I originally came to this site for more information regarding a co worker who told me that he has ADD. I was looking for more information so that I could successfully work with him better and much to my surprise, I recognized a lot of 'symptoms' I could apply to myself.

-forgetful
-can't focus
-low tolerance for frustration
-distracted very, very easily
-hyperfocus (and not what I should be focusing on most of the time)


I always thought that I was just not suited to somethings or just LAZY as I've been told repeatedly growing up. It wasn't until recently (through several expensive mistakes) that YES, you have to do things that are boring or you don't consider time well spent on stuff that just has to be done. With jobs, I never really had a problem either until recently, but now I am effectively stuck behind a desk which is not very fun or interesting for me. I manage to get by and my bosses like me, but I don't know how much longer I can take of it.

I don't think I need to go to a doctor to get diagnosed, but I'm not sure how to proceed. Has anyone been diagnosed and not needed meds? I'm very reluctant to go on meds and wonder if now that I know, if I could just try some of the tips and not worry about getting diagnosed?

welcome Silly Goose (PS I love your user name!)

have a browse around, relive your past, and see if ADD symptoms may have been a factor in you life as you were growing up..

all the best
Tracy

Thanks for putting me in the right spot, Tracy!


As a child I did not do well in school at all. I couldn't, physically could not pay attention to the teachers. I did not do my homework, because I would forget what I was supposed to do. Even when writing it down, I'd lose the paper I wrote it on. And it wasn't because I didn't want to do it, I did! I just couldn't get it together. Even fun things, I would forget. I remember my stepmom pining field trip permission slips to my shirt the day of the trip so I wouldn't forget it and be stuck at school while everyone else is having fun.

I did do very well on exams and tests which is the only reason I was able to pass. On any intelligence exams or yearly exams, I always ranked in the top 10% which furthered my parents and teachers thinking that I was just lazy rather than actually having a problem.

I also remember in math classes that I would get marked even when I got the right answer but did not show how I got it or didn't show it the way we were taught in class too. That was also seen as an act of defiance when I didn't mean it to be.

All of my report cards said talks too much, distracted easily, distracts others....I did have a lot of friends when I was younger and socialized very well.

At home, my parents were really frustrated with me most times. I would be in the middle of a chore and think of something and run off with the chore uncompleted. I've noticed lately that something I do now, I did as a child too. I have to have certain conditions to do somethings. Cleaning the house or washing dishes have to be done when my daughter is asleep. Otherwise, I can't focus at all and get frustrated because it feels like I'm taking too long to do one simple thing! So, I end up (not consciously) ignoring the dishes or the mess. My room as a child was atrocious. When I was told to clean it, I had no idea where to start and what was even wrong with it, it seemed fine to me then! I still have problems with organization and time managment. My office is usually a warzone, but right now I can get away with it b/c I use a lot of equipment. I do lose quite a few things still, which is another problem.

My family was also a blended family, so I think that might have a little to do with the frustration. My stepmother didn't have much compassion for me and it wasn't until recently that I asked her about me having ADD. She said that she thought so, but when she brought it up to my father he always said no, she is not hyperactive. Which I wasn't, but I couldn't focus on a thing! However, she did tell me that my father has expressed recently that he thinks he had/or still has ADD. He didn't graduate high school, but now owns and runs a very profitable company.

I did think it was weird that my stepmom took her son in for testing for a learning disability, but not me. The doctor said he had one, but it didn't have a name. Has anyone heard that before?

Anyway, I always think of more later and will post when I think of it. Thanks for your time!

I did think it was weird that my stepmom took her son in for testing for a learning disability, but not me. The doctor said he had one, but it didn't have a name. Has anyone heard that before?

I think it was odd that it did not have a name.