ADHD / ADD Support Group
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and attention deficit disorder (ADD) are more common than you might think. It is a syndrome that exhibits symptoms such as hyperactivity, forgetfulness, mood shifts, poor impulse control, and distractibility. Join others who suffer from these conditions and share your experiences.
I actually have quite a few questions. That title just so happened to be fitting...
Let me start off by asking: is ADD hereditary? I think I've heard this somewhere before, but I honestly can't recall. If it does pertain to the matter, then I'll say my dad has been diagnosed with ADD, and I believe a few others on his side of the family, also. But, if it's not hereditary... Well, then I suppose that information is useless.
In a nutshell, I'm pretty sure I have some form of ADD -- I'm not sure to which extent, but ADD nonetheless. I havent been diagnosed, but this is just an assumption I, my family, and friends have had ever since early elementary school. Often, I can cope. Sure, I'm horribly forgetful, I lose things constantly, I can never do homework or class work as needed... Why, even now, I'm supposed to be doing homework... But, that's beside the point. This sort of stuff has always been normal for me. However, there are these phases I get into, and it's absolutely horrendous. It's often when I'm overly stressed that it's at its worst point, but it can get pretty bad. It'll be bad enough to the point that all I can do in any of my classes is sketch and doodle and deliberately avoid all of my class work, whether I'm remorseful about it or not. Last term, I had a vital essay due in english, and the entire three weeks in which we were working on homework and class work to build on these essays, I didn't do a single one of the sheets of paper. Not to mention, each time I brought up Microsoft Word to even attempt to begin this assignment, I'd stare at the screen for a good twenty minutes, my mind either completely blank, racing, or just plain spacing out. I was finally able to force out a painfully hasty and disheveled excuse for an essay the night before it was due. God knows how I managed to get an A minus for it.
None of it was normal for me, though... I mean, Im a novelist. Or, rather, an aspiring novelist But, either way, I live for writing assignments, and I can more often than not crank them out in no time. As the stress ebbed away, I could more easily focus on my work, but my mind still remained very much cluttered, as per usual. I did well on last terms finals, but my grades were a mess before then. And I fear, now, that Im falling back into that pattern with this trimester. This is the easiest set of classes Ive ever had, and Im still struggling with this lack of attention. Im allowing my focus to slip, and my grades are just beginning to diminish accordingly.
I would like to be put on medication if it were only that simple. Ive spoken to my therapist about it, and she does want me to see a doctor if I truly feel I need to. My parents, too, are right behind me, promising theyll do what they can to help. I told them, however, not to worry about it for the time being. You see, I originally went to the doctor to talk about clinical depression and medication for that. She said that we should look into it, and we tried, but my mom cant for the life of her find a psychiatrist for me. The only ones are ungodly expensive. So, going back to my previous statement, I told her to hold off on it. I would hate for my parents to spend so much money on something I might not even need.
And now, I ask you. Is it vital that I get this checked out, whether or not itll take a lot to get an appointment? Ive been suffering through the frustration and misunderstanding of others for years, now, and Im beginning to realize that Id be far happier if I didnt have to. And, you know, theres also the depression issue and panic disorder and maybe something along the lines of BPD But, pay no heed. This entry is about ADD and ADD only. I just want to know if itll be worth it seeing a psychiatrist sooner or later.
Okay, I lied; I didn't have that many questions...
Let me start off by asking: is ADD hereditary? I think I've heard this somewhere before, but I honestly can't recall. If it does pertain to the matter, then I'll say my dad has been diagnosed with ADD, and I believe a few others on his side of the family, also. But, if it's not hereditary... Well, then I suppose that information is useless.
