Could I have ADHD

[just mary]

A couple of weeks ago a friend of mine told me he had ADHD and that he's taking adderall. I was surprised that he had been diagnosed with ADHD since he has two degrees (one in accounting and the other in computer science) and he has no problem holding down a job. I always assumed that people with ADHD had a difficult time with school and securing employment.

Anyway, I 've been looking into it a bit more and some of the ADHD symptom descriptions sound like me. But I seem more inattentive than hyperactive. And I wonder if my depression and substance abuse are stemming from this. When I look back on my history, a lot of things seem to make sense when I consider ADHD. I did well in school but quite often I was compared to a space cadet. I liked math since it was fast and I didn't have to concentrate, there was an immediate answer, it was black and white, everything evened out in the end and it moved, there was a rythym to it. I liked english (language arts) but there was nothing to focus on. I'm a habitual leg shaker. I bounced around between university faculties for three years before finally deciding on something. It was painful to study in university, I was constantly shifting and moving, I always needed to walk around. I find if I wear ear plugs at work, I can work better, people going to the photocopier disturb me. I find it so hard to concentrate at work, today I did nothing (which isn't unusual) and then I feel depressed because I feel useless. I drink to get rid of the loneliness but sometimes it just helps me concentrate more on the tasks at hand, like housekeeping. I join different groups but I never seem to last.

I could go on and on, I don't expect a diagnosis, I'm grasping at straws. I've never considered ADHD before because I'm female and I made it through school okay. Mind you, I don't have a great job and I keep on waiting for the axe to fall because I always just manage to scrape by. I do say some pretty impulsive things, I assumed that I just had a bold streak - it certainly wasn't an intelligent one.

Sorry to go on and on but something just clicked in me today.

Just wanted to write it down and see if anyone has an opinion.

Thanks and take care,

jm

 

[Retired]

Mary,

The National Institutes of Health NIMH provids some helpful and up to date insights into identifying ADHD.

Have a look at these sites:

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/healthinformation/adhdmenu.cfm

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/adhd.cfm

 

[just mary]

Thanks Steve, I'll have a look.

 

[Into The Light]

there is also ADD, which is ADHD without the H. the following links may be useful.

Jasper/Goldberg Adult ADD questionnaire - to help you determine if maybe you have ADD

Attention Deficit Disorder - Born to Explore - i liked this site because it shows how ADD isn't necessarily a bad thing. there are positives to having this "condition", some of which include a creativity and imagination beyond the average. quite often people with this trait have insightful ideas, are driven, and have an entrepreneurial spirit.

 

[Halo]

JM

I just wanted to say that I am thinking of you and hoping that after reading the links and whatever you discover about yourself is helpful to you.

Take care and you are in my thoughts.
:hug: :hug:

 

[just mary]

Thanks Nancy and LB, I do appreciate the help/support. I took the questionaire LB and apparently I'm severe ADHD. It just seems to make sense all of a sudden. I think back to when I had my first bout of depression and it was in university, far from home. I couldn't focus, I needed the structure of high school and my Mum. When I was on my own, I was a mess. I was a hopeless waitress. I doodle in meetings. Every now and then, things will click and I can "get stuff done" but mostly I just scrape by, doing the bare minimum. I'm a hopeless daydreamer. I zone out so easily and I've always thought it was because I'm weak and stupid but maybe not? I'm going to make an appointment with my doctor next week and even if he laughs in my face - I'll know I tried. Maybe if I keep talking to people, I'll figure it out.

Thanks everyone.

 

[Halo]

JM

I think that it is great that you are doing a lot of self discovery and it is good that you are going to go to your doctor and talk to him about it. As you say, at least you will know that you tried and that is the most important thing.

Good luck with the appt. and let us know how it turns out.
Take care
:hug:

 

[just mary]

You know, the more I think about it, the more I realize that ?t`s my right as a Canadian citizen to demand medical care. I pay for it through my taxes. If he doesn`t want me there, he can tell me so. I always feel guilty for using the medical system since I feel like I`m abusing it since it`s free but it`s NOT. That`s why our taxes are higher than in the States.

