Hey guys, people have always occasionally asked me if I have ADD/ADHD, and I've always just kinda blown it off. However, the girl I'm 'seeing' now also has ADHD and asked me if I have ADHD cuz she thought that I might. So I've been thinking about it and I think theres a possiblity that I might have ADHD. How would I go about getting diagnosed for this? Anyone here have ADHD?
Adhd
- Thread starter Kourt
- Start date
Doctormad
Don Juan
Its not official yet but I am in the process of getting "officially" diagnosed with ADD. I think someone said that ADD was the most overdiagnosed mental disorder in the last 20 years, and to that extent I agree with them. Most people have ADDlike symptoms but not necessarily have the disorder. Those who do have the disorder, find it really hard to concentrate, are often disorganized and loose things.
Here is a website that has some of the criterea for ADD/ADHD
http:////www.newideas.net/diagnosis.htm
My best advice is go to your doctor and tell him you think you show some of the symptoms of ADD. Be careful though, a lot of doctors pass off ADD as a "fake" disorder (trust me, from someone that has it so severe he can barely work, its not fake). If he does pass it off as not a real disorder then I would go to a different doctor til you find one that is at least knowledgeable about it.
Here is a link to an ADD messageboard. It has lots of information about ADD, and how to deal with it.
http://www.addforums.com/forums/
Good luck
Here is a website that has some of the criterea for ADD/ADHD
http:////www.newideas.net/diagnosis.htm
My best advice is go to your doctor and tell him you think you show some of the symptoms of ADD. Be careful though, a lot of doctors pass off ADD as a "fake" disorder (trust me, from someone that has it so severe he can barely work, its not fake). If he does pass it off as not a real disorder then I would go to a different doctor til you find one that is at least knowledgeable about it.
Here is a link to an ADD messageboard. It has lots of information about ADD, and how to deal with it.
http://www.addforums.com/forums/
Good luck
diablo
Master Don Juan
How old are you? I was labeled as having ADHD at about 12, but I believe that they gave me the diagnosis simply because there was no other reasonable explanation as to why a 12 year old would be making napalm in the garage, hacking into the school network to set pornography as the background for each school computer, and having phone-sex operators calling his home to talk after work.
In any event, I can honestly say that being diagnosed with ADHD was the best thing that ever happened to me. Now, I get adderall on a monthly basis, and even though I don't really need it, it definitely helps when I have tests or mid-terms.
Now, on to your situation. If you're over 16 years old, and you haven't been diagnosed with it already, the odds are good that you don't have it. Psychologists and psychiatrists today are so eager to diagnose any extra energy that someone might have as being "ADD" or "ADHD" that virtually anybody can "have the disease". The fact that it was your girlfriend who told you that you probably have it leads me to the conclusion that you don't. If you did, you would know it. Your parents would know it. Your school would more than likely know it - if for no other reason but the fact that you couldn't sit still for more than 2 minutes at a time.
In short, you probably don't have ADD/ADHD. You might be a little hyper, but who isn't? Now, if you want to get on adderall and have a super study aid, or a diet pill on steroids, then by all means schedule a visit with your friendly mental health care professional. Otherwise, just tell your girlfriend that if you have ADHD, you're completely happy and functioning, and to leave you the hell alone.
Cheers.
In any event, I can honestly say that being diagnosed with ADHD was the best thing that ever happened to me. Now, I get adderall on a monthly basis, and even though I don't really need it, it definitely helps when I have tests or mid-terms.
Now, on to your situation. If you're over 16 years old, and you haven't been diagnosed with it already, the odds are good that you don't have it. Psychologists and psychiatrists today are so eager to diagnose any extra energy that someone might have as being "ADD" or "ADHD" that virtually anybody can "have the disease". The fact that it was your girlfriend who told you that you probably have it leads me to the conclusion that you don't. If you did, you would know it. Your parents would know it. Your school would more than likely know it - if for no other reason but the fact that you couldn't sit still for more than 2 minutes at a time.
