Mental Running of the Bulls

I am 54 with diagnoses of depression, fibromyalgia, and ADD. The ADD diagnosis is new. I always pictured (perhaps stereotyped) people with ADD as hyper-active and having to cope with major learning problems. My ADD centers on things running 90 miles an hour in my head and causing significant distration from what I should be doing. I think about events from my past, about things that might go wrong in the future, about revenge for past wrongs, things I want to do, etc. Telling my self to stop these ruminations and refocus works for only a few minutes, if at all. I am very distracted by auditory and visual stimuli. I cannot read with music on nor can I sustain a conversation with the television on, even if the sound is off. I enjoy reading unless it involves detailed instructions, which drive me nuts as I keep losing track of the steps and feel utterl overwhelmed. Anything mathematical is a step into an instant quagmire. Coordination is not my strong suit. I can be compulsively organized in some areas and totally blot out others.

Is this an unusual form of ADD? What therapies/medications have others found helpful?

Thanks,

Don

Hi Don,
There are many types and degrees of ADD. I used to think it was a hyper kid thing.
My son is ADHD and I am ADD. It's strange how the same meds work for both of us.... tho currently neither one of us are taking anything.
I learned a ton about ADD just by reading books. " Driven to distraction" is a good one!
You will feel more comfortable when you know more about it.
good luck

Welcome Don, you sound EXACLY like me EXACLY. I finally got off my duff and made an appointment to receive help. It is disturbing to me that we are so alike. I know how I feel, but I don’t think that I could have worded my problems as well as you have. Everyone thinks that I am just a dippy blond who stairs off into space. I know my IQ is above average, but it feels like I cannot focus long enough on anything to be better than I am now. It took everything just to get my BA, or to do anything that I wish to achieve, and forget math. Please keep me updated on the therapies/medications you are trying, and I will do the same when I start. (For me) physical activity outside helps jogging etc. it clears my head some. That is all the real help I can give you since I suffer as well.

Part of me wants to say, "Oh my dear, you have me deepest sympathy."

The other part of me is very anxious to learn if you find something that is helpful. For me the mental ramblings and distractability are the most troublesome issues.

I suspect jogging or some other form of physical activity might well be helpful, but with the fibromyalgia, just getting through the day is exhausting. If you do not know what fibromyalgia is, I think it is best described as the body ache one has when one has a fever of 103 degrees; but unlike the fever, it never goes away. No treatment - no cure.

Don

Don,
Is there no medication that could relieve your discomfort? I feel so bad for you.

No, there isn't, at least not yet. I have tried many medications, herbs, massage, accupuncture, chiropractic, etc. Sometimes there is a mild change, but only for an hour or so. The cause is unknown, although there are lots of people on the Internet who think they know and want to sell you something.