Basically I am looking for opinions from those who work with or are diagnosed with ADD/ADHD -

All my life I had noticed that I was 'different' from everyone else. Not really in a bad way, just always seemed to learn differently and think differently from the rest of the student body, and that I had always a sort of 'internal chaos'.

When I was younger (elementary school), I would frequently goof off in class and generally not pay attention. ADHD was never suspected, though, because (as my parents describe it) I was 'charming' to the teachers, so they usually enjoyed (or at least put up with) my clowning around. My 'grades' were fine, mainly because at that age we really didn't have much to be graded on.

In fifth grade and later that all changed. It was around this age that we had really started to get homework (essays, worksheets, book assignments, etc.). I would frequently procrastinate (often driving my parents 'up the wall', so to speak) and once I did start, I would only do half the assignment. One time I even glued the worksheet together and only did the front and back pages (needless to say, my teacher was none-too-pleased). I would still get by with A's and the occassional B, but this was mainly because they would be very leniant and basically sit you down after school and force you to do it without marking off. All my report cards said things like "Smart child, but needs to apply himself better" and others to that effect.

Between 8th and 9th grade is when it REALLY got bad. The teachers no longer nag at you or sit you down and force you do the work, but rather just let you take the F and usually say nothing about it. My report cards quickly went from A's to D's.

I didn't goof of in class (well not near as much, at least), but instead would just stare and day dream. I would always be staring out the window, at the ceiling, and would always be focusing on something not class related. Luckily I am a VERY fast learner, and can remember things for a seemingly impossible amount of time. This allowed me to focus on a few seconds of the class here-and-there and still learn everything there was to know. This only further reinforced my bad habits.

9th grade was even worse. Even though I knew that my grades would be with me for the rest of my life, I still wouldn't do my homework. It wouldn't be a matter of opposition, but rather procrastination. I would always "just do my homework after this next show." It never got done.

All my tests were above 95% (except for my math tests, but that was because I was in a senior's honors class and wasn't able to pay enough attention to get it all and wouldn't supplement my learning with the homework), so I obviously knew the material. I barely got by without summer school!

I also had a job as a web-designer, but often found that I would start a LOT of projects but got few done. The few I did get done were ones I was being paid for, and even then it was a challenge. Once the hard part was over (the concept and creation, only leaving the text to be added and code to be written) I would lose interest and it would be like pulling teeth to get it done. Text and minor updates would often take me a week to get done simply because I never did them.

Over the summer I was bored and hanging out with my ADHD friend. He is in college and didn't have enough money to pay for his Adderall at the time, so he was...well..everywhere. That is when I realized that I act the exact same way just about all the time. I have calmed down some, but my train of thought and randomness/distractability was the same as his (and we are very different people).

After researching around I came to the conclusion that there was a good chance I had ADD/ADHD. I also want to say that prior to this I was VERY skeptical and has always thought of it as a little-kid thing, rather than looking at it as an excuse for my work. It did, however, really 'hit the nail on the head'.

Over the years my parents have always joked with me that I had it (because of the way I always did and still do act), and after asking my friends and recieving a unanimous yes, I brought it up with my parents and over the past couple months we have been going through and making sure it isn't other things (depression, etc). So far we have found that it isn't being caused by anything else, and my parents are 'giving up' and going with the ADD/ADHD idea, although they don't like the medication for it.

This year (10th grade/16 years old) I am trying harder to get my work done, but am still not having any luck. It isn't that I plan on not doing it, but rather just never get around to getting it done. I have been getting 120% on my math tests though... :D

Monday is my second (and final) day that I meet with the psychologist that my doctor had refered us to for an AD/HD evaluation, and am unsure of how it is going to go. I am, however, glad that this will resolve the issue (whether I have it or not).

I also just took a WebMD "ADHD Assessment" (big questionaire) and it says:
16 or below - - Mild ADHD Behaviors
17-19 - - Moderate ADHD Behaviors
20-24 - - Severe ADHD Behaviors
25+ - - Very Severe ADHD Behaviors
I scored a 45! Hahaha...

