I really question if I have AD/HD. I mean I have some symptoms but I don't remember having these as a child. I never had a report card that had comments like "doesn't pay attention" or "doesn't follow instructions", etc. Is it possible to have it without any childhood history of AD/HD? Is it possible that I just have a very mild case? But, I wonder what other disorders can cause these things:

pacing and fidgeting
trouble concentrating on one conversation
hating to read something boring, skipping around in books
switching from one topic of conversation to an unrelated topic because "it's something that came to my mind"
jumping from one task to another without finishing the first one
absentmindedness/misplacing things or forgetting my purse somewhere, locking myself out of my car, etc.
I even left the car several times, and I'd come back to realize that it was still running.
not realizing what I'm doing because of all the thoughts in my head
mixing up letters and numbers as if I was dyslexic
writing down sentences and leaving off some of it or writing words and forgetting to add the last letter or the suffix

I would say from your list that you fit quite well in the greater family here of ADHD/ADD people. In your case, ADHD with hyperactivity. And not a mild case. A mainstream one. I would not look for something similar or some shadow syndrone mascarading as ADD. It sounds to me like you just have ADD.

I would ask, do you have any of your grade school report cards to read? I have some of mine, and while I do not remember any of them from that age saying anything in particular about my behavior, I was quite startled to read them now. It is quite blatant and obvious that I had ADD in school. "Needs to pay more attention in class" "Needs to work on being on time" "Daydreams too much in class". I mean, it is all over the report cards, over and over again. Year in and year out. I mean, I should sue the damn school district for being so blind about my ADD behavior!

Anyway, my read on your case: You have ADHD. Welcome. You are amung friends here!

Dr. Dex :cool:

it sounds like ADD there are some preliminary online tests you can do they are similar to a quizz they come in yes/no or multiple choice format most of the questions are what a psychiatrist would ask in a ADD consult they are generally long over 50 questions some of them are so accurate they can even calculate what kind of ADD you have based on your test score. if you pass any tests it doesn't necessarily mean you have ADD these tests should be nothing more than the first step into scheduling an appointment with a psychiatrist.

if you don't have ADD the next step is a learning disability there are several types but the testing is very expensive.

- Christine

A lot of people with Asperger's have some symptoms of ADHD, for one.

yes, Aspergers is one of the learning disabilities. the treatment would still be the same, stimulants but with cognitive therapy.

- Christine

My sister has Bipolar 2 and when she's happier she comes accross like she has ADD.

She doesn't have ADD though, she only has those symptoms when she is having mood swings.

Sounds like pretty standard ADHD. Diagnosis of ADHD requires that you have to have had symptoms since you were under the age of 7. I never thought I had ADHD as a child, but as I discussed it with my doctor and my parents and thought about it, I realised I was pretty hyperactive and inattentive as a youngster. I'm pretty sure most of my teachers I had during school would say I wasn't "ADHD", so it's not like the school report cards mean you don't have it. In fact, I was pretty certain I didn't have ADHD until I talked to my doctor about it. I always thought I was just lazy, impatient or bored.

As for wondering about list of conditions that can look like ADHD, I went through the same thing just before I was diagnosed. Off the top of my head, a quick list of conditions that can present symptoms similar to ADHD:
Hyper- and Hypo-thyroidism, some sleep disorders (or simply sleep deprivation), some learning disorders, anxiety disorders, depression.
If you think you have ADHD you should see a doctor. Even if you don't want to take medication, it can still be very helpful to be confident that it is in fact ADHD that you have.

yes, Aspergers is one of the learning disabilities. the treatment would still be the same, stimulants but with cognitive therapy.

- Christine

Asperger's is not just a learning disability.

I see anxiety disorder being mentioned.

Off the top of anyone's head, how would you draw the line between actual ADHD and an anxiety disorder, especially given the possibility of comorbidity?

I know the answer is to see a doctor who specializes in these things, but I'm just curious...

I see anxiety disorder being mentioned.

Off the top of anyone's head, how would you draw the line between actual ADHD and an anxiety disorder, especially given the possibility of comorbidity?

Very carefully! :D

In a simple world, anxiety would produce a different set of symptoms. It might look like something else such as ADHD, but in theory they should be distinct enough to tell them apart.

I guess in practice, it's a lot more complicated. Unfortunately we don't have any physical tests to be able to say definitively, "this person has ADHD with a side of anxiety", or whatever. We have to rely on the symptoms. I think doctors use official diagnostic guidelines to fill in the broad picture, but rely on their experience to draw the finer distinctions.

