I originally thought this might just be anxiety related, but I think the anxiety was a product of ADD .. basically operating a till, or being the customer I freeze up sometimes if basic adding and subtraction needs to be done. I am quite competent in doing it when nobody is around, but the anxiety really makes me freeze now when it's required.

lol so far in my life I have not really had, "are you stupid?" moments brought on by anyone else.. I tend to avoid it as much as possible.. which is not exactly a good thing but I'm getting rid of some more problematic stressors and stresses at the moment :D

Anyone else have this problem?

I think this is seperate from the main diagnosis of ADD. It may be, as you say, anxiety, or it may be mild panic attacks. How often does this happen? How severe is the reaction? How long do you feel the reaction? Can you describe exactly what you feel when you are having this reaction? How long do you freeze for? Do you freeze mentally or physically or both?

:)

Jon

I have always been very good at math.
But I can not do it in my head. I think I lose track of the numbers or something.

Well its kinda like steveb says, you lose track of numbers.. its not really clear,..

I think after failing to answer many questions on the spot, or after i noticed that I couldn't do it.. the freezing problem is a anxiety created from having to do it.

As for my math background, I was doing fine in linear algebra and calculus .. the parts that I actually heard... the studying and classes went over my head for the most part.. not because it was complicated.. I just didn't hear the prof, or when I tried to study it was ... addish

Still haven't been diagnosed for ADD by a doctor or psych, but that comes in a day.

I know the feeling you are describing, but not with math... as far as math is concerned I generally outperform Joe Average WHILE he is using his calculator. :D However, I know exactly how you feel with OTHER things in life...

Off the top of my head, I can't remember what they are, though, dammit! hehehe... perhaps that in itself is a variation of this syndrome...

On further thought, this very same "freezing" is what improv games train you out of on stage... perhaps this is what I remember doing before in life, but haven't done since training as an improv comedian.

Improv comedy! Wow! You would def. love psychodrama! lol

that sounds like a great way to get better at spontaneous conversation? Is that true? That is sometimes where I get hung up, spontaneous conversation. If its not a subject I know much about it can be hard fo rme to jump in and maybe get involved or change the topic...so I just stay out of that one, and wait for one I am interested in. It leaves me alone in my thoughts to often in a social setting. I would love to learn how to get out of that.

Jon

You are describing not only anxiety, but potentially the independent effect of setting.

Retrograde expressions of abilities are common to the ADHD condition.

That is, a demonstrated ability, appearing to disappear in some instances.

retrograde memory loss is identified by
Sam Goldstein 2003

When stress is on for math in my head I can not do it. I sorta freek out and just ramle numbers through my head but nothing realy is clear because i am thinking 2 hard or something. But i am good at math on paper i just need something to look at.

same here, it's like if I were to write it out, I would be just fine going through the steps. (even simple ones like carrying the 1 to the 10's place, or whatever) but if it's in my head and there is any sort of pressure, all the numbers are just a big jumble and I cna't really see what's going on.

I think it's because we're trying to concentrate too hard, and in the process loose the ability to think clearly.

the worst for me are things liek 6+8, where if you don't know it AUTOMATICALLY, normally your head would just say, ok, well 6+4 is 10, then what's left over? 8-4, is 4... so then 10+4 is 14.... ok, the answer is 14...

but when there is pressure, I can't go through all of that. it's just gone... terrible!! it's not like I've forgotten what 8-4 is, or anythiing, I just cna't see all the steps I need to take to get to the answer. Same thing happens with multiplication and everything else. Yet, I have no problems understanding calculus or differential equations....

It's so embarressing when you're working at a cash register or somthing!! lol

Heh, I have a phobia of those jobs.

I'm horrible at simple arithmetic. It's crazy; I can understand higher math quite well, but I can't add or subtract to save my life... I always find myself making really stupid mistakes whenever I have to add something in my head.