Anyone with ADD fancy a chat ??

[recall]

I have recently realised that I have it but don't know anyone else who has it that I can talk it. i have many mixed emotions right now...

[ExpatAgain]

i think i may do - my mind leaps around all over the place, always has. have got thro university and various other courses but always struggled to fulfil my potential, often falling at final hurdle due to distraction. am currently meant to be studying which is why i've been on MN so much this past week [embarrassed]

how did you find out? there's family history with me which made me first question my own situation. Reading around it a bit convinced me rather but never sought medication/medical advice etc. Makes me think of that desperate housewives episode years ago when Lynette took her ds's ritalin! would be tempted, if we had any! though currently insomnia/coffee getting me thro a study night.

[recall]

I was reading a thread on here about being organised, and someone said to OP, check you havn't got ADD and I thought so I googled it, and it was just a description of me and my life.

I read my old school report and it went "Jane was doing extremely well in her A level Art until she lost a years worth of course work, then she lost interest"

I have started numerous courses and left just near the end. I couldn't hold down a job for more than about 3 months, the routine drove me insane.

Luckily now I have found my niche, and I specialise in something which earns me a fair amount. I think this is to do with the hyperfocus aspect of ADD. It all makes so much sense now.

I am going to the GP to see if I can get a diagnosis and hopefully some treatment. I don't understand how it is treated with stimulants, but it seems to work. I have been self medicating without realising it with caffeine, nicotine and alcohol and food for years.

I went on a web site, forum thingy and there many students on there, and some of them self medicate in order to study, they say that they went from D to A grades when they did because enabled them to focus.

What course are you on ?

How old are you ?

I am 41, I am a Nurse.

[recall]

Ethadrine seemed to be the one they used.

[recall]

I would self medicate, but I am already taking anti anxiety (another ADD symptom) so I need something that is compatible with it. I just use an electric ciggi for my nicotine and lots of black coffee and dark chocolate.

[recall]

Do you feel creative ? I identify with the mind leaping, it is ridiculous.

[ExpatAgain]

hello! yes, to creativity (though unchannelled), yes to dark choc, strong coffee, wine, sometimes food..(though i guess that would be thousands of women w/o ADD too!).

I got thro uni on pro-plus/coffee/sweets/alcohol although that was years and years ago now..I do think i could do with something to help me now. It's a masters course I'm doing, quite demanding and relies solely on me to motivate myself.

I can imagine specialist nursing would be a good match - utterly involving/demanding job that consumes you, few idle moments. I've tended to be office-based in my more recent roles and have found on-going projects difficult at times. don't know in my case what is ADD/what is idleness/lack of discipline..all same outcome so hard to say..It's also so unrecognised in adults (and still rather unaccepted in kids). i've only ever met one other woman who admitted she had the same - we had a lot in common but now live on different continents!

[ExpatAgain]

yes to anxiety, yes to failing to complete many a course (though please not this one). about to google ethadrine..

[InvaderZim]

Yes, diagnosed at 17 (in America) but suspected since I was 8 but not hyperactive so not medicated. Been a lot better since Ritalin for a year when 17, learned a lot of coping skills!

[Molehillmountain]

Oh my goodness-googled add for dd the other day and found a pen portrait of myself. Not sure what I'd anything to do with it yet, but does help to have some kind of explanation for the way I am. Makes me remain determined to be better still, but relieves me of a bit of guilt and self loathing.

[recall]

I have designed my work to suit me. I travel throughout the UK offering my service privately to people at their house. I am in Heaven. I make the appointments (to suit me and my family) and it entails driving round the country.....alone......no radio. I can stop when I like and have a rest, I am my own boss. No colleagues, and every day is totally different.

The only routine I have is the kid's school and pre school which i just about manage, although often I forget to do packed lunches or wash PE kits etc.

EXpat you are doing SO well with your Masters course. I believe that us undiagnosed adult ADD ers have to learn such good coping skills that if we were medicated will become super human

[bitsnbobs]

Hi,

I have ADHD and been diagnosed six months ago. I started on Concerta and it has changed my life.
I have just started at college and am finding it difficult though as my concentration is not great afte an hour lecture!
Would love to chat with others in the same boat. I am starting an ADHD support group up in the north so if anyone is interested aswell message me :)
The one thing that drives me mad at the mo are the amount of paperwork the children bring home from school, I try and stay on top of it but inevitably forget a slip of paper or a project due in.

[ThePinkPussycat]

I think I have it, and also AS. These are self-diagnoses, but I am pretty confident. I have an actual diagnosis of bi-polar, but the main symptom is lack of motivation, which then leads to depression. I have never been manic except when in the past I have od'd on cannabis. Since then I have reduced the cannabis as much as I can, but find it is the only thing that realiably gets me wanting to do things, even a tiny bit helps. I spoke to my psychiatrist about my suspicions and asked to be referred for re-evaluation, but he pooh-poohed me. FFS, I'm the one who has lived with being me for 59 years! Standard medication for mildish bi-polar has never helped, just worsened or had no effect, however I do take a small daily dose of antidepressant.

I hate routine, am good at studying, repeatedly failed to hold down a job as I always get depressed (or into conflict with superiors, I think that's the AS) Exams and deadlines get me into the zone, but then I burn out. The housework has been a bane, it would get way beyond me, then I would blitz and burn out, Flylady has helped with this, though modified because of my aversion to routine.

bitsnbobs where are you? There is a support group in Newcastle, though it's a bit too far for me to go.

[bitsnbobs]

I am in Cheshire.

ThePinkPussycat - I take ADD meds and an antidepressant and that seems to keep me on an even keel. Just the anti-dep didn't do work. Print out a list of the symptoms of ADD and take it with you to the Drs and ask for a referral. There is a long wait though unless you go private.

I have tried Flylady but am either really motivated and do it all for a week or forget about it. I have a junk cupboard that everything gets chucked in when it gets too much!

[asdevil]

I've always thought I had it, but since DS has been under observation for ASD, I'm thinking I have that too.

Apparently, it is very common to be diagnosed with both.

So, I am untidy, disorganised, little concentration, impatient and irritable with zero social skills to boot.

Everytime I attempt to tidy up, I look at the mess, and get completely overwhelmed

I get bored when sticking to routines (ADD) but if I don't stick to one, I end up with insomnia (ASD)

I also have a social phobia :(

[Awayinamangercooper]

Possibly me - I've just been referred to consultant psychiatrist for ADD diagnosis. Pretty scared that if they don't diagnose ADD there's no hope for me. I'd be interested to hear experiences of being assessed.

[ThePinkPussycat]

Further to my post above, I did say I was prepared to go private, but my psychiatrist has not followed up on this. I'm on ads now, and back under GP care, however psych asked if I wanted an apptmt to see how I'm getting on, so I'm going! Since I have started divorcing stbx my mental health has improved greatly, ADD is useful when I'm in a switched on state, so has helped me prepare case for financial settlement, and I do think so much of my depression was down to my marriage [and possibly, my marriage and my persistence with my marriage is down to AS and ADD] I am stressed, but it is stress without depression :)