Hello everyone,

I'm new here, and i have alot of questions.. maybe you have some answers for me.

Due to some recent events, I've started to ask myself the question if i have ADD.

I'm going to be completely honest and speak exactly what's on my mind, and i hope none of you believe i think too highly of myself because of this, because i don't.
Please be open minded.


My entire life, I've been horribly "absent minded" and unable to focus on what i should be focusing on.
I can be in a conversation and pay attention in the beginning, but after a while my mind seem to blend thoughts and arguments in a mess, and I'm not able to put things or thoughts into order.


As long as i can remember, I've argued with my parents about these things, they being irritated that i always forget stuff.
This being from buying the newspaper on the way home, locking the door when i leave.. anything really..
I can leave the house repeating to myself; "newspaper. buy on the way home.", and it's just gone in an instant.

I've never thought too much about it, until recently when i started to read a book, and several times i would read one sentence, jump to the next and not remember what the last sentence i read was about.

I thought "maybe something IS wrong", so i started, reluctantly, reading about ADD/ADHD online.

Reluctantly, because i know how easy it is to read about a disease or a disorder and make it add up to what you are experiencing yourself.

Ok, i'm going to list up a few of the reasons why i started this research;

- I forget stuff. Alot. From unimportant to important things. I can leave work, locking the door, doing something to make me remember i locked it (like kicking the wall or something), and when getting home i ask myself "did i really lock the door?"
- I'm highly creative, and I've always been fascinated by music and arts. It's the only way i can find "peace of mind" and get some sort of release of all the thoughts pounding in my head.
- I lie awake at night, not being able to sleep for hours and hours, simply because i cannot stop thinking about everything and anything. It's hard only having 2 hours of sleep and then having to get up to work.
- I have alot (and i mean alot) of projects/exhibitions in my head (i'm a photographer) but i have not finished one of them in over two years.
- I have major problems learning things I'm not that interested in (my mind wanders off immediately), however, things I AM interested in I'm able to learn very, very quickly.
F.ex, I've started to play the piano, not knowing how to read notes, and after about 8-10 hours watching youtube and fiddling around, i played like this (I had never touched a piano in my life): http://youtube.com/watch?v=GrpbVIUVCnc
Again, I'm not trying to brag about anything, but I did hear that people suffering from ADD/ADHD might have higher creativity than others, for some reason.
- I have moodswings alot (not violently, but i get agressive alot when something annoys me, even if i know it's just some minor, minor thing which shouldn't affect me at all).
- When I get (even just a little) excited, I have spasms (honestly, i don't know what i would call them if not that.).
It's like i suddenly get energy in the form of a nuclear bomb inside of me, and i tense up and tighten every muscle in my body (to the point of hurting) to get it out, often resulting in screaming.
I manage not to do this in front of people, but often happens in the car while driving, etc.

Recently i took an ADD online test (which i know should be taken very lightly, but i thougt the results were interesting) and http://psychcentral.com/addquiz.htm

Results:70 & up Adult ADHD
50 - 69 Moderate ADHD
35 - 49 Mild ADHD
25 - 34 Borderline ADHD
0 - 24 No ADHD likely

I answered very truthfully, being careful not to exaggerate the least, and my result was 72.

This post might be somewhat "random", but i just feel like i need some answers, since these things have been "problems" I've dealt with my entire life, and if it actually IS ADD, I would feel like it's all been for a reason, and maybe feeling a little better about being me.

Again, I hope you don't think I'm writing these things (piano etc.) to make anyone think highly of me, I'm just trying to be honest so that you may have a good indication of what I'm like.

Sorry about my english, it is not my native language.

I hope you may shed some light on this situation, and maybe give some advice.

Kind regards,
M

I think you have already answered your question to a certain extent... it is always a tough question. Diagnosis is a complex matter, and even trained professionals may not always get it right. However, only professional assessment can provide serious answers. Therefore, I think the sensible recommendation is to seek further advise from a qualified professional.

apatisk, The best answer to this is go and seek a professional answer.

From your description is does sound like you have ADD. However, don't trust online tests - they give a very vague, wishy-washy idea at the best. The thing is: ADDers are very poor judges of self, so taking an online test that asks you to judge yourself will only result in even more random and sporadic results.

There are so many other factors to take into account, and there are around 50 other attributable conditions that mimick ADD. So, even though you may have exactly the same conditions there's no guarantee that it will be ADD.

Even so, you know there is a problem there, and the answer doesn't have to be ADD - as long as you find the answer, then you can start working on a solution.

So, go and seek professional help. I did.... and I wish I had done so earlier, it would have saved me months of concern.

thank you for the answers..

i guess what i want is a confirmation of whether to seek help regarding the matter, and i believe i've gotten that.