Some of you have seen me on here. I have been registered for several weeks now. I have never really thought of myself as ADD, probably because when I was younger I always linked ADD with being hyper and I was never hyper. I registered here because of my oldest son Dayton. He is ADHD and was diagnosed three years ago. The more I talk to you guys and read these posts, the more I wonder if my weirdness and impulsivness and procrastination and lack of motivation has something to do with ADD. It would make sense, if it were the case. I just thought I was funny and goofy and scatter brained. I don't know though. Anyway, what I wanted to ask is if any of you prior to being diagnosed, filled out one of those questionaire's on line just to see what it said. I wanted to know if these were something you guys recommended or not. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE HELP ME!!! I know that even if I did that I would STILL need to see a doctor about it to be properly evaluated, but I just wanted to know if that was an ok place to start. ALL the advise and opinions you have would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks guys!!!
Kara

I didn't do the online questionaire thing, but I did the checklist in one of the ADD books I was reading around the time I started thinking I might have it. In fact, when I had my neuropsych testing, one of the things she had me do was fill out an ADD inventory. :P

For an adult, those surveys are a pretty important part of the diagnosis process, along with the psychosocial history. I'd also consider a neuropsychological evaluation, because they can also uncover things like learning disabilities, etc., as mine did.

So would a psychologist or psychiatrist be good to go see? I am pretty sure that my reg doc can't diagnose me fully, if there is anything to diagnose that is. I don't know though. I have no idea where to start. I did fill that out and it said that I do have adult ADD and it gave tendencies as far as the brain function judging from my answers. I just don't know who I need to go see. I neurologist???

An adult ADD specialist is best if you can find one. Might be a psychologist, not a psychiatrist. Ask your kid's doc if he has dealt with adults for starters. Check your local med school if they offer screening, that's what I'm doing this afternoon.

I would ask my kids doc but I don't trust how she's handling my son's situation and so I am changing their doctor too. Just don't think that she is taking his best interest into consideration. I need someone that will do that with all of us. You know? I will call around though to find out. I am supposed to go see a psychologist tomorrow afternoon so I will ask him if he can do it or not.

Any of them (psychiatrist, neurologist, psychologist) can diagnose ADD. The methods they use will vary from individual practicioner to practitioner, but all will take a history, and probably administer one of those ADD inventories. I had mine done by a psychologist who specializes in psychological assessments... she doesn't even have a counseling practice, she just does evaluations. The workup I had was very thorough, took several hours over 3 or 4 sessions, and was really informative.

Well I called my doctor's office that I am going to tomorrow and she lady said that after I talk to him then he will want me to do some evaluations to see what is going on. So maybe I will get some help from him to see what's going on in my head. I also wanted to ask if anyone has these kind of thoughts. Just one example. I was at the mall monday night and my husband and myself were sitting in the food court while my mother in law and three kids were on the carousel and this guys gets off the carousel with a black bag in his hand. I immediately thought to myself that he has to have a big gun in his bag and he is going to look at me and want to shoot me with it in the mall just because I am there. Then what is going to happen to my kids? Will my husband be able to take care of them? Then after a few minutes of all that I was like, what am I thinking this for? Can anyone relate?

I have been seeing the same psychologist for quite a while and she diagnosed me and then referred me to a GP that she knew personally. He had no problem accepting her diagnosis and has been more than helpful getting me started on meds. Maybe that would be a way to go as to finding someone. :)

Oh yeah and if you could give me some things to "watch out" for when I go to my appt tomorrow that would be nice too. I just don't want to be going to someone that isn't good and not know it. Thanks again.

Hi Betty! you know me of course...btw, more of you need to get on the Chat here on the site! its fun...anyway.....

First of all I would suggest you get a book about Adult ADD....a good one is: "You Mean I'm Not Stupid, Lazy, Or Crazy" by Peggy Ramundo(there are other's as well)..search amazon, or go to the local book store....I have been diagnoised by two different ADD docs...one was a licensed/Marriage/family counselor, who wrote a book about ADD and Romance(Jonathon Halverdstat, check the book out!) and also a few years ago by a social worker then psychiartrist who specializes in Adult ADD at Kaiser hospital...the first step is to find out what some of your problems are. Hopefully the Psychologist can steer you in the right direction or give you a diagnosis..maybe you don't have ADD, but sounds like you do(temper issues, impulsitivity, etc)...my best reccomendation at this point is to read stuff on this site or better yet, buy a book about Addult ADD...see you on the chat!

your friend,
Cam

You can also check the ADD Forums under this link:

(http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=641) http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=641

there are a number of excellent books listed there.

And yes, I took a self-test after my daughter was diagnosed, because her behaviors were all too familiar, and I wanted to make sure I wasn't just being a psychochondriac.....

Good luck to you.

Hey Kara, the exact same thing happened to me...my son was diagnosed and pretty soon his psychologists were asking me why I wasn't doing something about my own ADHD problems!!! :eek: It was pretty scary, because I've been the way I've been for so long that I was afraid that I wouldn't like myself any other way.

