Does anyone have trouble starting a post, a sentence, or expressing an idea? That was my 5th time reworking the first sentence, each time expressing a different idea in a different direction. This problem also occurs while speaking. I'll often start saying a word only to cutoff midway and use a different word.

I have most of the generic add symptoms listed on the forums and any decent website. Procrastination is my worst problem. I'll often start a programming project, actively work on it for days or even weeks at a time (procrastination in between tasks draws out even the simplest of projects), only to hit a small snag or get bored. Both of which will provoke me to discover a new project.

Keep in mind, when I'm working on a programming project its split up into small tasks. So designing an online game might consist of a few hundred small fast tasks. I can't stay focused on any single task for... idk how long... not long at all. The last time I wrote an essay, last semester, it took me 8 hours, was 3 pages and SUCKED. My thoughts were so disorganized, making for a hard to read & understand paper.

However I don't think I have add because I don't hear shatter or music my head. I feel as if my mind is constantly under stress, is restless, and I never give myself enough time to think. I can't give myself enough time to think, when I try to focus on a problem, my mind will jump to something else, something totally irreverent to the situation.

Blah for example, I was trying to reread/rework the paragraph above but reading & parsing it seemed to take too much time, so I decided to screw it, and jump to the next paragraph. I think thats the best example I can give.

My family has a history of ocd (very strong on my mothers side), adhd, dementia, and other not-so-great mental diseases.

I hope I have add because I'd hate to think I'm just farking dumb. I know I have more to say but I feel like I don't have the time or energy to proofread, reorganize, and make additions to this post.

Edit: I have more to add, or get out, but I think I've spurted out enough crap for this thread.

I usually try and complete tasks very fast which usually leads to careless mistakes or low quality. Tasks that require too much energy, time, or thinking are usually dropped or procrastinated until it becomes unavoidable. My academics and work have suffered greatly because of my inability to finish my work. I'll often get clients, but procrastinate reading the detailed specs until the client gets p/o'd and eventually drops me. It isn't as if I'm not capable of the work, I just can't stay stay focused enough to get it done. Usually I'll stop reading the specs because its boring or I'll find something 'more important' to do (it never is).

I have a hard time staying focused on what a person is saying during conversation. Idk wtf I'll get distracted by, but something will drag my attention away whether its a thought or an observation, they're both equally destructive. After the person is finished speaking or asks me a question, I'll have a hard time answering because I wasn't fully listening to the details.

Articulating my thoughts has always been a problem. I often have trouble finding the right word for an idea or pronouncing a word. These issues manifest themselves more in tense social situations, any social situation for me :/. I hate hanging out with a friend 1-on-1 as I constantly feel pressured to gain interest & ultimately impress the person I'm with, or at least have them think I'm on their level :/.

Edit: http://www.addforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=55371

I have the same exact issue as poster 1 & 2 described.

I never maintain eye contact for more than 1/3rd a second, any longer I feel stressed out, anxious, and have a compulsion to avert my eyes to something less stressful. I often justify this behavior by overting my eyes, and seemingly my attention, to something more important, productive, or purposeful such as cnn, getting a drink from the fridge, picking something off the floor, etc...

Edit: Browsing the forum topics has made me reflect more but you can't edit posts after 30 minutes.

If you find that you identify with most of the symptoms described, I would strongly suspect ADHD. From what you said so far, yeah it's very possible. Don't worry if you are missing one or two of the symptoms. The key would be that the symptoms you described have had some kind of negative impact on your life.

