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Mental health

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Original poster

Any other Mums with ADD/ADHD?

29 replies

bitsnbobs · 12/09/2011 13:51

Was just wondering if there are any other mumsnetters with ADD/ADHD. I got diagnosed a month ago and suddenly everything I have been struggling so hard with made sense!

I am waiting medication at the moment and am not working as I am on ESA for anxiety. I would love to know what a difference medication made to your daily life. I am hoping that it will help me with getting organised particularly with the house (even flylady does not help much!), my driving and for me to be able to stick to a degree course so I can finish it.

I have just finished reading Sari Soldens book on Women With ADD and I could see myself in every page from the descriptions of being at school to the effect on relationships.

Hope i'm not the only one!

OP posts:

gigglegirlsdream · 25/09/2011 20:20

ive got adhd :o

maddy68 · 29/09/2011 21:14

me too! so has my son

BakeliteBelle · 30/09/2011 12:41

Hi. Not diagnosed but wondered whether there is an initial online test for ADD (not really ADHD) that is recognised. I'm also interested in how you got official diagnosis in adulthood bitsnbobs. Have always struggled with lots of ADD-type stuff and scored very highly on online test I found. It said 'go and see your doctor immediately'! Of course, I didn't! One of DD's teachers suggested she might have ADD

pdb · 30/09/2011 13:14

Ive been wondering this too. Online tests saying both son and I have it but then again have we? I think you just have to go to the gp if youre having real problems and hopefully get tested that way.

BeckyBendyLegs · 30/09/2011 13:33

I've just done a test online, completely honestly, just out of curiosity as I have never ever thought ever that I might have any degree of ADD as I don't even know much about it, and it came out as 80 and it replied with: 'It is highly likely that you are presently suffering from adult attention deficit disorder, according to your responses on this self-report questionnaire. You should not take this as a diagnosis of any sort, or a recommendation for treatment. However, it would be advisable and likely beneficial for you to seek further diagnosis from a trained mental health professional immediately.' Hmmm. Really?

annoyingdevil · 30/09/2011 13:51

Yes, I always score 100% on online tests, was an odd ball at school as well, day dreaming, rocking in my chair, fidgeting, that kind of thing. My son is also showing signs, although DD seems normal.

Not convinced that ADHD/ADD is an actual condition, I suspect that people with it could have a particular non-conformist personality type, that doesn't fit in with rules and regulations (I can sure as dammit concentrate when I need to)

pdb · 30/09/2011 13:52

I got 80 too... maybe if you suffer from one mental illness or another you'll get similar results. I think a lot of these things cross over.

BeckyBendyLegs · 30/09/2011 14:00

I was an odd ball too and concentration is a real issue with me unless I am really interested in what it is (I work freelance and should not be even on here right now!). I had problems concentrating at school but somehow managed to get all my GCSEs, A levels, etc. I am a total figiter, drives people mad in the cinema (actually don't like going to the cinema as I get so bored and restless). I can't just watch TV in the evening, much to DH's distress, I have to be doing something else at the same time. I'm constantly on the go, can't cope with boredom, have to have at least five projects on the go, always looking for more. My head is always full of ideas, thoughts, etc. But never, ever, ever considered that it was anything other than just being 'me'. Ho hum. I agree with what annoyingdevil says - there are people who are just like this, 'odd balls'! I like being a bit odd.

YourCallIsImportant · 30/09/2011 14:12

Weird or what? I just posted a thread about this earlier today here

How did you managed to get assessed? My GP laughed me out of the surgery when I mentioned it.

YourCallIsImportant · 30/09/2011 14:13

Haha Becky, I'm freelance too and should be working!

BeckyBendyLegs · 30/09/2011 14:17

Mumsnet is really, really bad for freelancers!

YourCallIsImportant · 30/09/2011 14:37

I know, there's always someone to talk to

annoyingdevil · 30/09/2011 17:41

Becky that's just reminded me of something! Have any of you ever sat in a cinema and not taken in a single word of the film? I've done this so many times as my mind is just jumping around all over the place, complete waste of a ticket

BeckyBendyLegs · 30/09/2011 18:08

Oh gosh, I don't think so, not to that extent at least, but I'm often watching Dr Who or something, or a film, or Torchwood at home with DH and I think 'crumbs I have no idea what the plot is' and have to ask him (really a bit annoying for him, poor DH). My mind is often elsewhere. I think I'm just the sort of person who cannot concentrate on one thing alone.

Original poster

bitsnbobs · 30/09/2011 18:38

To get diagnosed I had to wait a year to see an ADHD specialist Psych, then have a consultation and fill in a questionnaire as did my mother and ex-partner. It was not an easy process and not like an online questionnaire!