In short, you probably don't have ADD/ADHD. You might be a little hyper, but who isn't? Now, if you want to get on adderall and have a super study aid, or a diet pill on steroids, then by all means schedule a visit with your friendly mental health care professional. Otherwise, just tell your girlfriend that if you have ADHD, you're completely happy and functioning, and to leave you the hell alone.
Cheers.
I might be able to offer some help.
I was diagnosed as "hyperactive" when I was younger, and I am now convinced that I suffer from attention deficit disorder too. I haven't had that diagnosis confirmed, as I don't know who to even ask about it. But I've been searching for solutions for years. I tried meditation, but my mind wandered too much. I tried reading books on the subject, but I've always had trouble taking anything in from reading. The audio programs I listened to offered nothing, except lots of case studies and no solution. It can be a right pain as a student too as it takes me forever to read what I need, I miss a lot of important stuff during lectures and it takes me forever to write an essay.
Well, for the last month I have been working on speed reading and exercising my peripheral vision. I've never heard of it being used as a solution to ADHD, but to my surprise, my mind is stiller and more focused than it has ever been! I'm reading books on a daily basis, within a matter of hours and without distraction.
First of all, try this exercise...
* Stare at a single point on the wall and don't move your eyes.
* Without moving your eyes from the point, try to "see" anything to your right, then left, then above, then below. It won't be in focus, but you should have an awareness of anything there.
* Repeat 3 times.
* Now do the same thing in a clockwise motion, becoming aware of things surrounding your focus.
* Repeat and try the same anti-clockwise.
* You are now aware of your peripheral vision, so at certain points during the day, tune into your periphery. As you are walking somewhere, instead of focusing on what is in front of you, concentrate on what is in your peripheral vision.
With practice, you should find this helps calm the chaos in your head. It's also very useful for speed reading, and apparently that's the only effective way for ADHD and dyslexia sufferers to read.
Other tips I'll offer is to cut down on caffeine, nicotine and any stimulants as much as possible. Get into a good sleeping pattern. Cut down on pastry, bread and stodgy food, as digestion tends to deprives the brain of blood/oxygen. Also, try taking omega oil on a regular basis. These things help considerably!
Hope this helps!
I was diagnosed as "hyperactive" when I was younger, and I am now convinced that I suffer from attention deficit disorder too. I haven't had that diagnosis confirmed, as I don't know who to even ask about it. But I've been searching for solutions for years. I tried meditation, but my mind wandered too much. I tried reading books on the subject, but I've always had trouble taking anything in from reading. The audio programs I listened to offered nothing, except lots of case studies and no solution. It can be a right pain as a student too as it takes me forever to read what I need, I miss a lot of important stuff during lectures and it takes me forever to write an essay.
Well, for the last month I have been working on speed reading and exercising my peripheral vision. I've never heard of it being used as a solution to ADHD, but to my surprise, my mind is stiller and more focused than it has ever been! I'm reading books on a daily basis, within a matter of hours and without distraction.
First of all, try this exercise...
* Stare at a single point on the wall and don't move your eyes.
* Without moving your eyes from the point, try to "see" anything to your right, then left, then above, then below. It won't be in focus, but you should have an awareness of anything there.
* Repeat 3 times.
* Now do the same thing in a clockwise motion, becoming aware of things surrounding your focus.
* Repeat and try the same anti-clockwise.
* You are now aware of your peripheral vision, so at certain points during the day, tune into your periphery. As you are walking somewhere, instead of focusing on what is in front of you, concentrate on what is in your peripheral vision.
With practice, you should find this helps calm the chaos in your head. It's also very useful for speed reading, and apparently that's the only effective way for ADHD and dyslexia sufferers to read.
Other tips I'll offer is to cut down on caffeine, nicotine and any stimulants as much as possible. Get into a good sleeping pattern. Cut down on pastry, bread and stodgy food, as digestion tends to deprives the brain of blood/oxygen. Also, try taking omega oil on a regular basis. These things help considerably!
Hope this helps!