Not an alcholic myself, but I do seriously abuse drugs and have finally admitted that I am an addict and have been for the past 4 years. An addiction is an addiction right? All we have is different fuel. I use drugs to calm down and create clarity in my life. I've identified myself through being stoned and using and abusing. Right on for attending AA and your work on the 12 steps, keep at it. Let me do some speculation however; you use alchohal to what? to calm down? to chill, relax? To be yourself? People with ADHD and always going so fast all the time, mentally and physically, so it is really hard to slow down and alot of the times we turn to substances to gear down because we arn't always able to do it by ourselves. Get a treatment plan started with that psychologist; therapy, coupled with medication can really help on the road to self improvement.

I also am a recovering alcoholic with ADD (non-hyperactive usually). I've noticed since I've been sober the past 2+ years, my life hasn't been such a chaotic rollercoaster. I see a lot of other ADD/ADHD'ers in meetings.

I was also self medicating with cocaine an speed an other drugs for years aa helped me stop all. I am seeing a psychologist but cant get medication as unfortunatly here in ireland they are slightly backward. My phycyatrist does not belive an adult ADHD needs meds. Really frustrating tom be honest. Its the same in meetings no one would ever mention adhd its not really recognised here?

Im in aa coming up to 4 years completly sober but thogh my life has improved in so many ways, other parts of my life is getting worse. really hard to except the way i am.

Here in the U.S. it seems like everyone and their mother has ADD/ADHD (lol). I know it is real, and a lot of people truly have it, but there's still a lot of ignorance on the subject. People still don't believe adults can have it and that females can't have it. I've seen it in people several times at AA meetings.

I have encountered research on this correlation. It seems to point to the fact that those of us with ADD/ADHD are hyper intelligent and yet due to our brain condition we suffer from the inability to fully use our intellectual potential & thus we get frustrated, depressed and some say "what the heck" and overindulge in mood change substances. For me it wasn't alcohol - it was food and sex addiction - both equally destructive.

The good news: as of just over a year ago I discovered a way to drastically reduce my ADD symptoms, which has lowered my daily anxiety and depression to pretty much zero. In fact what alcohol I did drink has been reduced to almost zero because now my intellect is full functional when I don't drink and drastically impaired when I do. Therefore the incentive is now very clear to not drink, eat or make other destructive choices.

Of course the addictive habits are still there and need to be addressed, though it sounds like you have taken steps to address that for yourself.

Therefore what I HIGHLY recommend is reading the book The LCP Solution as soon as possible. By doing so myself right after my diagnosis, I have since become 95% free of my symptoms to all my brain deficiencies including ADD, Dyspraxia, Apraxia & Dyslexia.

In addition to alleviating these conditions, my memory has not only improved but also handed back to me all the info I ever learned as if it was stored but never accessible. My math skills are through the room, my retention & recall has improved, and amazingly my eyesight has also improved by .25 per eye and my astigmatism is gone as well!

Keep me posted on your progress should you choose to read the book!

Absolutely! Studies have also shown that a large percentage of prison inmates are ADHD....Makes sense...Drug and alcohol abuse and all the craziness to feed that addiction leads them to prison.. Have read that ADHD/Addiction go hand in hand and that what you're trying to do is self medicate. For me its gambling and the high of those 'machines' (the lights, music, the thrill of winning..)I don't do 'meds' and am always looking for ways to get back in control of my life. Omega 3 (fish oil caps) make a difference. (I didn't think so at first but when I ran out for awhile I could tell the differenc) Lots more to learn, and I'm determined to get the hang of living with ADHD rather than 'drugging' myself 'normal'. Mostly, I like who I am and want to find my own 'normal'.

so.,we induldge,and who ever doesnt,i raise my glass!seriously,i admire the ones to control alcohol.I have dramatically cut down,and feel better for it naturally,but even so,when i was under~water,so to speak,the following day id function the same,and have more energy than usual,sometimes.
The 12 steps,i havent climbed them,but made my own rules.
using alcohol,now theres a debate if i ever would participate in one.lol..okay,i would get bored,true!bordem,seems the brain ,mine anyway,was always busy,too many thoughts unravelled,depression kicked in,and the branch grew more branches and all was too much,
i chose to drink..to numb thoughts out,trouble was it backfired at times,depending on mood.
If only we could interperet the meaning of 'numb',word often used,translated in so many clauses.
Reading about substance abuse,including alcohol has the potenial to raise symptoms of any corner relating to add/adhd,if not diagnosed,''the norms'' get away with murder.But put a label on 'us',we are mentally disturbed freaks...oh! am i leading to another topic here??..:")