ok..I have not yet been diagnosed with ADD but I am now so far past wondering if I have it...there just no way this can't be ADD. I originally was too unsure of myself and scared to mention it to anyone and decided to just live with it and recognize what I have trouble with and try to find ways around it...but theres only so far one can take that. I am in a third semester of university now and struggling like I can't even describe, still trying to battle my serious inability to focus in class and get down to homework. It takes all my strength just to sit through a class and after just a couple of hours I am mentally exhausted for the whole day. I think I have finally dedided on what I want to go into, but at this rate getting even a degree(I want to go to Phd) is seeming impossible. I have read some posts here saying meds are really helpful and I know Im smart its just this mental blockage in the way so maybe meds is the answer... but Ive also read it DOESNT help and its expensive and Id have to go through the difficult ordeal of announcing it to my family. In everyones opinion, should I fight on my own more or open up about it?? Any advice you have would be appreciated too. Thanks!

Meds aren't the be all and end all. At least they weren't for me. I've seen a couple of books talked about here that sounded like they were aimed right at me.

http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16392&highlight=Book

This was a particularly good thread I thought.
Cheers!

I agree completely! Meds aren't the end all solution....you really need to get therapy too.
While the meds will help minimize the ADD symptoms that may get in your way in life they don't give you the tools you need to put some of the missing pieces of the puzzle back in view.
Also, just telling your family you have ADD doesn't do any good unless they know WHAT ADD looks like.

If you were an alcoholic you could tell just about anyone and they would have a MUCH clearer picture of what comes with being one than they would ADD.

If I were you, I'd gather up all the info that may indicate that you are suffering from ADD. Depending on the type of relationship that you have with your parents, you might consider getting them involved with the situation (especially if you need $ for doctor visits and meds). Talking to them about your problems with school and asking them for help, is a lot easier than telling them that you just flunked out.

But if you have your own resources, just do it yourself.

Either way, you'll need to take a list of your symptoms to a psychiatrist and get evaluated. If it's determined that you need meds, give it a shot. They might be the push that makes your school life a lot easier. And of course, a Therapist/Counselor/Mentor/Coach would round out the attack.

I've said it before, and being adhd, I am sure I will say it a million more times, "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree".

If you have signs of add/adhd, chances are that other family members do also. Contrary to popular belief, it doesn't come from the water. (Atleast at this time we don't think it does.)

Perhaps your parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, also had "issues" when growing up.

In our case, on my husbands side of the family (the non medicated adders), he is one of 8 boys. All did bad in school. Most flunked 2nd grade. (That seems to be a common grade to be held back in.) Most were into drugs in highschool. Most went to tech school (on the short yellow bus.) Some graduated. Most didn't. Four of the 8 are divorced. All 8 have jobs involving their hands (construction, mechanic, trash hauler, welder, etc...) My husband had mini seizures during his sleep when he was young and took something called Dilantin. Was diagnosed with "minimal brain disfunction" back in the 60's, which is now known as Attention Deficit Disorder. Their grandmother died in her 40's from liver damage due to alcoholism. There is bedwetting on their side of the family (along with my side) so that's where my son gets that. And the list of what I found out goes on and on. After all that I found out, my mother-in-law is still in denial that they have ADD issues.

My side of the family (the adhers) all did well in school. All have good jobs. Have all the good traits that come with adhd but also the bad traits of interrupting, lack of finance skills, etc. I didn't have to dig far at all on my side of the family. We wear our good and bad classic adhd characteristics on our sleeves.

I would suggest that you talk to your family about it and also get evaluated.

Or, don't talk to your family about it but definitely get yourself evaluated.

I am 43, adhd, and finally got medicated 2 months ago. My son has been medicated for over 9 years for adhd. I knew I had it but didn't think I needed medication. (I self medicated with caffeine (vivarine), sinus medicine and melanonin. I am now on Adderral and absolutely love it.

If there is one thing that I could change in regard to my adhd, it would be that I would have gotten medicated 20 plus years ago. Seriously. It is such a big difference.

My husband has seen what a difference it has made in me and in order to keep us married for another 15 years, he is going for an evaluation and medication this week. (I am the adhd poster child and he is the add poster child. There is no doubt that he has it.)

Over the weekend, I let him try an Adderrall XR 20 mg on Saturday. He, my son and I all spent a wonderful, non argumentative day. We went to a bunch of garage sales, hit a few thrift stores (he collects bikes and makes them into choppers.) When we got home, we started getting our pool ready, he finished several projects that he had been working on. It was absolute heaven on earth. He noticed the difference himself the very first day.

On Sunday, I let him try another one so he would look forward to his doctors appointment and medication. Again, a great day. No arguments. No high and lows. Even moods. He actually got my rear view mirror put back on, got my car cd player to spit out the stuck cd (without throwing something), he finished working on the pool, cut the grass, played basketball. Oh my gosh. I wish I would have gotten him medicated 17 years ago the moment I met him. He too saw a big difference.

It's definitely worth getting checked out.

Thanks for the encouragement. I am wondering if meds will help. I am not looking to them as the entire solution but they made a HUGE difference with my mother and she has one of the worst cases of ADD her doctor has ever seen.

Meds will help you help yourself, use wisely.

Good luck

T-Bass