Hi everyone:

Looking for your input if you don't mind. I posted here in the spring and have returned periodically to read your posts. I have a 15 year old son who was finally diagnosed with ADD about that time. I can't tell you how much he has improved since starting on Concerta.

I am overjoyed with his progress but admit that this post is not about him but about me.

I am seriously starting to question whether or not he gets his ADD from me.

I am currently on a medical leave from my position as secretary, due to stress. This stress was identified as coming from an intimidating supervisor and and harassment issues were addressed by my employer. I received full support from fellow employees who did experience the same treatment. Trust me she's a real stinker so I am not sorry.

I have decided that my health is more important this job and will not be returning.

Anyway I have questioned from time to time my abilities in the area of attention and focus. The more I read the more I wonder and especially with the recent diagnosis concerning my son.

Here is why:

1. When left to my own devices I tend to jump from one job to another. Since I have been home I feel that I want to get all those little jobs done that I didn't have time to do before. My natural way of working I think is kind of weird. For example.... I sell on ebay so I am trying to get that going. I will be trying to take pictures so I will set up the kitchen and start taking pictures but it seems like that is not enough. I will take a few pictures, have to go into another room for something and then I will do a few things that need doing (basement - load the washer:, bedrooms, put clothes away:, bathroom, clean mirror;, etc.), then back to take some more pictures. It's all stuff that I want to get done but it strikes me as maybe weird that this is how I work. I can fly around the house all day and I do get a lot done. I guess my point is that I don't think that I am comfortable doing just one thing at a time.

2. If I am sitting trying to watch T.V. and I see something out of the corner of my eye (a piece of paper that needs picking up, socks that need to be put in the hamper, etc.), my mind keeps going back to that object until I pick it up.

3. The more tired I am or if I have PMS the more that interuptions and noises bother me will trying to concentrate. I used to get really frustrated at work when others would be talking, talking, talking when I was trying to think. There have been times at home I have even gotten p.o.'d at the birds for singing so loud (rare but it has happened).

4. I believe that I am smart person but sometimes feel dumb. Like sometimes my mental resources are low and I need to recharge.

5. I feel that sometimes when my son was small and needed me that I couldn't slow down and be in the moment with him. When I was in full swing and in my getting something accomplished mode it was hard to stop and be there.

6. I am a nighthawk and can get my days and nights turned around very easily.

7. I have learned to stay relatively organized by making lists. My parents laughed because for years after I was married they kept finding my old lists around the house. I still make lists to this day.

8. Here's another weird one. When I read the newspaper or a magazine I always read it from the back to the front.

9. In all honesty I do feel that I have a problem with paying attention to detail when working. As a secretary I was critisized by a former employer for errors. I have done everying that I can think of to improve.


I don't know I just have to question this. Maybe this is why I did not see my son's ADD.

My parents always told me that I was very intelligent. I was reading advanced material very early and had no problems in school. I never got all A's or anything in school but was able to pull off pretty good marks.

I have always felt that there was something holding me back in some way. I wonder also that if part of my stress at my job was trying to bend to a job that required more from me than I was able to deliver at times.

So what do you think? Do I sound ADD? Should I see about starting medication as well? Just wondering what you guys think.

Thanks for listening.

Lookin4answers

If you are unhappy and think you have it,go to the doc and tell him your problems and how much it affects your daily life.Hopefully he will be understanding of it and not be a med hog(that means some of them act like your just looking for drugs)You will know wothin 45 min. to a hour if you are.Good luck to you....

The best indicator of ADD is past history. A lot of adults do get diagnosed after they have a child diagnosed---They just didn't recognize it when we were kids. Since stress can cause a lot of attention issues too, you need to look back. The notes all over the place is a good start, but think back to when you were in school.

I always had trouble keeping work organized and my locker was a wreck. Deadlines seemed to keep up. Somone tapping on a desk, and yes, talking while I was thinking drove me nuts. I remember as a child sitting with my hands on the side of my head, fingers in ears, to be able to read and concentrate.

The best thing to do is to talk to your doctor or the doctor that diagnosed your son. They will take a history and look at the best form of treatment for you if one is needed.

8. Here's another weird one. When I read the newspaper or a magazine I always read it from the back to the front.I wondered if anybody else did this! :p I do that all the time -- not with newspapers particularly, but with educational reading. I read most of my books on ADD that way. The heavier the material the more likely I am to do this. I'll find the most interesting chapter and then if I'm having trouble sticking with it, it read back ward by sections -- I think that is so that it never looks like I have too much to read -- but I'm not really sure.

So what do you think? Do I sound ADD? Should I see about starting medication as well? Just wondering what you guys think.It sounds like you've definately developed some good coping skills such as list making and such, but if you feel you're struggling to achieve your best it might be worth looking into further, especially since your son was diagnosed. I think the figure is somewhere around 30% (give or take) of ADD kids will have a parent with it as well.

Stress may be causing your symptoms, but on the other hand ADDers are more vulnerable to stress. Some of us (me included) are more distracted by our internal world (feelings and thoughts) than our external world. While we can cope in the classroom with the noise and distractions, we may not be able to ignore the feelings brought on by a hostile work environment. I would encourage you to read more on the subject. My personal favorites are Driven to Distraction, Answers to Distraction, and Delivered from Distraction by Drs. Hallowell and Ratey. Women with Attention Deficit Disorder by Sari Solden also has some very good information on how ADD shows up in women. If this seems to fit, pursue it further!:)

Take Care,
Scattered