I'm just wondering if this is an Inattentive ADD thing or a character flaw on my part. But does anyone ever say you look or act drunk even when your not. I'm thinking this is a major down fall for me trying to get a job a lot of times because I look drunk or intoxicated on something, I have slowed and choppy speech patterns sometimes, and problems putting together fluent sentences when I'm tired (Which is a lot...). Just wondering how bad this aspect of inattentiveness affects everyone else, and how common is it.

Once somebody asked me if what I was drinking was a whiskey and coke. I'm pretty sure he wanted some if it was but it was just coffee.

I think this could happen with people who could be SCT because of the input/output problem. Combine this with some sort of comorbid speech problem and some one could easily misconstrue speech as indicating intoxication.

First, I'm assuming you just mean a characteristic caused by something other than ADD? Because a speech prob is a far cry from a character flaw... it's something you can't control.

No, that's never really happened to me, but I do have problems with words like you said. So I don't look drunk, just dumb.

I'm sorry this is happening to you, I can't imagine how frustrating. I'm interested to hear if anyone else is like this. And I wasn't aware that SCT had imput/output symptoms...

I'm just wondering if this is an Inattentive ADD thing or a character flaw on my part. But does anyone ever say you look or act drunk even when your not. I'm thinking this is a major down fall for me trying to get a job a lot of times because I look drunk or intoxicated on something, I have slowed and choppy speech patterns sometimes, and problems putting together fluent sentences when I'm tired (Which is a lot...). Just wondering how bad this aspect of inattentiveness affects everyone else, and how common is it.

Bottom line is going to bed early enough. Having interesting audiobooks & podcasts to listen to has really helped me do that. NOTHING, I repeat, NOTHING has had such a profound impact on the ADHD-I aspect of my life as going to bed early. Not getting enough sleep, no - but going to bed early. I actually threw in the towel and have started going to bed at 8:00pm this week. I haven't been accused of looking drunk, but I know exactly what you're talking about - people always asked what was wrong with me, because I was so tired and lifeless all the time. Sometimes I'd slur words, when I was really tired even my balance wasn't that good, I moved around sluggishly, etc. etc. etc. Yeah, I hear ya!

Even my wife agrees that it's a night and day difference in me, going to bed early - I focus better, I don't forget things in the middle of talking, I can follow arguments and debates better instead of losing track of them, my short-term memory is better, LIFE is better. 8:00pm is insanely early for me - I'm in the middle of college, so 2:00am isn't unheard of as a bedtime - but BOY does it work better than ANY medication I've ever tried!

So that's my 2 cents - try going to bed really super early for a week and see if it helps. It will be torture, but get a good audiobook, turn off the lights, and hop in bed and listen to keep your mind distracted. It's literally swept away the majority of these problems you mentioned. I'm sitting here at 4:55am STUDYING (well, and surfing the ADD forums, haha) instead of being a loaf, if that tells you anything for results :D

Interesting, I might give that a try.

They called me stoney in middle school b/c they said I looked stoned all the time. I talk like you too, often really slow. People think I'm stupid a lot.

Yeah, drunk or high.

Wow I thought I was one of the only ones with that problem. I've been told by people that they saw me from distance and thought "Wow that guys looks like such a stoner" until they realized who it was. I got asked all the time in high school if I was pot head.

In middle school while taking Karate one instructor consistently asked me if I was 'catatonic.' He was a sweet guy. In high school one of my professors spoke to a higher up to let her know he felt I was on 'drugs.' That was fun though rather amusing considering his two sons were raging pot heads and he was a drunk. Then in college random classmates I didn't know would ask at parties if I went to class stoned.

It's really frustrating to chronically sound 'dumb' when called upon only to have a brilliant answer five minutes later. I hear ya ! But what ultimately matters is in fact holding intelligence even if it isn't always so apparent.

I have been told by a former boyfriend that although he knew otherwise, I was so mellow that I seemed "stoned" 24/7. And I have never smoked pot in my life. My therapist describes me as being the most passive person she's ever seen.

Haha whenever I go out people always comment that I'm off my face on speed, probably because my facial tics make me look like I'm clenching my jaw or something.

Funny, because when I've taken stimulant medication in the past, it hasn't actually made me tic more at all ;) I may not look it but I feel more like I'm stoned all the time!

I'm still learning about this whole ADHD-I thing and deciding whether it still applies to me, so unfortunately can't answer your question too well...

High. I am Thought an Addict it Seems. Especially since this is only the last year to eighteen months.

Mid-Life
ADHD & HyperFocus / Dyslexia / Cluttering / Dysgraphia / Autism {HypFoc} {Spectrum Disorder now thought}
Awakened to stronger fully present state by PTSD

This is with me always now. Not so before. It's taken nine months to adjust to having some normal days and other days difficulty still. REST is key. But imagine peoples shock at a dramatic to even minute change in demeanor. Especially with depression setting in from snowballing abandonment.

Some of my friends are just plain foolish. I've never experienced anything like this.

In my case this theory was passed along by a cousin of mine that lied to all about me behind my back for months and never relayed to anyone all of the cognitive therapy and work I'd gone into getting diagnosis and answers

If I am tired especially or stressed. Then also I might start a strange speech pattern. "Cluttering". I Stop and Stall breaking one sentence into two. Lately I have trouble looking people in the eye if trying to concentrate.

Lately because of all the built up stress of others not understanding what is going on with me and a number of people thinking that I am making all my symptoms up.

Mass Hysteria among small groups on two occasions. Mass Hysteria involving "they did not understand so came to their own Consensus and Vilified me".

This in part happened at times, because my demeanor appeared to be that of someone that was high or just plain out of it, delusional.

But unique to myself is that my PTSD is a result of Emotional Abuse by my Mentally Ill Ex. A sadistic creature with a Personality Disorder thought to be NPD though he has Dis-associative Disorder characteristics. So I was already loosing the battle because still nobody understands what that man did to me. Nor do they grasp how ill he is. Gay Men suffering abuse is not grasped by 95% to my experience. Even when they love you. They had no context to have Cognition of my state. My emotions made all of the other Disorders worse.

So Now I am an ADDICT.

The mostly I am guessing at what they perceived. But the stares I do not forget.

My stress is lower now after I made a stand amongst some people. Family before Xmas was all notified of my feelings and that debate over what I say is "me" will not be tolerated.

Mostly it is like one poster said behind me.

Get Your Rest Every Night. Don't Be Tired All Day.
Today I am rested and feel normal. Nobody is staring at me today.

I'm just wondering if this is an Inattentive ADD thing or a character flaw on my part. But does anyone ever say you look or act drunk even when your not. I'm thinking this is a major down fall for me trying to get a job a lot of times because I look drunk or intoxicated on something, I have slowed and choppy speech patterns sometimes, and problems putting together fluent sentences when I'm tired (Which is a lot...). Just wondering how bad this aspect of inattentiveness affects everyone else, and how common is it.

Yes!!!

Especially right now because I've lost my job. ;).

The only way I can get out of this is by getting busy!!! If I endulge myself too much, then I can look drunk.

Indeed, for the three months since I lost my job, I spent 70% of my time, being like an "alcoholic".

I need to have a plan. Something Simple. It doesn't matter but something concrete that I can work on. This is important for self respect.

I need to have contact with other people.

... ;). There is more but i can't think about it yet