So basically (to repeat my question) do you think I have ADD/ADHD? I already know that 'only a medical professional is able to diagnose and treat it', but I am more looking for comments (such as this behavior being frequent or you yourself had experienced it, etc.)

Thanks in advance, and my appologies about the long read...

Oh also -
As I said I can remember things for a LONG LONG time, but I often forget things "in the moment" and things like appointments and meetings with people.

When people talk (even directly to me) I often "space out" and forget they are talking, and often have to ask them to repeat what they had just said.

Ok I think that is all of it now ;)

you walk like a duck, talk like a duck...you know the answer! Get it confirmed and get treatment.

Wait..I thought this was about AD/HD, not ducks :P

I have a bad tendancy to second-guess myself, and my my first evaluation session (it is broken into two sessions) was just things like talking to the psychologist, and filling out questionaires, etc. He never said anything about it being AD/HD or not. This left both me and my parents failry unresolved about the issue.

My next (final) session is Monday at one, which is when the diagnosis is going to be made, so I am getting anxious and wanted a few more opinions before the session just to reassure myself that it isn't all just in my head (like I said: I second-guess myself).

Plus, writing it out was a nice way of really working through everything and getting it all out.

I am the same way, Charlie.

You probably will be diagnosed positive. If you are not, but feel impaired by "ADD" symtoms, get another opinion.

If they prescribe the main meds, you might find out the same day you take them, if they can potentially benefit you.

Please come back and let us know what happens Monday.

Well, if I am not diagnosed positive, I won't have another chance until I am 18 (a senior). My parents won't take me to anything else and just say that I must not have it (especially since they aren't particularily for AD/HD or the medication), so I am really hoping that I am diagnosed positive.

I will be sure to keep you guys posted ;)

wanted a few more opinions before the session just to reassure myself that it isn't all just in my head


Actually ADD is "all in the head"........when you think about. ;)

Sorry my smart *ss pills look just like my Adderall. I often get them mixed up!!


You are supposed to laugh!!! :D

Oh hey try "worry procrastination"......don't worry about your diagnosis until Monday, perhaps after the appointment.


Let is know what happens.

Hahaha.."worry procrastination"...I like that one!

Actually, come to think of it, I did something like that once. It didn't end well, though. I didn't get homework done for a month! ;)

Normally I wouldn't be worrying this much...but I haven't really been in the mood to be out and about with my friends, which means I have waaaaaaay toooo muuuch free time on my hands!

Like I said, I'll be sure to post the results of Monday for everone.

OH! THOSE PILLS! I swear my parents slip me those!

Oh hey try "worry procrastination"......don't worry about your diagnosis until Monday, perhaps after the appointment.


This would cause me to miss the appointment completely.

Another quick question:
For my appointment on Monday, do you think I should print out this thread/my story and give it to him?

The only reason I am wondering is because when I am talking to him, I tend to get distracted and go off on something else, so I never actually get everything out. Last time I only answered when I was being directly asked, and allowed my parents to answer everything else and corrected them when need. I even (to no help) brought a note card.

My thinking is that this would give him the complete story (or at least a good idea) without me trying to explain it and missing huge parts.

Another quick question:
For my appointment on Monday, do you think I should print out this thread/my story and give it to him?
Yes, print off your story and take it with you. This is a very common thing to do.

Did you get some one on one time with the doctor (time without your parents in the room)?

Good luck on Monday. Please let us know how is goes.

Alright will-do.

I had a little one on one time with him, but it was mainly just transitioning from talking to testing (at which point he sent my parents out). He said I had the option to kick my parents out at any time, but they seemed to be doing a good job desciribing it (better than I could have done), but didn't get all of it. I'm not too good at coming up with things when put on the spot, so I didn't add much of anything.

This next session is more testing/less talking, which is why I think it would be helpful to bring in the story and the online assessment.

Sorry to bother you all about this...I'm making it more difficult than it really has to be ;)

just print your initial story on top, not our responses. He might not have enough time. Besides, we are not prefessionals and he might resent our opinions if he has a sensitive ego.

online assessment.


