I'm not formally diagnosed yet, but thanks to this forum I figured out that my school could diagnosed me at a significantly cheaper price. The counselor said that I showed several signs of ADD-which of course I knew.

But today, I just got thrown for a loop. Is this a symptom, that I didn't know about. Someone mentioned that ther adult ADD spouse went on meds recently and enjoyed a break from the "white noise". I don't know why, but this statement has really thrown me for a loop. My whole life, if I'm working on something or in a quiet room, I can hear a mental tv or radio going on.

I'm sure this is a weird question, but what do non ADD people hear? Seriously, I thought everyone heard stuff when it was quiet.

I don't hear a mental tv or radio, but I always "hear" myself talking in my head..it's like I am the radio in my own head, and I switch talk channells all the time...It drives me batty..LOL..

It's not the same thing as "hearing things" or an auditory hallucination. Don't worry. <G>

Know how an ADD person can start many projects or get many great ideas, but not get ANY of them done? I think it is like that.

Having too many great ideas and plans and thoughts that are unfocused can lead to going nowhere.

Too much mental chatter or flight of ideas can cause another problem too.
It can be a problem of what Dr. Mel Levine calls "proximal and distal planning".
e.g. Can plan that trip for next year, but I forgot to pay this month's rent.

Better to have one realistic and relevant idea and Follow it Through to completion. ("stick-to-itive-ness" ?)

And it is best if we can Prioritize our needs, so that the more immediate needs are fulfilled (like paying rent) than the far off optional plans (like planning a distant trip).

e.g. Mental static can be dangerous too, and distracting to the point of: "hey, watch out for that curb you are about to trip over"...

Oh, the trips I've planned!

"proximal and distal planning".

That's very interesting. Never heard those concepts before (even if I know what they mean by experience). Thanks QueensU_girl!

When I'm trying to focus on a single task, thing will always pop into my head and distract me.

For instance, I sat down to study renal physiology in the library and got a good idea for a medical tech business that popped into my head basically from nowhere. Instead of studying, I wasted time putting the thoughts and ideas to paper. About 3 hours later I realized I wasn't studying and forced myself back on task, which last a whole hour or so, then I was back to recruiting healthcare professionals I knew as potential consultants/partners/investors.

I managed to get 2 docs, 1 pharmd, and an MBA :D Of course, none of this is going to make a damn bit of difference if I can't pass renal phys, which is the irony I guess.

I did this A LOT in high school. Instead of listening to the teachers, I would instead draw cartoons, make programs in my calculator, or design some type of video game idea, write a story, etc. I did everything except what I was supposed to be doing. This is probably a combination of ADD and just being plain bored in a public school.

I didn't really do this much in college for some reason.

This ability to switch things quickly and learn quickly leads to people who are kind of, "jacks of all trades" and masters of none. I know a good deal about medicine, psychology, religion, evolutionary biology, philosophy, astrophysics, physics, the military, music, business etc., but I'm not really a master of any of them.

Hooah, I think the reason that you don't do this in college vs. public school is this view of school from an add view: YOU GOT STUCK WITH THEM not the other way around. In public school ( while it can be wonderful) it seems like you get people that know what the book says, but don't master the subject... but in college you pick what you love and you get the best of the best. These are the people that don't just know how, but why. I always learn better if in a crutch situation I know the theory behind it.

This is the problem that I'm facing now, even though I didn't ask orginally... I'm a jack of all trades. I'm great at all,but never the master. I had a 12 year career in the military, but couldn't master it when it got to higher levels. A job and running 20 soldiers at the same time?!? What really sad when I was only an E-5, I had the best training, a ton of E-4's and 5's wanted to do the training that I provided. The 1st SGT loved me because if I chose it, it could easily be turned into some skill that was needed to win in combat. Flip into me being in charge of training... omg so wrong on so many levels. So wrong it hurts to put in 1 post.

Why anyone would do 1 thing start to finish in 1 task is beyond me, but seeing and doing it in accounting I see that it can work. Though it feels like I'm fighting my natural urges to do it.

Thing is though, I want to master a subject. I wanted to master the military, but once I hit E-6 I don't think I mastered it. I went into accounting I mastered the 2 year part of it, but when faced with a disorganized client forget lost it. Sucked at it-from my prospective.

I'm faced with it's a Saturday and my Accountant boss thinks I didn't care about a couple of things. Now I'm having to face this head on, think the worst this weekend so I can cry this out this weekend so I can face him on Monday. I don't know if this all makes sense. I think I lost the point of what I was saying... it's all so much today.

I couldn't quite follow everything you said (admittedly I'm taking a "break" right now and skimmed a lot) but it seems with the structure and organization provided by someone else -- as is the case when you were lower enlisted in the military -- you did fine. But, once you were placed in a position of authority and allowed some freedom, you just couldn't get it together? Is that about it?

I have found that this is somethign that I have been able to cope with, sort of. I may wait to start something at the last minute, but I usually get it done -- at least until I encountered something that cannot be done a day or two before its due, such as learning 3 weeks worth of medical school material.

When I worked a normal 8-5 job at the university processing undergrad apps, I found myself just leaving in the middle of the day to call a friend, grab a bite to eat, get a drink, whatever. I was never fired or warned, though, because my productivity did not drop. I learn quickly and do things quickly, and once I figured out that were I to work as much as everyone else in my office, I would produce about twice the amount of results. So naturally, I cut my work effort in half and my productivity dropped only to whatever everyone else's was. This happens time and time again, and is probably why my employers just kind of "put up" with my behavior.

For some reason, however, when placed in a position of responsbility or authority (as in meaningful responsibility) I tend to be better structured and organized. Left to my own devices without anyone to "work for", I tend to flounder around and not get anything done.

Your post highlights the great importance of having a very structured routine and environment. It's easy to plan a schedule on a calendar, huh? The tricky part is sticking to it.

This is why those of us with (supportive) spouses, friends, family, etc. are some of the lucky ones I guess.