Me

[Mystique]

Hi all, I have recently found this forum after kind of self-diagnosing myself. I never considered that I could have ADD until an adult. As a kid I had a hard time reading textbooks/studying, but got through school ok with a B average. I now have a job that is very time-sensitive and I do fine at it. So because it doesn't affect my work (or at least not now) and never affected my school work, I never really thought about it much. But after researching a little I really think I show symptoms, like the following:

1) terrible disorganization. When I am living alone my area looks like the beginning of a hoarder (not that bad, but stuff randomly on the floor until I finally decide to pick it up). My reasons for this are: 1) always saying 'ill get it later,' and 2) if I finally start to pick up, I find things to 'play with' (this was a major problem when I was a child and frankly hasn't gotten much better). For instance, I'll find my old game boy and think, oh cool let's play tetris! And get distracted, and never finish cleaning.

2) No filter when upset. This is one of my worst problems, because it gets me in trouble with the girlfriend. Whenever she upsets me I spout off at the mouth and say unnecessary things. All they do is make her upset, and I end up regretting them later. I don't know how to stop because I always feel like I need to get these things out but later I realize they're inappropriate and uncalled for. Like they're just personal attacks that sometimes don't even have anything to do with the issue. I really need to stop this because I hate to upset her and I know I'm out of line but it's like I have no self-control.

3) Oversensitive and Inability to let things go. Not sure if this has anything to do with ADD or not. When something bad happens I hold onto it and I really have a hard time forgiving and forgetting. Someone can wrong me and sincerely apologize and any normal person will accept it and move on, but I still think about it and hold resentment for it.

4) Inability to concentrate on a single thing. I like to write, and sometimes try to write short stories. But it's very hard, because whenever I'm on a computer and tell myself to only write, I'll inevitably open up a dozen tabs and do all sorts of other things on the internet and get very little writing done.

5) Starting a bunch of things at once and rarely getting done with anything. This kind of ties in with the cleaning/writing thing. I set out to do something then I decide to do something else then something else and by the end I don't get much done because I end up doing 5 things instead of 1.

6) Getting bored easily. If I'm not constantly challenged I can't participate in something. This has included getting up and walking out of speeches of people who bore me to death, and almost going crazy sitting in the chair at the salon getting my hair done because it's really difficult for me to just sit there and do nothing but stare at myself in the mirror.

7) Always thinking/expecting the worst. This probably has more to do with anxiety (I was on anxiety for 6 months for panic disorder until I learned to make the panic attacks go away), but whenever something happens (like my gf not texting me because she's in the subway and can't get a signal or something) I automatically see her in my head dead in a ditch on the side of the road or something. I used to do it a lot with my mom too, I thought every time she went out she'd get in a car wreck and then I'd have no one who really loved me yet. It's ridiculous I know.

So yeah, this is just a quick list of things off the top of my head. I guess my question is how much of these do you think could be caused by ADD, and should I consider going to a doctor and getting medication for it? If not, is there anything I can do to help lesson the symptoms? I just got a full time job and the benefits kick in next month so I can go to the doctor (yay) if need be. I hate doctors but I really would be willing to try medication if it would help.. but are my symptoms even severe enough for meds? For background info I am 27.

I really don't know and I'm sorry for the long post and also sorry if I broke any forum rules (didn't read them because they bored me.. blame the ADD.. LOL). Any insight would be much appreciated! Thanks!

[sarahsweets]

any questions you have about adhd are best answered by a qualified doctor. They could be adhd or a host of other disorders.

[Lisa_Mac]

ADHD is a real disorder. It's not an excuse for being untidy, undisciplined and rude. Just saying.

As Sarah says, a qualified doctor will be able to answer your questions.

By the way holding grudges is not a symptom of adhd. On the contrary most people with adhd forgive and forget pretty quickly.

Best wishes
L

[Beekeeper]

Originally Posted by Mystique

I hate doctors but I really would be willing to try medication if it would help.. but are my symptoms even severe enough for meds?

To respond to that question, I would like to pose this query:
Are the issues you described negatively affecting your life? Would you feel better if any of them changed?

If yes, then your symptoms certainly are severe enough for treatment. Whether that includes meds is up to your doctor and you. Like Sarah said, you need to see a doctor if you want to address this.