This is a good idea. Taken an on-line assessment like the ones on webmd, print out the results and take them with you in case he wants to see them......scense he has already done his own assessment he may or may not be interested in an on-line assessment.


just print your initial story on top, not our responses.

I agree he will not be interested in what we think and some doctors are sensitive that way.

Good luck.

STILL NOTHING!!

I took like two hours of tests, and at the end he said that we would need ANOTHER one-hour session next week to go over the results (he even said he would only need two)!!!

ARGH!!! THIS IS TAKING SO LONG!!!!!

It has been about 3 months PAST the first visit to the doctor for it, and have nothing to show for it!!!

STILL NOTHING!!

I took like two hours of tests, and at the end he said that we would need ANOTHER one-hour session next week to go over the results (he even said he would only need two)!!!

ARGH!!! THIS IS TAKING SO LONG!!!!!

It has been about 3 months PAST the first visit to the doctor for it, and have nothing to show for it!!!This is a good thing. I know how frustrating it can be to wait for results. :faint: Your psychologist seems to be very interested in making the correct diagnosis, along with any other additional diagnosis. ADHD is usually not alone.

Did you take your initial top story? What was their response?

"Yes, now that I have had my 3 liters of Mountain Dew, I can finally go to sleep." - Me to my mom at 1:30am
Charlie...

I have to laugh at your siggy...Mt. Dew got me through graveyard shifts (3 in an 8 hour period), most of college (when I attended), flight school, and jobs too numerous to mention. I finally kicked the habit as part of a low carb/low cal diet a couple of years ago. Went cold turkey but I dropped 30 pounds. I still have the occasional Dew....but back then...Thank God for "doin' the Dew"!

Eric

timh:

I agree that it is a very good thing. He is, supposedly, on of the best in evaluating AD/HD in both children and adults (which is also why he doesn't have any openings after 3 pm until late next !!JUNE!!). I am, however, peeved at the amount of time it has taken to get everything done with. I was hoping to get it cleared up BEFORE school starts, and it is already end of 1st quarter....and I am not exactly a patient one!

When we called, they said it would take two sessions, one week apart. The first opening they had was in one week, so we took it. After that first week, there wasn't another opening for TWO weeks (I almost flipped...like I said: very impatient). This was supposed to be the final one, but nope! Now I have to wait until next Tuesday (yet another week) to get the results. It has gone from 2 sessions over a 2 week period, to 3 sessions over a 4 week period (and this is already after waiting over a month just to get to the psychologist)!

As for having other conditions, I think we did a good job of clearing those out of the way. Before my parents accepted the AD/HD idea, we went through just about everything else to see if that was causing it (including one particularly bad incident with zoloft).

I did print out my post and gave it to him, but I was testing the entire session. During the first test he didn't have to be there, so he probably read it then. He never said anything about it, besides that he was "skeptical of the WebMD evaluations and preffered the assesments [he was giving me during the session]". Once again he said nothing in either having it or not having it, so I am still absolutely CLUELESS (which doesn't help my patience one little bit)!

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lostdog65:

Yeah, Mountain Dew certainly is, as many say, "the elixir of the gods." At the time, I was drinking (rather just finishing) drinking a whole 3 liter bottle of Mountain Dew that I had just bought. I then turned out the lights and promptly fell asleep. Caffeine, sadly, actually ends up calming me (ususally to the point of me having to take a nap if I have it during the day). This is good for helping me stay on task, but very bad when I may need it to stay up and cram or finish homework into the wee-hours of the morning. It does *allow* me to stay up longer, but I feel more tired during that time than if I had not had it....anyways forgot where I was going with this, but yes, Mountain Dew is awesome!


WOW THIS POST IS WAY LONGER THAN I HAD INTENDED IT TO BE!

I did print out my post and gave it to him, but I was testing the entire session. During the first test he didn't have to be there, so he probably read it then. He never said anything about it, besides that he was "skeptical of the WebMD evaluations and preffered the assesments (he was giving me during the session)". Once again he said nothing in either having it or not having it, so I am still absolutely CLUELESS (which doesn't help my patience one little bit)
Even if he didn't comment on the "print off" of your post, he probably took some of your self-assessment into consideration for the whole assessment/testing process.