I take it you've checked DSM IV.
Pervasiveness and impairment(like Michiko said) are also important criteria.

sounds a lot like AD/HD, and if by chance it is not - you're still not alone as you are obviously dealing with a lot of the same struggles as the rest of us. welcome to the family. ^^

p.s. i have a problem with words, too. it's hard to explain, but i think you stated it better than i could. not associating words correctly sometimes. i mean, i'd heard the ADD symptoms before, and i didn't relate to the words somehow and i never figured i actually had it. so two years later, finally reading over them and understanding you're not treated because you're not associating words correctly ... -.- sigh lol

i somehow alter the definitions for some words it seems. or, don't associate two things as being the same thing. (not paying attention <=/=> daydreaming or off in lala land or thinking to yourself)

this stuff shows itself in social situations, too. i do have a fear of not being able to express my ideas. i don't know that i even begin to try sometimes, and when i do - i just blurt stuff out that doesn't make any sense. i think a lot of people with AD/HD deal with these sorts of issues.

that's the best way i can describe it. is it like that for you?

sounds a lot like AD/HD, and if by chance it is not - you're still not alone as you are obviously dealing with a lot of the same struggles as the rest of us. welcome to the family. ^^

p.s. i have a problem with words, too. it's hard to explain, but i think you stated it better than i could. not associating words correctly sometimes. i mean, i'd heard the ADD symptoms before, and i didn't relate to the words somehow and i never figured i actually had it. so two years later, finally reading over them and understanding you're not treated because you're not associating words correctly ... -.- sigh lol

i somehow alter the definitions for some words it seems. or, don't associate two things as being the same thing. (not paying attention <=/=> daydreaming or off in lala land or thinking to yourself)

this stuff shows itself in social situations, too. i do have a fear of not being able to express my ideas. i don't know that i even begin to try sometimes, and when i do - i just blurt stuff out that doesn't make any sense. i think a lot of people with AD/HD deal with these sorts of issues.

that's the best way i can describe it. is it like that for you?
Well I'm glad to find out I'm not alone. I have a hard time associating ideas with symbols, or words. I'm not sure what the exact cause is, I'll have to try and analysis the process more :/.

Does anyone have trouble starting a post, a sentence, or expressing an idea? That was my 5th time reworking the first sentence, each time expressing a different idea in a different direction. This problem also occurs while speaking. I'll often start saying a word only to cutoff midway and use a different word.






haha yes

I've started a zillion threads that never got posted...

haha yes

I've started a zillion threads that never got posted...
I propose an irc chat? Does the add forums have an established chat system yet, preferably one that will let me join with my own client? If not, can we make one? xD! It will be fun and carefree, and it won't have all the stresses of posting.

click the chat button at the top of the page.

- Christine

its worth investigating.

They say you cant diagnose urself. But thats bullsh*t. Your the one going to the doctors initiating a screening. You'll find that lots of Dr.s are totally uninformed. Uneducated and will miss diagnose you. Not diagnose. or forward you somewhere else.

Good luck. Read Driven to Distraction and the other libraries of information and good luck.

You could also have schizophrenia, especially the way you avoid eye contact. That could be due to ADD, though. I avoid talking to people a lot just because I get very bored with normal conversation - unless I am on my meds then I can chitchat without feeling the urge to bring up black cocked tranny hookers and moon pirates every tenth of a second.

its worth investigating.

They say you cant diagnose urself. But thats bullsh*t. Your the one going to the doctors initiating a screening. You'll find that lots of Dr.s are totally uninformed. Uneducated and will miss diagnose you. Not diagnose. or forward you somewhere else.

Good luck. Read Driven to Distraction and the other libraries of information and good luck.
I'm sure the only people who say you can't diagnose yourself are the doctors and psychiatrists that thrive on 'making you better' the good trial-and-error way. Educating yourself in the area allows you to better articulate your symptoms & provide analogies and at the very least, put you on the right track. The psychiatrist doesn't know anything expect what you tell him. If you strolled into a psych's office one day and when prompted for your symptoms, you reply 'well, uhh can't focus, uhhhh cant think straight, uhhh', the list of possible causes could fill a book. In that When you designate the responsibility of fixing & diagnosing you're problem... well.. then you're farked.

This is not my Alter-ego.
heh....


Good info Mindscreen.