Hi.. I'm new.. actually I've been lurking for awhile but I kinda have social anxiety so I get embarrassed when I feel like posting. Um, well I'm an 18 y.o. female, just diagnosed... I only recently found out what ADHD "really" was, before I thought it was just something that hyper little boys had. I was diagnosed with depression about 10 months ago, but never really thought that that was IT. So I stumbled across the diagnostic criteria for ADHD and I was like "That's me!" This was months ago, but I kind of just let it slip out of my mind and stopped going to my pdoc bc she got pregnant so I didn't really have a choice. I still went to my therapist though, who referred me to another pdoc to test and diagnose me, which he did with ADHD combined type. I've been taking Wellbutrin for 10 months but it hasn't really helped with any of my pervasive problems... just helps my mood.

Well so here's the point of my post.. lol I kinda went off on a tangent. Ever since I got diagnosed I feel like a hypochondriac. For some reason I can't force myself to believe that this is real and not just the way I am. I get to see my real pdoc in ~3 weeks and I know she is gonna prescribe something to me, but I feel guilty, like I am cheating. Like I feel like I don't deserve the stimulants because all these things are fixable if I wasn't so irresponsible. But I know I can't fix them, but its hard to accept that I NEED the extra help. I want it, but I don't understand this condition enough to be able to see that it's the reason I am the way I am. I just feel guilty (for lack of a better word). I've been through my first big eye-opening failure about a year ago when I first started college @ 17 y.o. and ended up having to withdraw after 4 months out of a $44,000 dollars a year school with no credits whatsoever b/c I just couldn't take it. I wasted thousands of dollars my parents money, and now I am at a standstill with my life and don't know if treatment of ADHD is THE answer.

My bday is coming up and my mom keeps asking what I want so I was thinking maybe I'll ask for an ADHD book or two. Does anyone have any recommendations as to a good book to help me accept and/or understand this better? Or any plain old words of wisdom from someone older than I? I am only 18 and I feel like I don't have the life experience (I have some, but not too much) to really see how the problems with this (ADHD) are REAL.

Oh man, this is really long, thank you so much to whoever reads this, I wouldn't have, lol.

we all go off the rails sometimes an seeing your just found this out rembers its part ofve you not you as a wole just part an part ofve what makes you who you are leren as much as you can abpout it ........take each day as it comes .....dorm ,,,,,

WElcome to the forums.

Treatment might not be THE answer, but it is AN answer. It is probably more of an answer than most people ever find for their troubles.


I found out about my ADHD at the age of 51. It was a revelation to me. I got treated. I still have adhd, but it is better than it was. In fact, it is a lot better, in my opinion.

I wih I could have had this treated when I was a kid, or even at the age of 18. Now, I am fighting anxiety and sensory issues along with my adhd, and it has not be en easiet. I'm pretty sure that I'd be in much better shape if I had gotten my ADHD diagnosed and treated a lot sooner.

Treatment is no cure. it is not perfect. You have to know that no matter what you do you will always have adhd. Teatment can make it better and life gets to be more bearable, so I'd recommend it to anyone with ADHD. :)

Work with your doctor. It can take a while to gewt the right meds figured out for you, so be patient. Once you get the right meds going for you, life is a lot better.

Me :D

thanks for responding so fast dorm and speedo! i am still trying to wrap my head around this ADHD stuff.. its going very slowly... lol

Welcome to the forums SteakforChicken

Good book to read that is recommended around here that I recently purchased was Driven to Distraction. I haven't finished it yet, but I am doing pretty well reading this one which is a change, I usually can't get through a whole book.

This is a place where you can get some great advice an a whole lot of support and understanding.

Hiya SFC,

And welcome !

Here's the the thread on here, to books on ADD/HD that members have listed:

http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=146990#post146990

thanks for the suggestions/thread thingy/welcomes! yeah Grade A i seem to have trouble getting through books too.. my brain seems to fall asleep on everything but good old harry potter lol. it always baffled my why i could read an entire potter book 24 hours straight but when it came to serious books for school i would be out like a light within the first 3 paragraphs. i need to be seriously interested with something for it to stand a chance..

Yep thats me. I read everything by Frank McCourt, no problem. (only 3) but I loved them sooo much I couldn't put them down. I know the story sunk in my head, because I can play from my imagination a movie about the books. Thats when I know I paid attention.

Driven to Distraction is very informative about ADD but it is not Frank McCourt or (Harry Potter :))

Just give one of the books a try, and read at your leisure. Take your time, skip around if you want.

You actually just made me feel A LOT better. I am currently failing all of my college classes (its a long story) and I have been feeling horrible about all of the money I wasted. It is just good to know that I am not the only one who feels like this. You live and you learn I guess. Anyway, there is nothing wrong with you taking medication. It is not your fault that you have ADD and Depression and you have every right to take medication to be able to function like the rest of the world. It is not like you are having some kind of top secret brain surgery to be smarter than everyone in the world ya know? A lot of people with ADD take medication, I cant function without my medication. Also, maybe you should talk to your doctor about your anti-depressant medication, it sounds like you might feel as if it is not working the way it should. It took me a long time to find the right medication and it was a struggle but well worth it. As far as ADD books, I have not read any. I was not "in-tune" with my ADD until I found this site. I just took my pills every day and pretended that nothing was wrong with me. Just reading the posts on this site has helped me accept my ADD.

That's 'me' too.

I highlight the 'dickens' out of my non-fiction books, to keep my eyes 'on track', when I'm reading them...but I don't do that with my favorite fiction books.

I guess I can read 'right brained' just fine (0; ...without the aid of highlighters.

GA,
I loved Angela's Ashes !!

Yep thats me. I read everything by Frank McCourt, no problem.

GA,
I loved Angela's Ashes !!
Yep one of my favorite books and movies. If you want to read the book of the continuing story it is called "Tis" by Frank McCourt, it is the continuation of when Frankie goes to New York.
Very nice read. :)

Driven to Distraction is very informative about ADD but it is not Frank McCourt or (Harry Potter :))

Just give one of the books a try, and read at your leisure. Take your time, skip around if you want.

I've seen that title come up a lot on this forum.. I guess it must be good! I looked on amazon and there is 2 of them... 'driven' and 'delivered'.. i'll check them both out and see if one or both of them can keep my eyes open.
:o

I've seen that title come up a lot on this forum.. I guess it must be good! I looked on amazon and there is 2 of them... 'driven' and 'delivered'.. i'll check them both out and see if one or both of them can keep my eyes open.
:o
Driven to distraction is probably your best bet. I heard the "delivered" isn't that different from "driven" so for a new to ADD person would be better off with Driven".

But that is just one opinion.

Take Care!:)

I've seen that title come up a lot on this forum.. I guess it must be good! I looked on amazon and there is 2 of them... 'driven' and 'delivered'.. i'll check them both out and see if one or both of them can keep my eyes open.
:oSteak,

I am breezing throught Delivered From Distraction. It is the updated version of "Driven".

The authors have had more time and experience with patients with ADD and updated medical/research info. I'm ready to read it again. My wife is also reading it. We'll need 2 copies soon.

NJTrout