Hi, my name is Rachel. I'm 15, in high school, and new to these forums.

I have not been diagnosed with ADD, and am using this website, along with several others, to research. I have spoken with several friends with ADD, and it seems that I may have it.

I have found that I:
1. Have trouble reading (I can't pay attention, I seem to skip around, it's like it goes in one ear and out the other. It's not that I can't read; I can comprehend, it just takes a LOT to stay focused.)
2. I deffinately tend to think much faster than I can talk. This makes it really hard to get a point across.
3. I have trouble doing set assignments in school. I can't sit down and start my homework. It's not that I'm lazy at all, I just can't stay motivated, I guess.
4. It takes a long time for me to fall asleep because I get caught up in my thoughts, and I can't just relax. I learned some yoga techniques to help this, but alot of times I can't even stick to those.
5. Although I have plenty of friends, It's kind of hard to keep relationships. I don't know if this has anything to do with ADD, but it's almost as if i get bored with personalities. I lose friends this way, it sucks :(
6. I have alot of trouble taking tests. I always blank out, even if I had studied with a friend or parent. I read through the questions and I just can't think.
7. I get very fidgedy and have alot of trouble paying attention to my teachers, my parents, my friends, etc. I tend to zone out, even though it seems like I;m listening. It's just hard to pull myself back onto track.

This is kind of embarrassing :(
I'm sorry that was so descriptive; I can't explain myself any other way.

A big problem as well, is that I'm afraid to talk to my parents about it. We don't have any history of ADD in our family, so they aren't familiar with it. I'm afraid they are going to think it's just an excuse for my poor grades, or I'm lazy. I don't even know how I could initiate the conversation. I don't talk sparatically or loud or extremely fast, it's more in my thoughts. I don't know how a doctor could know this. I think I would also be afraid to confront my doctor. I don't go to a psychiatrist, but my doctor is a pediatrition, so he should be more understanding.

Any suggestions as to how I could explain this to my parents, or my doctor? Does it sound to anyone that I have a problem in the first place?

Thank you in advance, It's really nice to have something like this to come to. :)

Rachel

Hi, my name is Rachel. I'm 15, in high school, and new to these forums.


I'll start with a warm welcome to the forums.


Then I will follow with a question:

Have you read any book about ADD. You maybe able to check one or two out at the library.......

Dr. Edward Hallowell "Driven to Distraction" or "Answers to Distraction". After you have read the information and you still feel you may have ADD maybe try opening up the sunject of ADD to your mom or dad. Opening up the subject of ADD in general without mentioning you in specific may make it easier for you to see how they feel about the subject before connecting subject ADD to you specificially.


Having a book about ADD will allow you to have information they can view for themselves. Maybe while you have the book about ADD leave it where you know parental units will see it...maybe they read parts of it or perhaps they may be prompted to ask you why you are reading about ADD!!!


I will end this post with a hyperlink to our teen section where some of your peers may have some suggestions of thier own!!!! ;)


http://www.addforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=90

Can u talk to a guidance counselor and have them talk to your parents and say they think u may bave ADD? That way u dont have to directly have to tell them. I understand how hard it is to talk ot parents about this. I too this day can't talk to my rents about my ADD even though they are the ones who took my to get dxed! I would say that is your best bet.

Welcome to the forums.

I congratulate you in identifying these characteristics in yourself and wanting to do something about it. A lot of people struggle with these things and are just not able to realize things that are contributing to their struggles. They end up going through life very unhappy.

I agree with Tammy. Get some knowledge on ADHD. Try to stick with up to date material. Any book by Hallowell is excellent. He even has a new book "Delivered from Distraction" released in Jan of 2005.

I also agree with casper. Talk with your guidance counselor. Explain what you have been feeling and experiencing. They may even be able to setup some ADHD testing with the school psychologist. If the results do re-enforce ADHD, then you will have some proof for your parents and doctors.

We don't have any history of ADD in our family, so they aren't familiar with it.

