'm sorry. Dumb internet.

[Melmo]

Originally Posted by Nike007

Hello. I wrote a reply, but my internet went down, so I'm sorry about. My thoughts were basically that you should print out the results from an online quiz and show them to a doctor. Anxiety/depression are often co-morbid with AD/HD. They may also ask you to bring someone you know to question them about symptoms they see in you, but I'm not familiar with adult AD/HD so I can't help you there. If you have more questions, just ask me . I wrote a much longer reply, so I'm sorry. Dumb internet.

The problem with that, is that I live alone with my kids. I am single, and I try to hide my anxiety and depression and other symptoms from my family and friends. (well, the 2 friends I have) so nobody really knows anything.

[Nike007]

Originally Posted by Melmo

The problem with that, is that I live alone with my kids. I am single, and I try to hide my anxiety and depression and other symptoms from my family and friends. (well, the 2 friends I have) so nobody really knows anything.

Oh, sorry. I forgot to add that may only be for child AD/HD, I am unsure because I haven't gone through that process before.

You should still bring it up with a doctor and show online quiz results to them to see where it leads. It may change your life.

Social anxiety disorder, GAD, OCD, and panic attacks

Lexapro, 10 mg

[elevatedsoul]

it can help in dx adult adhd have someone that knows you and your behaviors but i dont think its necessary... adhd presents itself a little differently in adults...

if one of your children have adhd then there supposedly is a high chance one of the parents has adhd too...

i was misdiagnosed with bipolar in the beginning - which i refuted the whole time pretty much... but they didnt think i knew what i was talking about so i went to a psychologist and had an assessment and he confirmed it was depression anxiety and adhd... not bipolar...
bipolar and adhd can have similar symptoms so i guess can be confused...

what i did was went to my GP and talked to her about the adhd and explained how i thought bipolar was a misdiagnosis and she referred me to a hospital psychologist for an assessment ... the assessment tested for pretty much everything though so you may be able to just get a specific test for adhd to see if you have enough of the criteria...

the adhd section of the test just tested my memory, impulsiveness, and attention stuff...

you can have symptoms of adhd and not actually have adhd though which can also make it difficult...
the best thing is to have an evaluation with a competent professional and not one thats just going to slap a label on you and boot you out of the office like they did me in the beginning...

but like i said if your daughter has adhd then chances are if you are having multiple symptoms, you may have it as well...
seems like adhd has comorbid disorders usually too.. anxiety and depression...

wish you luck