In a nutshell, I'm pretty sure I have some form of ADD -- I'm not sure to which extent, but ADD nonetheless. I havent been diagnosed, but this is just an assumption I, my family, and friends have had ever since early elementary school. Often, I can cope. Sure, I'm horribly forgetful, I lose things constantly, I can never do homework or class work as needed... Why, even now, I'm supposed to be doing homework... But, that's beside the point. This sort of stuff has always been normal for me. However, there are these phases I get into, and it's absolutely horrendous. It's often when I'm overly stressed that it's at its worst point, but it can get pretty bad. It'll be bad enough to the point that all I can do in any of my classes is sketch and doodle and deliberately avoid all of my class work, whether I'm remorseful about it or not. Last term, I had a vital essay due in english, and the entire three weeks in which we were working on homework and class work to build on these essays, I didn't do a single one of the sheets of paper. Not to mention, each time I brought up Microsoft Word to even attempt to begin this assignment, I'd stare at the screen for a good twenty minutes, my mind either completely blank, racing, or just plain spacing out. I was finally able to force out a painfully hasty and disheveled excuse for an essay the night before it was due. God knows how I managed to get an A minus for it.
None of it was normal for me, though... I mean, Im a novelist. Or, rather, an aspiring novelist But, either way, I live for writing assignments, and I can more often than not crank them out in no time. As the stress ebbed away, I could more easily focus on my work, but my mind still remained very much cluttered, as per usual. I did well on last terms finals, but my grades were a mess before then. And I fear, now, that Im falling back into that pattern with this trimester. This is the easiest set of classes Ive ever had, and Im still struggling with this lack of attention. Im allowing my focus to slip, and my grades are just beginning to diminish accordingly.
I would like to be put on medication if it were only that simple. Ive spoken to my therapist about it, and she does want me to see a doctor if I truly feel I need to. My parents, too, are right behind me, promising theyll do what they can to help. I told them, however, not to worry about it for the time being. You see, I originally went to the doctor to talk about clinical depression and medication for that. She said that we should look into it, and we tried, but my mom cant for the life of her find a psychiatrist for me. The only ones are ungodly expensive. So, going back to my previous statement, I told her to hold off on it. I would hate for my parents to spend so much money on something I might not even need.
And now, I ask you. Is it vital that I get this checked out, whether or not itll take a lot to get an appointment? Ive been suffering through the frustration and misunderstanding of others for years, now, and Im beginning to realize that Id be far happier if I didnt have to. And, you know, theres also the depression issue and panic disorder and maybe something along the lines of BPD But, pay no heed. This entry is about ADD and ADD only. I just want to know if itll be worth it seeing a psychiatrist sooner or later.
Okay, I lied; I didn't have that many questions...
I wasn't diagnosed with ADD till about four years ago, but my psychiatrist wondered why I wasn't tested in my childhood. In retrospect, I did spend more time and effort on my schoolwork than the other kids, but I thought it was just the way I learned things. If there was something that I felt like I just couldn't do, no matter what, then I just quit. I dropped everything, basically, and stopped trying. For example, a class. I couldn't get this equation the way it was taught to me, so I gave up and failed the test. I'm actually good at math, so I think I understand what you're saying about having to crank out essays for school vs. writing prose leisurely. And I wasn't really upset or stressed about it... More numb and "over it" than anything else. My parents thought I was depressed because of my attitude, but it was really misplaced anxiety from not being able to focus
From my experience, I can say that being treated for ADD has definitely made a positive change on my life. Education will be the most influential and important part of your life, so don't let any barriers get in the way. Especially ones that are easily treatable. But this all depends on your insurance policy, I'm guessing your parent's though since you're only 15. Regardless, getting an appointment (depending on whether or not you already have a physician) can take weeks to months. You have to be carefully tested for ADD to be able to get the most common medications, because they are controlled substances, and that could take a while to process. All-in-all, it will take some time. And a lot of patience, but it will be worth it in the future.
And just to note, the treatments/meds used for BPD, depression and panic disorder are different from what is used for ADD. Be honest with your doctor with everything that you're telling us here, because it sounds like you sound be treated for ADD, not depression. I was mistakenly thought to be depressed, but I really was just silently suffering from ADD (and wasn't too happy about it!).
