Hi!

My name is Jess and I'm starting to think that I have a major problem with ADHD. I never really thought about it before because I thought all of the weird things I did were just normal for me, but I guess they are not. I took the quiz to see if I was ADHD and I got a score of 90 out of 100. That kind of worries me.

My questions are: Can I see my nurse practitioner about this? I know they can prescribe stimulants, but can they diagnose ADHD? I don't have insurance so this makes a big difference. If I have a lot of the classic signs and sympoms of ADHD, does that mean that I should see a doctor?

Thank you for any of your help. I can explain more if it helps you to help me.

I don't mean to push, but I really do need some advice, because I'm going into college and I really need help focusing since I will be taking 4 classes.

I'm very fidgety, often forget where I'm going/where I placed items, daydream, can't sit still to save my life, can't focus on subjects that don't interest me, always feel like i need to be doing something, mind is always a fuzz cause I have so much racing through it at any given moment, boyfriends hates the fact that I can't relax long enough to watch a movie with him, never calm but don't have a lot anxiety, have had panic attacks but only when overwhelmed with noise and people talking all at once.

The only thing I was ever able to focus on as a kid was playing piano and I taught myself.

Honestly, I really can't remember what else I was going to say, and I'm not joking about that, so I'll leave it at this.

Thank you!

Doctors and, I assume, NPs don't need to do an full blown diagnosis to prescribe meds for ADD. But, I would highly recommend that you get a diagnosis done by a professional with experience in ADD. That might be a psychologist, a psychiatrist or a medical doctor with experience in treating ADD. From what you have described, you do sound like you have some ADD characteristics but few, if any, of us on this site are qualified to make that assessment.

Since you will be entering college, I think it would be even more important that you get an official diagnosis. I don't think I have to tell you that ADD meds have become quite fashionable on college campuses even (especially?) for those without ADD. I think you would want to walk into a doctor with an official diagnosis before asking for meds.

I had a psychologist do my ADD assessment. It took two sessions at $125 per session. If that cost is still prohibitive, check and see if your county or municipality has a mental health department. They might be able to refer you to someone who can do it at a reduce rate.