There is a 50% chance that if you are diagnosed with ADHD then someone in your family will have it too. It has been proven that ADHD is genetic. My dad has it, I have it and my son has it. That enough proof for me.

7. I get very fidgedy and have alot of trouble paying attention to my teachers, my parents, my friends, etc. I tend to zone out, even though it seems like I;m listening. It's just hard to pull myself back onto track.


Do you get this "fidgedy" feeling when you have to sit in class? Does it feel like you want to crawl out of your skin? Does it feel like you can't control your spine? This is how I was in 4th grade. I went to the doctor and explained this symptom and theysaid I would just grow out of it. :( That was in 1981. I am still waiting.:eek:

If you can find some old report cards, the teacher's comments can really help in the diagnosis.

Good luck and keep us updated.

hi rachael,

you've already gotten some great advice. i can think of only one thing to add and that's to print the post you've written and share it with your pediatrician if that's who you feel most comfortable approaching with this problem. you could bring this subject up with your folks in the same way when you're ready to do that.

you've done a great job of identifying problems. it seems like you just need a bit of help trying to find solutions.

good luck!

w.

Welcome, Rachel!

I agree with wheezie, you've gotten some really good advice! You could also talk with a teacher about this.

Like Tammy (mead) said, some of the other teens could have some great advice for you. They may have been in the same boat you're in, so I encourage you to post there, also.

I was 16 when I got diagnosed with ADD (last year) and it was my therepest who thought I had ADD after I described to her my daily battles with family, school, and my friends. If it wasn't for her mentioning the possibility of having ADD I have no idea where I would be today. Anyway, I would highly reccomend talking to your parents about the possibility of having ADD and show them the things you have been researching. Also, you might want to research doctors in your area who can diagnose ADD (and they know A LOT about what it is, its side effects for medication ect..) Good luck with everything.

I just wanted to welcome you to the forums and mymother somewhat no's what she is talking about but i agree with wheezie
good luck girl its great here and i love it i hope that you will to

Welcome to the forums!! It's always nice to have another teen around here! :)

Does it feel like you want to crawl out of your skin? Does it feel like you can't control your spine?

Oh my gosh thats how to describe it, finally! I hate that feeling, just sitting there in class and your skin just feels like it wants to tear itself away, i hate it.

Also this my be unrelated, but do you sometimes wish you didn't have adhd, sometimes i do, i love myself for who i am but i just hate some of the wierd sacastic comments or looks some people give you when your'e doing something 'different' that they wouldn't do. Sometimes i wish i could change my personlaity but i like who i am. I guess, i just wanna be liked, i wish i could stick with the smae friends because i feel that i ahev missed out on the whole, group friend, click thing, i just float around from group to group, to which ever makes me happy. I also, wish that i would stop procrasinating becuse i think i could have achieved great things otherwise, not just starting to learn one thing and giving up and going onto another. and sometimes i wish i could stop acting so childish and hyper, cos its really annoying when you are trying to watch a film and as you say get that annoying skin feeling like you wanna jump out of your body and jigly around. I also wish i wasn't so inecure about myself, but like the friends that i ahev now are great i love them, but everntually down the line ill cause a fight or say something silly on pupose that will make them and i not be freinds again. and i should really have a shower cos i smell but i can't cos its 4.30 in the morning and if i have a shower it will wake me up evern more. wow that was a rant and a half, you propberly won't read it any way unless this is your thread. cos i wouldn't unless it was my thread, theres just too much writing to ski through and not alot of good bits to pick out asnd read. n e way good luck.

I guess, i just wanna be liked, i wish i could stick with the smae friends because i feel that i ahev missed out on the whole, group friend, click thing, i just float around from group to group, to which ever makes me happy. I also, wish that i would stop procrasinating becuse i think i could have achieved great things otherwise, not just starting to learn one thing and giving up and going onto another. I also wish i wasn't so inecure about myself, but like the friends that i ahev now are great i love them, but everntually down the line ill cause a fight or say something silly on pupose that will make them and i not be freinds again.

I know exactly what you mean =). I've been looking for so long for someone that feels the same.