I'm a 27 year old guy who is pretty sure who has ADD. I've struggled my whole life and am finally realising why. I'm pretty successful, I have a good job that ive had for a few years now. But I fit most of the ADD profile, and have been told by every online test that taken that I have a high probability of ADD. I'm over 90 percent sure I have it. My question though is this... Should I get diagnosed? Or should I try self treatment? I'm worried about getting diagnosed because I don't want it on my medical history. I know employers aren't supposed to discriminate, but they may, and I can't blame them. I'm in the industrial industry and one of the first things they do is give you a physical before they hire you, so any employer would know about it. Should I try taking something (like St John's Wort), or should I get a professionals opinion? Thanks in advance for any feedback. I appreciate your views!

sorry about posting in the wrong forum, im a newbie!

Depends on where you want to go with this. If you're doing well, why bother?

However, if you are having problems and you think they may be due to ADD (or something resembling ADD) then you should consider getting diagnosed.

I was diagnosed because I was having problems that never seemed to go away.

If you're worried about your medical record, then get evaluated and pay for the eval out of pocket. Your insurance company will not have a record of this unless you wish to disclose your diagnosis.

If you do have ADD, or something like it, than you can make a decision at the point of diagnosis.

People with ADD are protected under the ADA, and a company physical does not reveal you have ADD. A drug screen can show certain ADD drugs (amphetamines), but if it is doctor prescribed, the lab is not supposed to reveal this to the company.

Welcome to the forums!

While behavioral changes might help cope with some problems, like learning better organizational skills to prevent missed appointments and such, there's no "self treatment" for the cognitive functioning problems associated with ADHD. After realizing my problem, but before I could get in to see someone, I tried caffiene, pseudophedrine, and everything else I could think of. I even thought about taking up cigarettes again. I'm sure some of these things helped me through rough spots in the past, but they just don't get the job done anymore.

I never really thought about keeping the diagnosis a secret, but Stanzen's advice sounds very practical.

Yes, get a proper diagnosis. Remove all doubt and get more understanding of yourself so that you can act proactively for your own good. It helps, really.
ME :D

Its unfortunate that one must consider this before they get the treatment they may

need. I plan to work for the government. They will do frequent drug screenings and

that should be taken care of between me and the lab, without the employer knowing,

but I was always wondering is when you do an application and it says do you have any

disabilties that would hinder your ability to successfully fullfil this job ( or whatever)

should you put ADHD in there? Myself, I wouldn't because if its my job, the one I went

to school for, got my masters and everything, I would feel that I would always get the

job done. What does anyone else think?

ADD is a disability, but I'd check "no" on that box because I would not be applying for the job if I did not think I could do it, therefore, my "disability" is not one that prevents me from doing my job. ;)

You may need to check the yes box if you think ytou are going to need some special considerations from your employer. It reeally depends , don't you think ?

For working with the govt it might not be a problem. Having a disability gives you some protection under the law, so having a diagnosis makes it a legal fact... thus making it harder (in theory) for an employer , or anyone at work to do you some harm because of your disability without significant legal risk. My attitude is, that while I have a disability, I am hardly disabled and certainly not crippled. :p At the same time you are not obligated to tell anyone that you have a disability unless it is relevant to doing your job.
However, your employer might need to know in order to consider your disability so that they can act appropriately toiward you. :)


ME :D

I guess I will get help. I have a friend who knows someone who specializes in this type of problem. I will go get checked out.

I have a really tough time focusing. I am very disorganized. My house is a mess, my desk at work is a mess. IF i didnt have autowithdrawl on my bills they probably wouldnt get paid on time. I'm a chronic procrastinator. I have a tough time with relationships. I know that something is holding me back because I'm pretty smart, but have almost no focus unless i procrastinate. I'm forgetful. I'm tired of being frustrated. I'm not depressed per say. I have been in the past though. I drink too much sometimes. I smoke sometimes. I've always thought if i can't do something perfect, i shouldnt try to do it. This is why I hate such mundane tasks as shaving. But somehow in a lot of situations i need to pay attention to detail, i dont. I have a hard time public speaking, will mix words up if i get the slightest bit nervous. When I type I often press the key for the letter ahead of the one I'm currently on, or sometimes even find myself a whole word ahead. I could never use a typerwriter

I'd also like to go back to school, but know it would be a disaster unless I get some help first. I read a post about a guy who waited until he was 58 to get diagnosed. I've thought something might be wrong with me for quite a while now. The way i do things differently than most people, but striving to be "normal". I guess after reading his post I decided I want a chance to live up my potential.

