silvercastle
01-06-09, 08:55 AM
Hi,
I think I have ADD but I need some advice on what to do next. Well I guess since this is my first post here, I should tell you guys a bit about myself
My name is Tom and I"m 32 years old and live in brisbane. I have a 5 year old daughter who's living interstate with my wife...we're getting divorced in march.
I've always had huge problems staying focused on things I'm supposed to do. Oh, I have no problems starting a project or doing research on something - in fact I can do that really well. I can focus on something so intensely that nothing else exists - for hours or even days.
The problem is it never lasts. As soon as I get bored, that's the end of it. I've had so many jobs and started so many courses and had so many ideas. This has always been one of my wife's many complaints.
Another problem is money. Instant gratification - what can I say. I suck at sticking to a budget. I can draw one up - no worries. And then I constatly change it to suit what I want to do instead of following it. Again...just ask my wife...she has lots to say on this issue.
Now where was I...oh yeah, I get distracted easily...especially in conversations. People usually end up getting the impression I don't want to talk to them because other things keep grabbing my attention. And I get impatient when people (including my wife) are tellling my something or are asking a question. I already know what they're trying to say and I want to respond damnit. I get bored listening to them.
I am terrible with managing time and am always late. Again, another thing that used to frustrate my wife. It's not that I don't care...I just can't do it.
Oh yeah, and my wife has always resented that she had to be the organised one.
I am usually completely oblivious to people's feelings or reactions or their expectations of me in social situations.
My mum says as a kid I was always extremely hyperactive, impulsive, stubborn and difficult.
In the past I have been diagnosed with major depressive disorder, bipolar affective disorder ( though the next pdoc I went to said it wasn't bipolar). I've also been diagnosed with PTSD and general anxiety. I was on 450mg of effexor for about a year, which helped with the depression after my brother died, but not with any of the stuff described above.
I just really need help with this stuff. I've pretty much given up on trying to do anything because I'm never able to stick with anything. I feel like a failure.
I've never really known much about ADD, but I came across it on the net over the last few days and I just think it describes me so well. I'm hoping this will provide some answers and a way of dealing with the symptoms so I can live a normal life.
Now, what I"m wondering is....how do I talk to a pdoc about this. Are they likely to just dismiss the idea of ADD. How do even begin to explain all this to a psychiatrist.
I went to see a GP today and told him some of what I've written above and asked him for some medication and a referral. He was happy enough to give a referral, but would not give any medication to me if his life depended on it.
If you guys could tell me how you got diagnosed or even what psych in brisbane is good to see for this sort of stuff. Or any comment on what I've written here...does it even sound like ADD to you guys?
I think I have ADD but I need some advice on what to do next. Well I guess since this is my first post here, I should tell you guys a bit about myself
My name is Tom and I"m 32 years old and live in brisbane. I have a 5 year old daughter who's living interstate with my wife...we're getting divorced in march.
I've always had huge problems staying focused on things I'm supposed to do. Oh, I have no problems starting a project or doing research on something - in fact I can do that really well. I can focus on something so intensely that nothing else exists - for hours or even days.
The problem is it never lasts. As soon as I get bored, that's the end of it. I've had so many jobs and started so many courses and had so many ideas. This has always been one of my wife's many complaints.
Another problem is money. Instant gratification - what can I say. I suck at sticking to a budget. I can draw one up - no worries. And then I constatly change it to suit what I want to do instead of following it. Again...just ask my wife...she has lots to say on this issue.
Now where was I...oh yeah, I get distracted easily...especially in conversations. People usually end up getting the impression I don't want to talk to them because other things keep grabbing my attention. And I get impatient when people (including my wife) are tellling my something or are asking a question. I already know what they're trying to say and I want to respond damnit. I get bored listening to them.
I am terrible with managing time and am always late. Again, another thing that used to frustrate my wife. It's not that I don't care...I just can't do it.
Oh yeah, and my wife has always resented that she had to be the organised one.
I am usually completely oblivious to people's feelings or reactions or their expectations of me in social situations.
My mum says as a kid I was always extremely hyperactive, impulsive, stubborn and difficult.
In the past I have been diagnosed with major depressive disorder, bipolar affective disorder ( though the next pdoc I went to said it wasn't bipolar). I've also been diagnosed with PTSD and general anxiety. I was on 450mg of effexor for about a year, which helped with the depression after my brother died, but not with any of the stuff described above.
I just really need help with this stuff. I've pretty much given up on trying to do anything because I'm never able to stick with anything. I feel like a failure.
I've never really known much about ADD, but I came across it on the net over the last few days and I just think it describes me so well. I'm hoping this will provide some answers and a way of dealing with the symptoms so I can live a normal life.
Now, what I"m wondering is....how do I talk to a pdoc about this. Are they likely to just dismiss the idea of ADD. How do even begin to explain all this to a psychiatrist.
I went to see a GP today and told him some of what I've written above and asked him for some medication and a referral. He was happy enough to give a referral, but would not give any medication to me if his life depended on it.
If you guys could tell me how you got diagnosed or even what psych in brisbane is good to see for this sort of stuff. Or any comment on what I've written here...does it even sound like ADD to you guys?