I just joined this forum and have a couple questions about treatment for ADD. I am not yet diagnosed but have an appointment with a psychiartist next friday. I know if i am diagnosed the doctor will probably give me some meds. and I will have to go back to him to tell him how I am doing. But from what i have been reading is that many people do some type of therapy to deal with the problems caused by ADD. I am wondering what were the reasons people felt they needed therapy to deal with their problems. ADD (if I have it) effects my life with school, some relationship problems (mainly family), and I think I may have an eating disorder (I have heard from some it is related). So if people who are in therapy because of problems with ADD tell me why it would be needed. It just seems that therapy wouldn't really work for me.

-Emily-

Hi Emily....good to see you thinking about things. I have always been told that Counselling can help you sort thru feeling and help you deal with those feelings. I am in counseling now I have not been with this therapist long my therapist had to leave cause of medical reasons, so I am just starting with her.

Counselling takes a lot of courage and patience. YOU have to be willing to open up and become vunerable. The medication can help you deal with emotions and feeling to get thru some of this road map and let you have a more clear picture of things while you are working on them in counselling. Okay this is my opinion, and that is all it is hun. I hope this helps give it a chance you have noting to lose only some insight to gain from it. auntchris

Sometimes people grow up with ADD, and the whole time, depending on what their symptoms are (or how severe they are) they feel all dysfunctional, or defective, or stupid, or something like that. That builds up over the years and in many cases they just start to think they're hopeless. Gets worse if others comment on it in adulthood or in childhood...

Then, one day, voila, they're diagnosed with ADD, are able to think clearly for the first time when they begin treatment...and still have that yucky little low-self-esteem thing that's been there for sooo long.

I'll provide an illustration: took me three years to pass Algebra I with a D. Seriously. That could potentially mess with someone's self-worth, am I right?

Chrys

CCSUO4,

Welcome to the Forum.Those were all excellent posts.When you get a chance, please check out this book, I think you'll like it: You Mean I'm Not Lazy, Stupid Or CrazY ? by Kate Kelly & Peg Ramundo.

Good luck:)

Hi CC,

Therapy made a large difference in my life because I spent half my life in ignorance of my ADHD and was led by general society to believe that I was one either crazy or two lazy. There were a lot of painful memories I had to work thru before I could concentrate on putting my best foot forward.

For my children who were dx'd early in life therapy helps give them an outlet all their own, were their feelings and thoughts are sacred and treated with the respect they deserve. They are allowed to talk their way thru an issue without being directed by someone else's views. They have also witnessed bullying due to their add. Also, ADD is often followed by co-morbids such as depression, eating disorders, low self esteem, anger, etc.