Do you have to do bad in every subject in school to have ADD? :confused:

Its just that I was great in mathematics and ICT, and I got really good marks for those subjects because I loved doing them.

But when it came to subjects such as english, geography, history, business managment ect, i was usless because I did not enjoy doing them, so i tended to avoid doing the tasks most of the time. :confused:

I am usless doing tasks in my house, I need my mum to right down a list of tasks for me to do, if she does not right the tasks down on paper, then the chances are that things will not get done.

I get to distracted by my PC my TV my game consoles, that I dont get other things done. :(

Should I seek a diagnostic, or is it my fault for being this way? :(

I was great in allot of subjects, but also lack in allot of subjects too, in grammar and spelling was impossible for me. It's almost criminal that I got through the way I did. Because just writing this message, I have to double and triple check it, and have it in Word to spell check.... And I still miss things. So no you don't have to be bad at everything.. Because I really did try in school to do better at English, but it was a struggle.



The best thing to do is to a little research on what is ADD. Ask your parents if you can see someone, And by the sounds of it you’re in school so if you are afraid to ask you parents , see if the school has any therapist that are available to help you get a better diagnosis.

When I was in high school, I guess ADD was not really understood, because the school sent in a therapist and they administered an IQ test. They said I scored a 127, I have no idea what test they used etc and its validity, because I never believed it anyways. I was under a great deal of stress due to family issues, and they said I had a lack of focus and attention due to stress.

I guess they did try to help, it was the early 90’s so don’t know if they should of or even could have seen I had ADD. But they do now and ASK!! The only stupid question in life is the one never asked.. If you’re wondering if you have ADD, that shows you have a willingness to do better. So what does it hurt to try?

I was great in art and english and P.E. The rest of the subjects I could have been good at but I just didn't like the classes. I was never good at maths and I never will be.
I think (in my case) with my ADHD I am either very very good at something, or really bad at it. It's all or nothing, from one extreme to the other. No idea why.

It's NOT your fault for being the way you are. There is NO fault.

You should have a formal diagnosis done if you think there is a possibility you have ADHD.

I think it is inaccurate to assume that someone who does well in school cannot have ADHD. There are different types of ADHD and it depends on a number of other factors whether or not you do well in school.

Consider this: if a person with ADHD tends to hyperfocus on things and their parents are on them all the time about grades then wouldn't it be possible for this person to hyperfocus on school to avoid the confrontation with parents.

Read the book "Driven To Distraction" while you're trying to figure it out.

I got all c's d's and f's throughout my middle/highschool carreer, but got A's and B's in all IT related classes. Did well in community college because 90% of all the courses I took were IT related :-) go figure

Thank you for the replys, they have made me think a lot, and it seems the more I learn about ADHD, the more I feel I have it. :D

I am still unsure about getting a diagnostic, I took concerta from a friend once (I know I shouldnt have) but I had the best day of my life, I spend the whole day doing House work and home work, and I didnt even want to play my consols and go on the PC, I actually felt great working, and without it, i am the complete opposite. :faint:

forgive me if I am wrong, but those of us with ADD have problems understanding. Its not at all true that we are stupid. Im only saying this because not every person with bad grades has ADD. Parents and Teachers are turning ADD into a stereotype.:eyebrow:

My aunt put my cousin on some meds at the suggestion of her catholic-school teachers. Does he have ADD? I dont really know. I know I have more than ADD, undiagnosed, so maybe I am overlooking it ... but he has never had an attention problem. In fact he was usually always doing two or three things at once when he came over.

I know some may see me as overlooking it but ... hey, I was in a catholic-school for a couple years. Teachers arent all that great in public schools and they are a lot less experienced in a catholic school.

So all I am saying is before you let yourself swallow down all these meds make sure you are getting the correct teaching. Sit down with your parents and see what other options you have. For example, try to pick a subject you are doing bad at and get some type of exam study book; like an ASVAB Study Guide with the practice tests. Whatever ... and if you understand what is in the book then chances are good its probably not all in your head.

Just be careful. :eyebrow:


Always Question The System

Thank you for the replys, they have made me think a lot, and it seems the more I learn about ADHD, the more I feel I have it. :D

I am still unsure about getting a diagnostic, I took concerta from a friend once (I know I shouldnt have) but I had the best day of my life, I spend the whole day doing House work and home work, and I didnt even want to play my consols and go on the PC, I actually felt great working, and without it, i am the complete opposite. :faint:
Just something to think about...

People without ADHD who take concerta or any other stimulant may also feel more focussed. I read about this once, (sorry I don't have the link anymore i'll try and find it.) and the doctor described stimulants as being "attention enhancers" and if someone with ADHD (who cannot pay attention) took a stimulant then they would feel as focussed or almost as focussed as someone without ADHD. Someone who takes a stimulant without having ADHD might also feel the benifits of the stimulant but they will just have "exrtra attention".

And about you being unsure of getting diagnosed... if you feel that you are struggling in life due to your ADHD symptoms and think you could do with some support then a diagnsis is the way to go. Because without a diagnosis you will struggle getting the help you need if you do have ADHD.

Just something to think about...

People without ADHD who take concerta or any other stimulant may also feel more focussed. I read about this once, (sorry I don't have the link anymore i'll try and find it.) and the doctor described stimulants as being "attention enhancers" and if someone with ADHD (who cannot pay attention) took a stimulant then they would feel as focussed or almost as focussed as someone without ADHD. Someone who takes a stimulant without having ADHD might also feel the benifits of the stimulant but they will just have "exrtra attention".

And about you being unsure of getting diagnosed... if you feel that you are struggling in life due to your ADHD symptoms and think you could do with some support then a diagnsis is the way to go. Because without a diagnosis you will struggle getting the help you need if you do have ADHD.
Thank you boone1. :)

I dont really have much info about the meds, and the chemical effects, all I do know is that I felt alot better inside, like I actually had the energy to do anything, things the would not normaly intrest me were intresting.

And things that I would normaly waste up my time in day such as pc's consoles, and sleeping ect, just never mattered to me at all, I actually felt like i was a much better person inside, and that I was using my time doing something that would actually get me somewhere! :D

Do you have to do bad in every subject in school to have ADD? :confused: You don't have to be bad in any.

I did pretty well in high school and at the beginning of college. But as things got more complicated I felt more overwhelmed. College was in the early 80s (:faint: I still freak out a bit when I think about that) they didn't know much about adult ADD then, and I was treated for depression. By treated I mean prescribed anti-depressants for a few months, then taken off them when I felt better. Then it came back, so I started on them again, and was on and off for several years.

Years later, I read about dysthymia and asked my doctor about it, thought about it for a while. Then I read about ADD, and asked about that. I was referred to a psychologist who specializes in ADD, who referred me to a GP who specializes in meds, and I ended up on a combination of stimulants and anti-depressants.

I'm sure I had a point when I started this, what was it?;) Right, if you think you have ADD, check it out. It's better to know than to always wonder. And once you know, then you can decide what to do.

Oh, and I wouldn't describe spending a whle day doing housework and homework as the best day of my life, but that's me. :p Whatever.