I'm so glad I found this board. It's way more informative than anything my psych. told me.
I've had depression for ever (I'm in my early 30s) and after trying many meds, I am happily taking 20mg prozac. But the issue I discuss most with my psych. is that I can't concentrate. Not a good thing when you are trying to be a writer and need to be always self-motivating. When I used to have deadlines, things were better. I could get it done if I had that pressure on my back. But now that I am on my own, I mostly procrastinate. Like being on this board. :) I always thought I was lazy or that maybe I didn't "want it enough," but finally my psych suggested that I may have a bit of ADD. But the things I don't undersatnd is:
1. I never ever get hyper (nor do I go on shopping sprees)
2. I can concentrate. There just needs to be a lot of things "right." I need to be interested/enagaged or there needs to be a pressing need.
But then I am forgetful. Like going to the grocery store three times in a row to get the thing I needed. And forgetting all about it when I got to the grocery store. How I space out sometimes when driving (yes, this did lead to an accident and it was horrible). Or how I find it very hard to follow long stories that aren't interesting. I get lost in the relationships of people to actions to ideas. And forget being analytical about it. Unless I experience something or see it, I have a hard time fully digesting things. Another thing I read here about ADDers: I've been biting and picking my nails and cuticles for years and years. It's a compulsion for me. If a little hangnail is sticking out, I have to cut it off. If I don't have any cuticle sissors, I'll end up ripping it out. Very ugly. And even though I am so mad at myslef for doing it after, I'll do it again.
I have been taking 10mg Adderall for a few weeks now. In class this morning I felt like I understood so much more than ever before. I could remember rules (it was a language class) that I had forgotten years ago. But the Adderall makes my hands shake like crazy. And I feel a little nervous. I already have an essential tremor that makes my hands shake so I think the Adderall is making it worse. I'm taking propanolol for the shaking hands - I'm wondering if it will counter the effect of the adderall.
Does any of this sound like ADD? ADHD?
Thanks in advance!
Logan

According to the DSM-IV were all ADHD even if were not hyperactive. Dont get hung up on definitions theres all sorts of different versions of this problem.

I guess I'm just interested in hearing what other people on the board think; if anyone shares similar symptoms/expereinces with me.

The DSM will likely be updated as new research comes out. I just say ADD because I am not hyperactive.

@logan,

I read your post and saw a lot of myself in there. When I first discovered that I had ADD/ADHD I couldn't believe it either. I too don;t have the hyperactive part, and I had the notion that people with ADD/ADHD were young kids with a hyperactie disorder who acted out in immature ways, and weren't able to concentrate at all.

I too could concentrate - albeit obsessively - on things I was interested in, like computer programming and video games. I was enrolled in a Computer Science curriculum - and passed Calc2 and 2 Physics w/ Calculus courses (something that I avoided doing in HS). So I thought that there was no way I could have ADD. But the pronblem, was outside of focusing on computer/logic related topics, I had nearly 0 ability to concentrate. So important stuff, like reading mail, paying bills, shopping, cleaning, classes that were not technology or math related, social communictation not related to computers or technology/game related boards or people etc, organizing physical paperwork etc.. I had no interest in.

And that's the key with ADD (minus the hyperactivity); It doesn't mean that you don't have attention in all areas. I could literally tune out the world and be hacking away at a game that I was programming for an obsessive 8 hours. But ask me to go through and organize my closet, or go through all of my mail that was piled up, and it was torture. I am in my 30's, have a job in the Computer Information Systems (Networking) field, and seemed quite normal in every way. I was able to socialize at work and no one would have guessed that I had this problem. The time that it was discovered is when I actually moved in with my girlfriend at the time. No longer did I see her at my convenience. And although I was being treated for depression as well, I thought that was what caused all of my quirks, tiredness, laziness, disorganized and unfocused symptoms. It wasn't until she (she was a guidance counselor and had experience with ADD) pointed it out to me. At that point I took fairly intense online Adult ADD questionaire (i'll try to find that link, it was the best I have seen). That's when I realized that I had Adult ADD.

I hope that helps you.

Ejom,
Again you come to my rescue! Thank you so much for sharing all that.
BTW, It isn't that I mind being labled with ADD; it's just that i wasn't sure my dr. was correct. She thinks maybe I have "a little" ADD. Can you have a little? My college rommate was diagnosed by her mother (a psychologiat) and after we were all like, "Of course you have ADD." It all made sense. Gosh, as I right this saying I don't mind the lable, i am realizing that I am fighting it. Or something. Perhaps not the lable itself, or even what it means, but rather the accuracy of it. Yes. That's it. If the diagnosis is accurate. Is the fact that Adderall helps me indicative that I do have ADD? Hmm.
I was interested in what you said about dealing with depression. I've been taking various meds for that for years and it helps a little. Like I don't have bad episodes anymore. But the concentration, the being able to finish things has always been out of reach.
Logan