The WebMD evaluation is just a "screener" and not an indepth tool. These are only made available to help an individual decide to pursue a possible diagnosis from a professional.

Again, you and your parents are doing all of the right things in the right order. Hang in there. :D

Waiting isn't fun, especially if you're ADHD! However, waiting for the right diagnosis is a lot better than rushing to the wrong one. Lots of us oldies have had that experience -- that is a real time waster -- we're talking decades kiddo! Let us know how it goes!

Scattered

I was the same i was a class clown from 3rd grade to 8th grade until people started ignoring me because i was all the teachers pet. normal people sometimes ignore people like us. and thats true we do think differently learn differently and See things differently. I tell myself im just as good as these other guys why dont i have a girlfriend? alot of times i feel like im very special and i am special just like everyone here.

timh:

Yeah, I didn't expect the WebMD assessment to hold much weight, but he did seem to find it amusing that I scored a 45 when 25+ meant severe AD/HD symptoms. I'm sure the post at least helped him somewhat, but I am surprised that he didn't ask me to explain anything further.

As I said to 'chaos "All this patience is going to kill me!"...or at least I think I said that to him...if not that something like it ;)

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Scattered:

That is true, and is also why I am not TOO annoyed with it, just fed up with waiting! Probably better than getting diagnosed if I don't have it, taking the meds and having who knows what happen!

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Timothy_Tc:

I wouldn't exactly say I was a class clown, because it was usually just me and a few other people around me that would be distracted. I was very shy when I was young, and even up until 7th grade. Then I thought to myself, "Why?" Since then I have branched out more and have made a lot of friends, and am much happier. Just recently , while I was on the trial of Zoloft, I went bonkers and became super impulsive. Since then I have been able to almost completely rid myself of the shyness, which also means I am always going on about random things now that I am not so self-concious about what I say! Ok well now I am just off topic ;)

I am very sorry you do not have a girlfriend. Just recently I got out of a half-year relationship, and let me say, being single is much more fun. But then again, I am young, so what more would you expect?

I am certain there is a girl out there for you. One that will understand you, and not only accept your differences, but love you for them. Once you find that girl, and you will, you two will be very happy together. I am sure of it. Just you wait - love has a way of finding you when you least expect it....:D

So don't give up hope! Tomorrow is another day..and who knows what will happen?

So, today was the final psychologist meeting to go over the results of my testing.

Although I do not have a severe case of ADHD, the psychologist still thinks that it is mild or mild-moderate and enough to cause a problem in daily life. As such, he things I would be a "good candidate for psychostimulants."

He was also talking about a possibility of depression or anxiety from some of the questionaires he had people do. He also said there was a possibility of bipolar because of the results and my reaction to antidepressents.

Now for the bad news: I HAVE TO WAIT A WHOLE 'NOTHER WEEK to get the medication. For some reason, this week my doctor is INCREDIBLY busy and has no opennings the entire week....so I have to wait...AGAIN....

CharlieM,

Totally understand you feelings. I went to my GP back in February about the possibility of ADHD. She had some physical testing done, to make sure my iron wasn't low or something (it wasn't) and then referred me to a place that didn't do assessments. When she found that out, she referred me to a place that would have charged me my entire tuition. Finally, I got directed to try going through the disabilities counselor at school, and SHE would refer me through Human Resources and Employment. That was in July.

When was my first session? Today!

I've said that I think this entire system is diabolically set up to thwart us at every turn. Well, not really...but it sure feels that way. *hates the waiting*

(Oh, and I think you'd have to be a ROBOT not to score as "severely ADHD" on the WebMD assessment, so I believe your doc was right not to trust it.)

I'd dance around if I could get an appointment w/ my doc in only a week! :D
(typical wait is 1.5 months)

The good thing is that you're finally diagnosed, Charlie!!
and that whatever approach you decide to use for your ADHD is on the way.