Maddy68 - glad its not just me then

I am definately an "oddball" I could cope with being a bit eccentric but when my life was being ruined by my ADHD I knew I had to get help. The main issues I have problems with are forgetting/losing things, cannot keep house in any order,lack of concentration (I had 3 car accidents last year), sacked from job (worked in a cafe and got orders wrong/couldn't remember how to use the till ect). The biggest effect it had on my life was my partner leaving as he could just not get his head around my behaviour

I thought everyone struggled like I did and just hid it. I had no idea until my son experienced problems at school and the teachers were concerned.

Re Cinema, even though i love Harry Potter I just couldn't sit through the whole film it went on so bloody long!

OP posts:

AmaraDresden · 30/09/2011 19:18

I was diagnosed as a late teen by a psychiatrist. I constantly forget things, even daily teeth brushing is a problem, along with losing house keys, poor do regularly has to leave work to let me into the house. The housework is my biggest issue, and something that causes continual problems between do and I. I can concerntrate better on things that interest me, like reading, but it can be a real struggle when I have something I'm particularly stressed about. I have obsessions, and have lost track of the hobbies I've taken up for a while and then suddenly dropped one day to never bother again.

It is hard to be a mother, I consistantly forget to do things that I should, like putting cream on ds1's eczema. I usually feel like a failure at least daily.

My friend's love me for who I am and I'm so incredibly lucky to know them, but it's not until the past couple of years that I've understood myself better and realised just how it really does effect my life and the lives of my family.

It's always nice to know I'm not alone so I am pleased to see this thread.

AmaraDresden · 30/09/2011 19:21

Bits, I totally understand where you are coming from, you've got a reason now, should help a little xx

Original poster

bitsnbobs · 01/10/2011 11:30

AmaraDresden, I can totally relate to the feeling like a failure! The amount of times my poor ds's have gone into school without p.e kit or gone in with a fancy dress outfit on the wrong day! I recently forgot about an appt for my ds at the school with na occupational therapist and her and the teacher were sat waiting for me. Last week I got to the school an hour early to pick the children up, I thought it was a bit quiet

As for the hobbies I always have a "thing" on the go. So far I have got through Cross Stitch (brought all the paraphenalia from Hobby Craft), jogging , flylady, and at the moment it is going to the gym. At least its a healthy one though.

I really hope the medication will help. It does help having a reason like you said and I am glad I am not alone.

OP posts:

AmaraDresden · 01/10/2011 12:44

I'm med free apart from anti-ds, due to a family history of psychosis making them very reluctant to give me anything like ritalin.

Lol I've turned up at school an hour early in the morning before, pe kits luckily stay there when I actually remember to.send them in, appointments are always a nightmare, drs, dentist, meeting up with friends, vaccinations, you name it and I've missed it lol. I've walked out the house in slippers and pjs too, I go into town for something and don't remember it. I once went every day for lightbulbs for 10th days running before I got them!

Original poster

bitsnbobs · 02/10/2011 09:28

I am on anti-d's also and am a bit worried about the interaction with ADHD meds.

I have also done the slipper school run . I will go to the supermarket and buy random stuff we need and come home and realise I have forgot the basics like bread and milk!

I find it hard to keep the house in any state of organisation. If I can't see something like a school form or overdue library book it just goes out of my mind. I feel embarassed if anyone were to come to the house unexpected and I have not been able to run round and chuck stuff in the cupboards.

Hope you don't mind me asking if you work and if so if it is a struggle. I would love to go back to work but I am scared of how I would cope when I am finding it hard at the moment just to stay on top of the house and children.

OP posts:

AmaraDresden · 02/10/2011 09:59

I'be not worked since before I had children, but I'm trying to get back into work now slowly, I will be volunteering in a month or two after I'm in the swing of things with a course I'm doing to help DS1, atm the course is my priority tho. I am finding that requiring so much effort, it's shocking how much the ADHD effected me during the classes. It's been so long since I was at school or college and I just wasn't expecting it.

Original poster

bitsnbobs · 02/10/2011 19:32

I can understand, I tried doing an OU course and gave up both times. I am not qualified to do a job at the moment, my last job was in a cafe and I found that difficult due to how busy it would get.

My goal is to go back to college and complete a qualification, at the moment I volunteer in a school so I would love to do TA training. If I could just get my brain to cooperate!

OP posts:

AmaraDresden · 03/10/2011 21:40

That's wonderful! I find it very difficult to get into routines, but once I do I tend to stick to them well, like the school run, I was late most of the time in the morning for the first 18 months but now I have it covered and I'm so pleased. I think going back to work can be Luke that, we just need patience shown and we can get there.

AmaraDresden · 03/10/2011 21:41

*like - silly autocorrect on my phone!

BakeliteBelle · 12/10/2011 08:08

I have just ordered the Sari Solden book (I meant to do it straight away but forgot!!).

Any other books that any of you would recommend? I would especially appreciate a book that contains practical strategies for managing the disorganised mind.

Thanks

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