Good luck, let us know how you are!
But, again, I really only want answers. I do want this appointment and these tests, just to rule things out and know just what the hell's wrong with me! :]
Thank you for the advice. I'll be sure to speak with my parents about.
With ADD/ADHD, medication seems to be the the most successful route for most individuals who are suffering from it, because the help we need is complicated to understand. The main difficulty we have is the lack of focus and attention-span; our minds run a mile a minute and not always with the information that we want or need. The symptoms we have are not simply corrected or controlled-enough by the way we live our lives: limiting these so-called toxins you speak of, taking a ton of vitamins that you end up peeing out anyway. It can work for some people, but with what this girl is telling us, I think she should really take the chance to see the doctor about getting treated for ADD.
I agree that first a person should evaluate every option with the holistic, most natural ones first. But in this case, this girl has been struggling for a while. She knows what's going on with her body, but she's still struggles. She is smart enough to know that it's time to do something about it. From her posts, she looks to be rather intelligent and advanced for her age. She already has found her passion, writing, and is plagued by the thoughts of losing focus, again, because of this ADD. I know what it feels like to be limited by ADD, creatively, academically, socially.. It really does affect all parts of life.
Medication is a personal thing. Everyone here is saying no one NEEDS it. Need is relative. I won't live without it. I hate that drifting feeling. I can look at something, try to focus and know my mind is not engaged. I hate that. My sister and her kids refuse to take medication. They like how they are and one of them is like me...drifty. But we're quite functional. I think her kids (even the ADDer like me) are very productive because they were aware of their ADD/ADHD from an early age. I didn't get diagnosed until I was 40. Unlike my sister, I didn't realize anything was wrong. I just drifted through life.
Now I am woefully aware of the difference between me and others. A woman who worked for me in the Navy made a comment about my not being able to look at my pay on the computer then remember it until I got back to my desk. I had to write it down. I work retail and I see people remember what's on every aisle. Not me. Some aisles, but not all, and it's a chore.
I have found that i NEED medication for my anxiety, but i do not medication for my joints and fibro, supplements work better for that. My husband has found that he NEEDS medication for his bi-polar, but not for his ADD, reducing toxins worked just fine for him on that front.
everyone is different and benefits in different ways. our bodies are made of chemicals, our skin absorbs chemicals, we breath in chemicals and all chemicals cause reactions. if you are a person who is particularly sensitive to chemical reactions, than just limiting the amount that you are putting on your skin and breathing in can help a lot of people. there is no way to totally eliminate chemicals, but reducing it is possible. in the case of my son and i, it made a very large difference. in the case of my daughter and husband, it was a little more moderate, some people feel no difference. its just an option.
I did have a talk with my parents, and my mom left a message to set up an appointment with my pediatrician. So, I'm on the road to some sort of treatment. But it's not even just with school that I can tell I need something like this -- whatever your definition of "need" may be. Even when I have conversations with other people... I was talking about this with my friends just yesterday, and none of them said that the way I have conversations is normal. I explained that, when I listen to people talk, I zone out, go back and remember what the person just said a few moments ago, register that, go back and remember what they said while I was registering the thing they said before that, register it, and so on. When I listen, I don't actually listen... I just recall the words that I happened to catch while not listening. And I have just assumed that it was normal, my entire life. I've never put much thought into it. My friends say that it sounds horribly jumbled and confusing, and I guess it really is. I'm starting to wonder, what will happen if I can change that? Will I actually be capable of focusing on more than one conversation, let alone just one conversation at a time? I'm eager to find out.
So, yes, thank you guys for the opinions and the stories and whatnot. I'm glad you all seem to have found your coping mechanisms.
Whatever route you decide to go down, it will definitely lead to something positive. Good luck! You have a bright future ahead of you!