BTW - you did tell me that patience is gonna kill you!
But, it hasn't yet! hang in there!

"Yes, now that I have had my 3 liters of Mountain Dew, I can finally go to sleep." - Me to my mom at 1:30am

lmao...I always used to tell my child to " hurry up and drink your mt. dew so you can go to sleep!"

The fact that it worked was how I knew she had ADD

Hello,
I'm new and just trying to find someplace to start. It's actually weird to jump in and write something. I guess I should just put my brief intro out there and see who wants to reply. The difficult part her is I know what it's like to be on both sides of the coin. I have been diagnosed with Adult ADD for many years, but still struggle with all the usual problems. I'm also a therapist. Hey, am I the only one out here? Here is a "paste" of my intro to start.

My name is Lynn Ruch. I live in Okmulgee Oklahoma, at least for the next several weeks. I have a Masters of Science Degree in Applied Clinical Psychology. I'm licensed to practice in Oklahoma (Licensed Behavioral Practitioner) and in Kansas (Licensed Clinical Psychotherapist). Don't let that fool you. I am the classic Adult ADDer. My story is like so many other people with ADD. I'll offer you the short version of why I’m here. My resume looks great. However, I know it's just another piece of paper and not the real me at all. I graduated with my Master's degree in 1990 and have worked at four different mental health organizations. The first was as a Children's Emergency Specialist. That job was the first time I had to maintain the paperwork to support the therapy I was providing. I left that job after a year and a half. During that time I saved enough money to buy myself a motorcycle and put back enough cash that I was able to spend the next year riding around the United States. I eventually ran out of money so I found the next job. At the second job I managed to stay with the organization for almost ten years. I specialized during that period and did well on everything except the "paperwork". Eventually, I quit, before they had to fire me. After that I tried my hand at private practice. However, after a little over a year of that I had become depressed and overwhelmed by the problems in my marriage and in keeping the numerous aspects of owning a practice. I move out of the house, ended up at my "parent's house" for a while (not recommended). I worked at another agency until the same thing happened again. Moved again and found work as a contract therapist. Now, it's happed yet again. Each time I am told by others that I'm above average as a clinician, but seemingly unable to maintain the required paperwork deadlines necessary to the job. So, here I am. I've come to this Forum because I am currently 41 years old and have finally accepted that this problem must be addressed if I am to succeed in my chosen profession. When I talked to my old professor recently I was given a perfect metaphor for what it's been like for me. He said, "Lynn, you've got a high intelligence but a short attention span. It's like having the fastest race car on the road, but also having the worst steering. You've always been able to move you mind quickly but you're frequently driving off the road into the ditch!" Yes, it's been fun alright. Ok, that's enough honest disclosure for an introduction. Let's chat!! I've never join a chat or forum before and I'm looking forward to making some new friends out there. Lynn

Bean_Delphiki:

OUCH!! I think I would go crazy if I had to wait that long just to get one session in!!

I agree with you: this system is certainly designed to thwart us, or at least drives us crazy by the time we get to the end. ;)

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Livinginchaos:

Why, I do believe this is the first time you have posted in my thread! One and a half MONTHS!? That is quite some time to be waiting! Is it just that your schedule doesn't agree with your doctor's or is he/she just really busy!? I think I would have started pulling my hair out if I had to wait that long!!

I must admit that it is indeed nice to finally be diagnosed!

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Babybear:

I think I may have said this above, but I'll say it again anyways;) Caffeine puts me OUT. Usually after having a Diet Coke I NEED to take a nap. It is nice though because (if I can stay awake) I can use the calming effect to actually GET STUFF DONE!! I didn't really know until failry recently why I had such an odd response to caffeine. Once I found out, I can't say that I was at all surprised that it possibly had something to do with ADHD...

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Lynn_Ruch:

Welcome! There are a few therapists and psychologists "lurking" around the board! If you ever have questions feel free to ask as there are quite a few helpful people on this board. Maybe with your therapist background you will be able to in turn help a few people in need.

See you around the board!