In my case, we treated my ADHD but I still had lingering issues with motivation and anxiety. So we're exploring other options. My diagnosis of ADHD still stands, but we're trying to find a treatment that will also nail down these additional problems.

Until the research is able to definitively draw these lines, it's up to the doctor-patient team to try their best to feel these lines out for themselves.

Asperger's is not just a learning disability.

I never said she had Aspergers I only mentioned it because you did. there is not enough information about her sociality to really think that.

if you wan to learn more about Aspergers, http://aspergers.ca/

- Christine

If you ask for your blood to be tested for things that could cause those symptoms, it will cover certain possibilities. Such as thyroid problems, iron deficiency (very common in children diagnosed with ADHD according to one study, and doesn't always cause the textbook anemia symptoms) and abnormal sugar levels. I was tested for about ten things. I think everyone suspected of ADHD should get tested for heavy metal levels too.

Alternatively as someone said you may have had symptoms that were missed. Most of my teachers didn't seem to notice that I paid so little attention, and those who would tell me off for forgetfulness or working slowly didn't mention it to my parents or in my reports, even though I'd usually get much less done than most people, in subjects in which I topped the class. I asked the children next to me what we were supposed to do or read over their shoulders, and to this day seem to be able to tune out from most of what someone is saying and still have them comment that I pay good attention. In one more recent class I used to turn 180 degrees in my seat and stare out of the window, right opposite the teacher, and she still complimented me on always listening well! :rolleyes:

It's a gift I guess :cool:

I see anxiety disorder being mentioned.

Off the top of anyone's head, how would you draw the line between actual ADHD and an anxiety disorder, especially given the possibility of comorbidity?

I know the answer is to see a doctor who specializes in these things, but I'm just curious...

One can say that ADHD, Bipolar, and OCD are actually all classed as anxiety disorders. But there are differences between them and general anxiety disorder. There are also overlaping tendancies, as well as learning disabilities. It is not a cookie cutter diagnosis; people tend to be unique, and anxiety disorders can be complex and may have multiple diagnoises, and even differing diagnoses depending on the psychiatrist or psychologist.

My case as an example, my psychologost diagnosed me with PTSD and depression. My psychiatrist diagnosed me with ADHD-hyperactive, with a sprinkling of OCD and toss of anxiety attacks for good measure. He also correctly diagnosed my migraines, which no other doctor had done to that date (I was 42).

Dex4Me :cool:

It could also be giftedness.

Many gifted persons have some of those symptoms:
http://giftedkids.about.com/od/giftedandld/a/gt_and_ld_3.htm


I pure guess is, that there's some mental stress/anxiety involved.
I know I have some similar symptoms, and they are probably related to thoughts like:
"I'm behind, I should be able to do this better/faster"
"How will they think of me?"
"What should I have said to him/her about x, y and z?"
"What will I say to him/her about x, y and z?"

I'm halfway shooting in the dark here, but maybe you could start out from this sentence your wrote: "not realizing what I'm doing because of all the thoughts in my head". This probably have an effect on your other "symptoms".

Try to write down what these thoughts are in a journal (this might be hard to begin with, as you might never have tried to focus on what your semi-subconscious disruptive thoughts are), and after a while try analyzing what the general theme is.

If its a simple theme maybe you can do something about it relatively easy.

If its the general way of thinking about things, "general anxiety" (I'm guessing most of this type of anxiety is from the relation to other people), trying to control things too much aka things way outside your influence, defending yourself against others in your thoughts, putting up "appearance":
Learn to not care too much what others think, which probably comes with a lot of practice (just doing what you want) and maybe more self confidence.
Learn to relax and be more relaxed in general, fx. via meditation.


Not care what others think: Maybe CBT (Cognitive behavioral therapy), thinking "whats the worst that could happen" etc...

Higher self confidence and more relaxed: Training, being good a some kind of sports or other thing you like.

Meditation: Learn to relax and not think or do anything for 10-20 minutes.


I agree with the others though, an appointment for an ADHD test would be a good idea :).
It's always good to know what occupies your mind though, so if your would only try 1 thing I've mentioned above, go for the journal. This could probably also help out the psychiatrist for a more precise diagnosis.


