Does it sounds like I have ADHD?

[ricenoodle]

This has been playing on my mind for a while as I often see things online (social media or MN) about ADHD and really relate to them. If it's relevant, my brother has diagnosed ADHD (he was diagnosed as a child and is on medication for it).

Things that make me think I may have ADHD:

• I become seriously obsessed with things – like crazily obsessed – and then lose interest. I have cupboards full of things I've taken up at one point or another: pottery, beading, gel nails, etching, crochet, knitting, sewing, language books etc... When I take something up, I go all in – I buy everything I need (spending money I can't really afford to spend on tools, books, apps, classes, materials etc), prioritise doing the new hobby over other things like work, house chores, meeting up with friends, or even having lunch / showering; and spend hours at a time completely focused on doing that thing. Then I just suddenly lose interest and move onto the next thing. I'm really aware that this is something I do but it doesn't stop me from doing it. Friends often joke about what my latest obsession / hobby will be – although I don't think anyone realises the extent that I get obsessed. I don't know if it's relevant but I often pick these things up and become good at them quite quickly, and then just as quickly lose interest.
• Similarly, I find it really difficult to switch off and go to sleep even if I'm tired or have an important day the next day. I'll find myself reading or looking up something online in bed at 10pm and then before I know it it's 1am.
• I find it very difficult to focus on something like watching TV or a film without doing something with my hands. I took up knitting a few years ago (one of the few things I've stuck with!) and I always have 5 or 6 projects on the go. I find it really helpful to knit when I'm trying to focus on something else.
• I can be quite forgetful unless I force myself to be organised. E.g. I have a list of household chores that I have written down for each day of the week and I have to tick them off. If I don't do this, then they just pile up as I forget to do them or don't realise how long it's been since I've done them.
• I know I have a problem with impulsive shopping. It makes it really difficult to manage my finances.

Of course, these could all just be things that are totally unrelated to ADHD – but I do increasingly feel like I relate to the symptoms people describe (but then that could just be because more people are posting about it and so I'm more exposed to reading about it). I don't actually know what would change if I did know I had ADHD or what (if any) kind of treatment I would need/want? I guess I would hope to be able to be a bit more on top of general day-to-day things in life, or even just learn a bit more about it.

My AIBU – to think this is something I should maybe explore further, or is it just using something that is increasingly talked about online to try to explain neurotypical behaviours?

Any thoughts would be appreciated, either way!

It does sound like it. I have most of those traits and was diagnosed with ADHD quite late in life. It had never occurred to me until I started having difficulties with other things in life.

Once I understood the diagnosis it was actually really helpful in understanding my behaviour and how to deal with things - like getting obsessively into hobbies or buying things I don't really need but HAVE to have in that moment.

@ForKeenLimeOtter Thanks for sharing your experience! How did you end up being diagnosed? And are there any resources you used to understand your behaviour and how to manage it? I had a brief look today and it seems like getting diagnosed through the NHS can be a very long, drawn out process but I don't really have £1000+ to spend on a private diagnosis.. (I say despite having spent money I don't have this week on all sorts of things I don't need..)

Sounds a lot like me and I was diagnosed with ADHD a couple of years ago in my 40s. It’s worth looking in to assessment. One thing I would say is waiting lists are long, even private. Private assessments include the assessment itself, follow up appointments and private medication costs. Also if you start meds privately or with a private company through right to chose, lots of GPs aren’t agreeing to shared care at the moment because of the shortage of medication, so if you start paying privately you may be paying for a long while.
Having said all that, I’m so glad I know! It explains so much. I am medicated and it helps a lot. I had coaching through Access to work which has been really helpful. I did a uni course recently for work. In my undergrad, I struggled massively. With my diagnosis, equipment through access to work and on meds, I did really well! I got a first! I never got a first in my undergrad.
So yes it’s worth pursuing but it’s a long road.

You may have some traits, but can’t say if you have ADHD.
You focused really well for long enough to write a very long OP, if you did it in one sitting. Which would be a hint to me that your traits might not be strong enough to reach the level of a disorder.

I can hyperfocus for hours to the point I won’t even go to the loo or eat! ADHD is a bit of a misnomer - attention deficit. We have attention. It’s just not always where neurotypicals expect it to be focused! I’m mixed type - inattentive and hyperactive. It varies depending on circumstances.

If you think this is true, how do you imagine people with ADHD write university essays?

ADHD doesn't mean you can never focus long enough to write 500 words. It means you don't get to decide what you focus on most/any of the time.

I am diagnosed with ADHD- wasn’t even seeing the psychiatrist for ADHD when it happened,

I wrote Uni essays in bite size pieces over dozens of sittings, one flash card at a time.

ADHD is not just lack of control over of focus it is also inability to focus and both to the level that it adversely affects day to day living, work and school.

If it’s not impacting your life to the level of a disorder, then you have traits, but not the ADHDisorder.

Yes me too. Forced to hyperfocus for 30+ hrs straight at times.

Watching this with interest. It sounds very similar to me & I’ve been wondering lately if I have ADHD. The obsessions, the inability to switch off, if I get an idea in my head I want it done NOW!
To the outside world I seem like I have my life in order but in fact my head is a mess. I know there’s something different about me but I’ve become so good as masking that now I’m not even sure where the real me starts and stops.
I can’t see the point in trying to get an official diagnosis as there are such long waiting lists and I don’t think it would change anything for me anyway.

You sound exactly like me OP and I've wondered about myself at times too. Not enough to do anything about it yet though. My DH finds it really annoying that I can't just "relax".
One of my DC has been referred for assessment by school but waiting list is massive.
I think if DC is diagnosed it's probably more likely that I am. There's got to be a genetic element id have thought.

It's entirely possible!

For the past two days though I seem to be hyperfocused on researching ADHD... I'm also trying to write something for work at the moment and am managing in about 50 word chunks and am finding it almost impossible to get through.

I feel as if these symptoms have gotten a lot worse over the past 5 years, and they really are affecting my ability to work and manage finances properly. I'm having to write myself a list every day that tells me when to eat and shower to even attempt to get through days properly (I started doing this after I realised I had accidentally gone for three days without a shower a few months ago...) I don't think anyone I know would expect that of me – I think to most people I seem to have my life very much together and be really on top of things (as a PP said was the case for her too).

Give over. I did a degree and a masters and I have raging adhd. I have also written a book. Being able to write a few paragraphs does not mean you can't have adhd.

I feel exactly the same! I think I'm very good at masking and being what people expect me to be (which is actually very helpful in my job) but I've become increasingly away that I'm doing it. I also am not sure what the point of getting any kind of diagnosis is, but it is interesting to think about and may be learn more about so I can cope with certain behaviours more successfully

I have ADHD and I do every single thing you listed.

Exactly. Strangers can't diagnose over the Internet either

It’s not about “a label,” it’s about wondering if you should look into a diagnosis.

For me it's less about a label and more about finding out how I might be able to manage certain behaviours that make life a bit tricky at times. I'm not looking to label my behaviours so I can go around telling everyone I know I have ADHD. It's just about understanding.

Would you say that about depression, or cancer?

I'm also not after a diagnosis from MN – I'm asking about other people's experiences. If I feel like my experiences are similar to theirs then I would potentially look into getting a professional diagnosis. (From what I've read online, it's recommended that you do research symptoms etc before seeing a professional so that you can talk about your experiences and they can make a proper referral for diagnosis).

So you can learn more about how your brain works, and consult with a doctor about whether medication might be helpful.

You seem really hostile about this…

As above... the ability to find ways to understand and manage behaviours that make life tricky.