Good for you! I don't think you'll be sorry.

I guess I will get help. I have a friend who knows someone who specializes in this type of problem. I will go get checked out.
I think a word of mouth referral is a good place to start, rather than randomly trying to find someone out of the phone book or insurance website. Not to say that you'll necessarily have a good rapport with the doc, but if someone knows them and has a high enough opinion of them to refer you, you're on the right track.

Re: getting help and exploring a diagnosis. With your first post because you mentioned a good job I was thinking, if things aren't bothering you, maybe it's not something you have to pursue right now. But with your next post it sounds like you are frustrated by disorganization and procrastination, etc. Then it sounded like it's bothering you and these are things you'd like to change. So it seems trying to understand what's going on and maybe making some changes would make you feel better. It can take some time and energy, but I think it's worth it.

Do know that if you get put on stimulants and you have to take a drug test as part of a physical that it will show up as a controlled substance. So you need to let the lab know about your prescription.

I guess after reading his post I decided I want a chance to live up my potential.
That's great! :) I'd also encourage you to keep thinking about going back to school at some point when you feel ready if that's something that you'd really like to do. Especially since you have that "I'm smart I know I could be doing more" feeling along with the desire to go to school.

Glad you found the forums. Keep us posted.
~~bythesea

I got an apointment yesterday, but it isn't until the 10th of Jan. I went to college, but i didnt get what I wanted out of it. I don't think I have enough organization to do what I'd really like to do. I can't seem to learn organization. I feel I could be organized, but then I wouldnt get any real work done. Even when I clean, I don't really clean. Not compared to other people. It seems like I just try to make things look ok to meet other people's standards. I'm tired of always feeling behind, but having little modivation to do anything about it. I'm tired of not being able to finish things up at work. Tired of being frustrated.

update: Well a month later I am officially diagnosed with ADHD. Next step is to go to a doctor and talk about drugs. Sounds fun eh? :)

Welcome! I'm in the same boat as you, just got diagnosed and about to try meds.

Man I was lucky I got the diagnosis the same day I was started on medications. 12 years ago not many docs were treating adult ADD and the one I found was 200 miles away which is why he did the diagnosis and medication the same day.

Do know that if you get put on stimulants and you have to take a drug test as part of a physical that it will show up as a controlled substance. So you need to let the lab know about your prescription.

I have had a drug screen not too long ago and if you are in the US under the HICFA act it goes like this.

The people collecting the drug screen aren't interested in weather or not you take any medications. They can't write them on the chain of custody (paper stuff filled out at time of drug screen) because of HICFA!

The specimen goes to the lab, gets tested, if it comes back as positive (which mine did I take Adderall) the medical review officer calls you. What the medical review officer (usually a MD, or PA) was ask for my prescription number from my Adderall bottle, the date I got it filled at, and the phone number including area code of the pharmacy that filled it!!!!

They call the pharmacy and verify you are in the same drugs that showed up in your urine. The employer may (or may not) know your drug screen is awaiting "clearance or validation". If they are told your drug screen is waiting validation (some are not told any thing until your either pass or don’t pass) rarely do they think much of it, because ADD medications aren't the only ones that show up in drug screens. For all they know you took some thing for a tooth ache, PMS, what ever!!!

After the medical review officer calls your pharmacy and makes sure all is okay dooky they "clear" or "pass" your drug screen results letting the employer know you didn’t test positive for any illegal substances. The medical review office isn't supposed to discuss with your employer or any one else the specific details because of HICFA!!! It is a pass or fail proposition.

Beside the medical review officers do so many validations and such in a day it isn't even funny so by the time your drug screen clears his/ her desk it is forgotten all about as it is just one of the hundred or so that has crossed his / her desk !!!!

Hope this helps clear up the drug screen thing!!!