Oops, not sure where that came from, I`ll probably delete it later, in the meantime I`ll slowly and unobtrusively get off my soapbox.

 

[David Baxter PhD]

No need to delete. You're absolutely right - we do pay a LOT in taxes and part of the reason for that is supposed to be decent universal medical care.

 

[Into The Light]

jm, i hope you have a good chat with your doctor. let us know how it turns out.

 

[stargazer]

My friend Alex who is ADHD doesn't seem very much like me (who is bipolar/hypomanic) except for in intense absorption in work or projects and staying up all night to do so, without more realistic prioritizing. However, if I put someone on hold, I remember them & get back to them. You can call him, he'll put you on hold, and you might as well hang up because he's not going to remember. He seems to just go from one thing to another with no real direction, yet somehow gets everything done. The other people I've known who are ADHD are like that too. It's not surprising that your friend had two degrees--Alex has loads of certificates and credentials, even one signed by Bill Gates. He's patented inventions, he even designed the house he lives in, although he had no experience in architecture before doing so. I think maybe people with ADHD actually *are* focused, they're just not focused on what everyone around them is focused on, or think they should be focused on. Different drummer, maybe? I don't really know. My friend Carol was the same way, so these are only a lay person's observations.

 

[David Baxter PhD]

Many people with ADHD are actually hyperfocused when they are focusing on something that captures their interest - and easily distracted when trying to focus on something that is not very interesting to them.

In my experience, most programmers/coders show hyperfocusing and other ADHD symptoms.

 

[just mary]

Many people with ADHD are actually hyperfocused when they are focusing on something that captures their interest - and easily distracted when trying to focus on something that is not very interesting to them.

I suppose that's true for a lot of non-ADHD people too. Reading about different symptoms and signs for so many diseases and illnesses can be so misleading. I guess that's why we go talk to people who are specialists in these types of things. It's all so confusing, especially when we want a quick and simple answer.

I'm still going to talk to my doctor about it though. In a previous appointment he said he could refer me to a psychiatrist if I wanted. At first I didn't want too but maybe it's something I should look into. My doctor is pretty young/new, he only got out of med school a year ago, so he still has lots to learn. Maybe the psychiatrist has a bit more experience with these types of things.

And thanks again Nanacy and LB for your words of encouragement earlier.

And I'm glad I didn't have to delete my diatribe on medical care in Canada. Thanks David.

 

[Halo]

JM

I can relate to reading different symptoms and signs and finding them confusing and misleading...was doing the same thing myself this afternoon and may have discovered something new about myself Anyway, I think that it is great that you are going to talk to your doctor about this and possibly a referral to a psychiatrist. Although your doctor is young and new, at least he sounds willing to listen and set up a referral if you want and that is a great person to have in your support system. I am jealous of you for that

Anyway, do let us know how the appointment goes.
Take care
:hug:

 

[David Baxter PhD]

I suppose that's true for a lot of non-ADHD people too. Reading about different symptoms and signs for so many diseases and illnesses can be so misleading.

Absolutely. That's why I always try to emphasize that most "disorders" like ADHD, OCD, etc., even learning disabilities, are not truly categorical but more of a continuum. I think most people have some ADD or OCD tendencies but we don't diagnose them as such until those traits reach a point where they are seriously impairing the individual's ability to function in his or her world.

 

[Halo]

I think most people have some ADD or OCD tendencies but we don't diagnose them as such until those traits reach a point where they are seriously impairing the individual's ability to function in his or her world.

I think you are absolutely right. I know for myself that there are not many disorders that I cannot find at least one or two symptoms that I can identify with. For instance, I can identify with a some of the symptoms of OCD and even have my own rituals but they for the most part do not cause a significant amount of stress in my life. While I know that I have been diagnosed with OCD in the past, it does not impair my functioning and therefore I would say that I have more OCD tendencies than full blown OCD.

I think what can be scary is when people start identifying with the symptoms of a disorder and try to self-diagnose without seeking the proper professional diagnosis and treatment, if necessary. While doing research on your own and learning about yourself is great, only a trained professional can properly diagnose a disorder or illness.

Okay, enough of my blabbing on and on...just more talking out loud again