hi, I am a 20 year old male with type 3 overfocused ADD which casues, besides the usual ADD symptoms, symptoms of anxiety mimicing OCD. The worst part of this disorder is that my brain constantly gets stuck in loops of negative thought, particularly involving social situations. For example, I will be hanging out with a bunch of people in a dorm room, and somebody will tell me "you might want to keep the volume down". This will trigger a string of negative thoughts throughout my childhood of all the times friends and authority figures have told me that I need to self-regulate better. These negative obsessive thoughts will not only temporarily lower my self-esteem, but will also make me lose focus on the present moment in time.

Here's my question? I know it is possible for someone with ADD to gain self esteem--but is it possible for someone with overfocused ADD to gain self esteem whenthe person's mind is constantly searching for negative imput to obsess about? Do I need medication in order to change my thought pattern?

I am a 20 year old male with type 3 overfocused ADD

I am not very familiar with Dr. Amen's six ADD types.

I go by the medical standard of three ADD sub-types

ADD predominantly hyperactive

ADD predominantly inattentive

ADD combined


The expanded explanation is here (http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23276)




person's mind is constantly searching for negative imput to obsess about? Do I need medication in order to change my thought pattern?

According to the ADD criteria I subscribe to this would not be an ADD type but a secondary condition called OCD - see if this fits what you are saying

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (http://www.lef.org/protocols/emotional_health/obsessive_compulsive_disorder_01.htm)

I used to get into that negative ripple effect - the simple thing taken as a criticism that evokes painful feelings based on past events that seem to grow and fuel the simple original thing way beyond what it needs to be. I think that's called overreactivity (not necessarily OCD) and is common in ADD.

As to self-esteem. Yes, I found medication stops that ripple effect, quells that overreactivity and sensitivity, and yes, over time it has improved my self-esteem because I've simply stopped reacting that way.

Hope that helps.

I was just dianosed with inattentive ADD at 42. I've taken anti-depressants for 12 years and was never satisfied with them. I tried approximately 8 different types, the only one that had any positive effect was Prozac. My sister was taking Cipralex (in US I believe it's called Lexapro) I tried it but still had anxiety, and distracting self doubt. Since I was diagnosed with ADD, a few months ago, I have been taking Dexedrine in combination with Cipralex and find that the self-doubt has extremely diminished.

The quality of my life has improved with the combination of meds., but I think that cognative therapy should be part of the treatment in order to to retrain my brain to "not go there" whenever I hear a negative comment.

I think that's called overreactivity

I personally find the term over reactivity too broad as it can be applied to any number of things - it is the fact that these thought were obtrusive and repeative even though the person knows they were not accurate or warranted. An over reactive person would not dwell on a specific pattern of thinking nor would they necessarily be aware of their extreme reaction{IMHO}


Dual DX (http://www.addtesting.com/Differential%20Diagnosis.htm#ADHD%20and%20Obsessiv e%20Compulsive%20Symptoms)
First let’s look at the difference between OCD and OC Personality. OCD is easy: the person either has obsessions or compulsions. Most of us at one time or another have had something that we just couldn’t get out of our minds - worrying about an upcoming interview, getting a song stuck in our heads, etc. In a true case of OCD, however, the obsessive thoughts are not simply worries about real-life problems, they are intrusive, inappropriate thoughts or impulses that the individual experiences as very distressing.

he key word in OC symptoms is "Control" - mental and interpersonal. Interestingly, the rigid control associated with the OC symptoms is the piece that is lacking for many people with ADHD. Often times, ADHD individuals develop some of the OC symptoms as a compensatory strategy. They compensate for forgetfulness by having a place for everything and everything in its place.

Another example of commonality in ADHD and OC symptoms is the perfectionistic standards. The sense that it’s "not enough" is a major piece of the OC Personality. Similarly, individuals with ADHD have usually suffered through years of teachers and parents telling them they are not doing as well as they should and could try harder, run faster, or jump higher. This history instills in the ADHD person that same sense of feeling like whatever he/she has achieved or wherever he/she is in life - it’s not enough. There could be more if he would only.... This kind of thinking leaves the person with a nagging, gnawing feeling that something is not quite right about him/her and what he/she is doing.
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I simply read the symptoms described in the initial post and looked to see what most close matched what was being described. To me over reactivity would be to react in the extreme I read the initial post to mean dwelling on negative thoughts - that were misplaced in the given situation.

i constantly think the worst in ppl. like, im annoying ppl or they don't like me. being on meds and losing weight has improved my self esteem and confidence a ton.

Bpike,

I am 25 and have what some would describe as overfocused ADD. I am controlling, and I do believe this is what meadd describes as being a "compensatory strategy." I'm not totally convinced overfocused ADD is a rigid type of ADD as much as it refers to the act of trying to control things in order to compensate for feeling out of control.

That said, I also do the negative obsessing like you, and I know that is also a factor of what is deemed "overfocused ADD." My doctor says my ADD mind just needs to be stimulated constantly and it is easier to stimulate myself with negative thoughts than positive ones--just comes more naturally for people unfortunately.

Sometimes I try and obsess over POSITIVE things rather than the negative but I have to force myself...

i constantly think the worst in ppl. like, im annoying ppl or they don't like me. being on meds and losing weight has improved my self esteem and confidence a ton.
Boy does this sound like me. I am constantly second guessing myself about things that I do. I never feel like what I do is good enough. I have this fear that my boss that I have now will find out what I am truly like and then get rid of me.