Ok so this is how it went. Im a senior in high school by the way. So back wen i was a tyke, I was diagnosed with Auditory Processing Disorder. I had trouble reading at a younger age, and I could completely zone out and not hear people that would even scream in my ear. That still happens if im immersed in a non-communicative activity. Back to the point, I was bright enough to not have any trouble before junior year. Then I hit the wall and I reflected on myself and I realized a few things.

I cannnot take tests. I am always the last person to finish taking tests, notes, anything really. I could not focus on anything. Half the time I would think about something random, the other half I could not tell you what I was thinking about. My mind wandered which would make me drowsy and I would doze off except in interesting classes. On my SATs, I got no extra time and finished excatly TWO out of 10 sections. I left so frustrated I had an anxiety attack. I needed to be doing something, ANYTHING in class. I did not care what, just anything. I am a chronic procrastinator, its bad. I hate reading textbooks and whenever I try to read a page I get so frustrated and mad because I just cannot remember a thing. It gets bad enough that I end up leaving. I have NEVER, ever met anybody better than me with road directions and visual orientation. I was always the best at puzzles, jigsaw, scrabble, and such. I am the most visual, spatial person I know. I love to think and I have some of the most innovative ideas at how to attack a problem. Yet, I dont always remember directions on how to do it a certain way. The list goes on.

Junior year, I was suffering from depression for about six months and I saw a psychiatrist. She said she I may have ADHD or I may have Language Processing Disorder. I dont know. All I know is I was prescribed 20mg of adderall which is obviously an ADHD medication. It helped drastically. Like from a 2.38 1st semester to a 3.56 2nd semester!!! I actually could half pay attention in my classes. In the end, I am convinced that I have ADHD-Inattentive because the symptoms describe me like nothing else. Every 4-6 months Im prone to anxiety breakdowns, but I can deal with that. I think I am due and college apps are here and I am starting to get frustrated! =(

The thing is my psychiatrist won't really diagnose me because she doesnt want to label me. I just want to know for peace of mind because on good days I can be the most brillant, creative kid. Others, I can be the idiot that can't form a coherent thought. Today is somewhere in between. Anyways, what do you guys think? Why am I on adderall and why does it help so much if I do not have ADHD? How could I get a diagnosis so everything that is going on actually makes sense? Sorry for the rambling.

Well I can kinda understand her position. Alot of mental disorders (well most actually) has that negative stigma attached with them, and alot of people write off ADHD as just being lazy. So, if the current medication and course of action is working, why does it matter if you have an official dx? Then there are people that want it just so they know for sure what their problem is. I would say that you should talk to her about why you want that official dx, and then see what she does.

As for medication, it's possible that you do have ADHD, and that is why the adderall is working so well. Then again, alot of medications are prescribed for things that they weren't first intended for. Tenex is for high blood pressure, but it's also perscribed to help reduce anxiaty. Some antidepressants are perscribed to help people quit smoking.

Personally, I wouln't worry so much. If the adderall is working that a good thing. But that's just me. :)