If this doesn't belong here, I apologize... I did search for a bit on my specific question, but nothing seemed to address it... so here goes.

Background first.

I'm 22 and currently enrolled in college. I've been consistently told I'm just "smart, lazy, and absentminded" all my life. I'm smart. I'm not saying that to brag or anything, I just am. It also makes it harder to think that any of this is more than just a bad habit. I've jumped through hoops of classes, constantly skipping school, showing up for tests when it was really important, etc. etc. typical underacheiver.

I constantly find myself daydreaming or thinking of what else I could be doing when I should be doing something productive, or whenever I sit down for more than a few minutes. I'm constantly forgetting things that should otherwise be common. I'll lock myself out of my car *very* often... so often that I've got 2-3 keys hidden on the outside of my car. I'll lose my wallet a lot and keep me from getting out the door to go places, etc.

I definitely have a problem with impulsiveness and starting too many things and then just dropping them once they become "not new", or "old hat". I get bored with things very easily if they don't provide consistently interesting feedback.

I'm consistently irritated by things that shouldn't bother me--someone will do something that causes me to have to do something again, or I'll jump on someone for being stupid without thinking first... it's physically uncomfortable for me to sit completely still or wait for anything... I've been told I'm extremely impatient.

When I worked, I had a tendency to finish people's sentences, usually telling them what the problem was before they'd finish describing what issues they were having. (I was tech/network support for a firm, and usually did know what was going on, but I had problems waiting for them to finish). I was great at multitasking in that environment, because usually I'd fix things quickly and move on... if it took longer and it wasn't something new that I'd not encountered before, I'd put it off and usually pass it off to someone else on staff.

Usually during non-work hours, I don't have that much to do, so none of this stuff really comes up, as I'm usually doing my own things, not bothering anyone else, or having to deal with things that bother me... work was good because I was constantly on the move, doing different things all the time.

This isn't to say I can't focus at all, because when it becomes really important, deadline time, etc., I'll just zone out and get it done, usually faster than most other people. I'll sometimes be able to finish lots of things in a really short timespan. Like reading... if I'm not distracted and I'm really interested in it (or similarly, need to finish it so I don't fail a class), I'll just zoom through it.

I'm not sure I even have ADD, but I'm not sure whether this is because I really don't, or whether it's because all the habits I'm describing were attributed by my parents/others to be "bad habits" that you could just ignore/conquer and get over them. I tried explaining that I can't just *not* be impatient, or that I really don't have control over whether I'm locking myself out of my car. It's not like I haven't tried!

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In any case, I've finally decided to ask my doctor about it all and made an appt. because I "am having trouble concentrating", at the prompting of a friend who's getting a MS in psychology and will soon be practicing (so I have at least a little reason to trust her judgement) and said "That's not normal behavior", but I'm not sure how to bring this up to my general practitioner, without having it sound completely stupid like I'm making up all these things, or that I'm depressed. I definitely don't feel depressed, and don't want him to just automatically assume that's what all this is since I'm suddenly giving him a list of things that matches the symptoms of depression. I also don't want to go in with anything I've researched on ADD and say, "I think I have this", as I hate when people try to diagnose their computer problems with me, and I think doctors are the same way with their patients.

So. A) Does this even sound familiar to anyone, like I might have ADD, and B) Does anyone have any advice on how to broach the subject without having doctor jump to conclusions or think I'm being crazy all of the sudden?

I hope this made sense, as it took me a little while to make it organized into coherency.
Thanks for any suggestions!

I have tried to read your post but there's too much text,I've read the last part though-apologies!

You will probably find once spoken to the GP about it that it wasn't as terrible as was thought to be before,if that makes any sense. :)
Well that's providing you have a understanding GP.
They won't complain at you going there and saying you got some information,
if you've got genuine problems they are not going to refuse you further exploration into the symptoms,and the internet is also a good thing because it's allowing a lot more people to get knowledgeable about conditions,it's not all about hypocondriacs,I'm sure your GP won't see you as one either-any decent GP won't do that in genuine cases. :)

It's up to you how much information you want to bring,but I would say bring along a list of all your symptoms (regardless of whether they fit in ADHD or not) and also write about how the symptoms have effected you as a young child onwards,you could get a parent or other relative,or other person who knows self well to write that,but they won't know completely how you felt so you should write a lot of the input yourself,according to how it affects self.