EDIT: Site with links/books about ADHD/Giftedness/Aspergers/Learning Deficits etc.: http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/adhd.htm

sounds very much like ADHD to me too, i can relate to so much of it.

each of those individually might be explained by other conditions but then only if you had other problems you havnt mentioned.

once you put all those together, in my view nothing else comes close to describing it better than ADHD.

those with enough problems like this that are eventually forced to seek help i would think its fairly clear cut diagnosis, where as most people might think they have symptoms too they probably wouldnt consider it affects them enough to bother getting help with.

sadly theres a lot of people out there realy struggling with it without knowing anything about it, like I was for 35 years.

if you wan to learn more about Aspergers, http://aspergers.ca/


wow thanks for that link, ive been trying to understand what aspergers is, and that is far more understandable than the diagnostic criterea.
you should get that link onto the aspergers secion sticky thread.

Of all the things I can relate to on there, that come close to what I have problems with, I think they are beter explained by adhd, some seem to be almost identical description though, certainly at a quick glannce anyway.

on the things that apear there for aspergers, but arnt considered part of ADHD, i think i can relate to a few of them as well to some degree, but I certainly dont consider that I had a significant problem with to need help, and certainly when I look at other people I dont consider i was any worse than most or many people in general.

certainly some of the differences are quite subtle, and aspergers is more to do with not understanding what to do, than to do with not being able to control what you do, but may end up with the same observable result in some situations, but im fairly convinced I have ADHD and definatly not aspergers now, and if I can relate to anything of aspergers, im sure most other people could relate to them to a similar extent too.

many people say they can relate to problems with adhd, but yet they dont realy have a clue to what extent those problems cuase people with adhd.

I may perhaps miss social clues, im jot realy sure, but this is probably becuase im not paying attention, my mind is always 10 steps ahead or thinking of something else, not becuase im unable to understand, although this is perhaps the most dificult point mentioned for me to be sure of, but i cant say I know anyone who I think could say they actually understand them as such.

If something fascinates me I might apear to get stuck on it, (ants fasinated when I was young, i can remember a bit but im suprised how much other people have mentioned it) but i certainly wouldnt consider ants was ever something id remotly call a favourite thing. i just found them fascinating to watch for some reason.

I may occasionaly take things too literally, but then thats only very occasionaly, and i find many other people take things too literaly just as much as me.

theres also the mention of doing wrong things in inapropriate situations, like speeking too loudly in church, well if i ever got excited and was speeking to loudly it was probably far less likly id be doing it in a church.

aspergers also mention chalanges with attention, but thats indicating the amount of overlap perhaps.

ps also with me i can easily read factual data sheets, and scientific data, but only if its interesting enough to be stimulating, wheres as abstract stuff is fine if its exciting enouhg to be stimulating, but this usualy ends up i read more factaul stuff, becuase theres more factual stuf to read thats interesting, and abstract stuff id rather watch it on tv. if something to read is not stimulating enough i simply have a job to read it becuase i start to feel tired unless its stimulating me.

I love star trek and star wars, but I think star wars first file made wins hands down becuase of the fantastic combination of not ony sci fi and abstract things like "the force" but the fantastic way the relationshp between the main characters evolved and changed.

I did not read all posts but Auditory Processing Disorder has the same symptoms.

Depression & Anxiety overlap each other, as well as ADHD.

Trouble concentrating is probably the most homogeneous.

Thyroid & Sleep disorders also come to mind as well.

Thats certainly not all, however, its all I can think of right now....lol.

Thanks for the excellent question.

tc

mctavish23

(Robert)

most conditions are collection of symptoms, as the disease process is often not known, although the the parts of the brain involved in many are becoming understood, and theres some overlap in the parts of the brain/neorotransmiters known already, but a lot of symptoms are probably not specificaly disease based anyway, perhaps my sleep anxiety, wich developed recently, but they all have a knock on effect.

behavour problems are as much learned or more so than based on disease as such, although having adhd obvioulsy makes you more likley to end up with bad behavour, untreated adhd seems to end up with a lot worse behavour wich is hard to treat.

http://www.drthomasebrown.com/pdfs/sleep_chapter.pdf

i was reading this from a reply to my question earlier, and suggests my tiredness and adhd wich ive always found a uniqwue combination is actualy more comon, and suggests the two may be linked with one cuasing the other or the same cuase for both.

I presume substance use disorders would have a high incidence of concentration issues.

I think that would be an obvious answer.