Well, since June (about 8 years after the first comment) I finally had a complete neurological/psychological workup up and guess what....I'm rabid ADHD! Explains a lot, and the meds have made a HUGE difference. :cool:

I think the best thing to do is to write down a list of what things have caused you to consider that you may also have ADD. It is also known to be genetic, so if your son has it he got it from someone! Stay cool and have patience...it sounds like you've made a good start!

Kim

A pretty good start for you, if you want to start walking that road, is the DSM IV list.

http://add.about.com/cs/addthebasics/a/dsm.htm

I think this is the most important part of the DSM IV criterias:

D. There must be clear evidence of clinically significant impairment in social, academic, or occupational functioning.

Basicaly, you can be as ADD as it goes. As long as it doesn't affect you in a negativ way, why bother? :)

This sounds odd and maybe unsensible, but give it a thought. It's nothing that needs to be "fixed" simply for the sake of "fixing" it.

my 2 cents

I did some online questionares and realised yup I do have the problems you have. Anyway now I am not even on meds, just taking some vitamin B and other vitamins and trying to build my inner strength. I believe if I build a strong morale, character and stick to these beliefs, I think I get more motivation. Okay maybe I don make sense here. Hee
Good luck! Hope you find a way out soon. First believe and acheive.

Basicaly, you can be as ADD as it goes. As long as it doesn't affect you in a negativ way, why bother? :)

This sounds odd and maybe unsensible, but give it a thought. It's nothing that needs to be "fixed" simply for the sake of "fixing" it.

my 2 centsI do agree with you YEAH, if I didn't feel impaired I wouldn't bother at all. I have never been the type to just take meds just for the sake of taking them, if that makes any sense at all. What concerns me the most is just my ability to read to my children. I can read and well, might I add, but I can't focus on what I am reading and when I am trying to teach them that it is great to start that when you are young, but I can't even do it then they are going to be just like me and I want my kids to love to read. I did know that ADD was genetic, and all this time I thought that my oldest, Dayton, got it from his dad, which might still be true. He is REALLY ADHD. Anyway, I did take a couple of the online tests and both of them said that I was moderate to severely Adult ADD, but that I should see a professional. SO I am going today at 4:15 to see a psychologist for the first time in my life. Not only for that but for some other scary thoughts that I had told you guys about before and some other mood issues that I am having. I need to be able to enjoy my family more and I just can't right now. I want to be left alone and then when I am in the mood then I want to play. I don't want my kids thinking I am a basket case or something. I hope all that made sense. I am a lot scatter brained this morning. Thank you all so much for taking the time to give me your thoughts on this and I am sure that this evening after I go to my appt I will post on here what was said and done. If you have ANYTHING else you would like to add before I go this afternoon please feel free!!!

Betty~

I'm new to this ADD issue and I can make no documentary claims as I am not a doctor but I believe that one imprtant issue is this:

Does these ADD issues that you found on your checklist, that match you-- Do they disturb you in your social life, home life, and if you are employed at your job? And have these little or maybe big quirks - have they effected you over your lifetime...such as when you were very little , before school age, or elementary years?

IMHO..anybody can have ADD tendancies in this crazy world, but for some of us they are overwhelming & frustrating and that makes a great difference in a diagnosis whether You are or aren't ADD or ADHD. Does that make sense? Help me out fellow ADDer's..with the right words.

Good Luck~ I wish I would of had the knowledge I know now a very long time ago..this has been an overwhelming/frustrating problem for over 38 years.

I have described the issues in my day to day life on previous posts in this thread. I don't know if you read them or not, but they are all there and if they weren't bothering me then I wouldn't be worried about them. Thanks for your input. I am glad that there are so many people here that are willing to help out when you need it.

Yes I did read the previous posts in this thread..I Forgot to address that a proper ADD Adult diagnosis will take in to account that these issues have been issues since early childhood. The reason that is so prevalant is because everybody can have some of the symptoms on the checklist, and still not be considered ADD . From my research and understanding this should be a long term situation that has interrupted your life all your life; when it comes to diagnosing ADD in adults. What I am trying to say is : You just don't go to bed one night and wake up with ADD..it's been an ongoing problem. That is one way of doctors deciding if you are ADD or not. There's no magical machine that can give you accurate test results. The professional has to take all these things into account in the interview. So if these things were a problem when you was a child and they still are--you sure could be ADD. Good Luck!

I haven't been diagnosed or evaluated for ADD, but my younger brother was over the summer. I have every single symptom of it and always have, I just thought I was "spacey" as my teachers indicated throughout school. I just did a ten page research paper on ADD/ADHD and found this native remedies site while doing research. I ended up ordering something called Focus ADDult from the site. Has anyone tried this or heard of it? I haven't taken it yet and I'm afraid to because I don't know what it will be like if all of a sudden I can concentrate, what if it's boring? I'm also getting married in two weeks and worried about how it could affect my mood/personality.