No individual who doesn't know you can't say whether you have it or not from seeing your symptoms wrote down,as symptoms could go for anything,from regular personality to any disorder,make an appointment as soon as possible. :)

Thanks... I guess I'm just nervous? Writing all that down helped me collect my thoughts, even if it did take me like two hours to finish that one post.

"I'm having trouble concentrating." were my very words that I gave to my GP's receptionist when I called last week. I've been battling many of the problems you mentioned for 25 years or so and I'm just now starting to understand the possibilities.

I did not tell my GP what I thought the problem was until I had described my condition and let her reach a possible diagnosis. She also felt pretty strongly that ADD was a possibility and referred me to a clinical psychologis that specializes in AD/HD diagnosis.

Don't be afraid to sound crazy. You're not alone. If your GP dismisses what you say, then get a second opinion.

Good luck!

I'd like to second what others have said here and add my own little spin.



First, what I'd do is print out your post and take it with you to the doctor's office. Go over the things in it with him and see what he says.
Second, don't think automatically that you're being dismissed or misdiagnosed if the doctor prescribes antidepressants. Some antidepressants, such as Wellbutrin and imiprimine are, in fact, effective for ADD. I also wouldn't rule out the possibility that you might actually be subclinically depressed. I know I was, simply because I had so much trouble overcoming my "bad habits."
Third, if the doc is totally unreceptive to the idea you may have ADD, I would consider asking for a referral to a psychiatrist or psychologist who is more familiar with mental conditions. Not all GP's are competent and comfortable with psychiatric conditions. There are also some other benefits to being treated by a psychiatrist rather than a GP, so you might want to think about it anyway, especially if you have insurance.

Exeter, I'm lost. What is "subclinical" depression? I can't find anything on it so far but abstracts for medical journals.

Subclinical depression is a depressed state that doesn't qualify as "clinical depression," or "major depression" according to psychiatric definitions. Basically, if you were subclinically depressed, you'd probably still be able to function, and you might not even know you were depressed. There's a technical term for this type of depression, too, called dysthymia.

Have the doc give you a test for ADD, not just decide himself if you have it. There's a test you can fill out that will tell them if you might have it or not, and I don't mean the online 6 question test. GP's often don't know much about ADD and other mental conditions, they're more knowledgable about physical problems. But you might hit it lucky w/ your GP. If not, ask him to refer you to an ADD psychiatrist to get tested.

There are questionaires that can help diagnose ADD, but the diagnosis should not be based on this alone. I went through the diagnosis process twice, because I disregarded my ADD diagnosis for a few years when I moved, then needed to find a doctor for meds when I finally was ready to deal with my ADD.

The orginal diagnosis, I spoke with a doctor at the health center of my grad school. He referred me to a pychologist for diagnosis and kinda just said he needed more than just my "suspicion" that I had ADD before he would prescribe meds. The second go round, my GP (different doctor, different state) told me I couldn't be ADD because the type of work I do requires so much patience! When I explained that I had been previously diagnosed, he seemed doubtful, but referred me to a psychiatrist who was then able to make the diagnosis. If I hadn't already been diagnosed, I wonder if I would have given up when he tried to dismiss the possibility of ADD.

A lot of doctors are more familiar with depression symptoms and tend to lean that way. I just brought it up with my GP and my thoughts that it might be AD/HD. He gave me the option of being tested by a psychologist which I took. That way you'll both know for sure. Trust you gut a bit too and don't quit if you feel strongly ADD fits you -- try to see a professional trained in dx ADD.

Good luck!
Scattered

i don't even think GP's should be allowed to diagnose it.