Do you have adult ADD/ADHD?

[Vipergrün]

Ok, so this is a bit of a personal post.....

History of depression in the family on my dads side.

My 19 year old son has ADD/ADHD and was finally diagnosed and began treatment at 17, and is a new person and a super kid.

I have been going thru some trippy stuff and trying to discern if its ADD, depression (sure there is some in there), or plain old mid-life crisis (yes I am that old)

After doing a lot of reading, I think I may have ADD and want to see a doc about it. It really becomes evident if I look back on my life.

So, are any of you willing to share your ADD experiences and what you are doing to help it?

Currently being treated for hypothyroidism, which my be playing a part as well.

Anyway, thanks for your thoughts.

-Brad

[speeder]

Hey Brad, Glad to hear about your son, what did they wind up treating him with? (If you don't mind saying). I have never been formally diagnosed, but I am 100% sure that I have ADD and depression issues. The depression has been under control quite well for the last ten years or so, but has reared its ugly head this year as work slowed down and I have too much time to think. Life is all about action and staying occupied, IMO, when I'm busy I don't have time to think about myself excessively.

The ADD and depression are related because the ADD has severely cramped my success in certain areas of life at times and that leads to depression. I am determined to fight it w/ a combination of exercise and diet + counseling and staying busy. By all means look into it and have a fearless attitude about exploring your psyche, ie. really looking into those dark places and confronting your fears and anxieties head on. Everyone has their unique challenges in life, the only difference is the way that we deal w/ them. (Or not). Best of luck, buddy!

P.S.: How is Colorado? Doing some cool outdoorsy stuff I hope?

[Vipergrün]

Thanks for the reply Denis. My son is on Adderol. He's was diagnosed a couple of years ago after years of his mom not listening to anyone who tried to bring it up. Better late than never.

Colorado is nice, certainly a change. I miss CA much more than I thought. Between the move and other life events, it's really no wonder I am having issues I am doing martial arts for excercise and working a really oddball shift as you can see....I am "working" right now!

I am talking with a counselor but have a feeling it will take more.

[Jims5543]

Yes, and I keep puttin goff treatment much to the dismay of my wife, coworkers and some friends.

I catch myself wandering off all the time in conversation, I used to be a really good person to sit and talk to and now I am a trainwreck or better, a 3 ring circus.

I met Procon for a beer one night and I knew I was wandering off and was trying like hell to stay with him.

My brother in law (who also works with me gets really frustrated as does my wife, they deal with me the most. My brother in law is funny he will stop talking in mid sentance and just walk away from me.

It has affected a lot of my ability to follow through on a task. I was diagnosed with Hyperactivity (before they actually discerned or defined ADD) when I was 4 years old and battled it all the way up to my teens. It seemed to go away when I was about 15 or so. Not in my Mid to late 30's it has started to become unmanageable.

If I really fight with myself and force myself I can sit and finish tasks but it is a huge fight. This is generally not an issue if I am doing manual labor but, when I have to sit and perform a task its hellish.

I guess after typing this I sgould really look into treatement. I have been trying to deny it and pretend I am o.k. Every once in a while something happens that makes me think I am really jacked up. Other times I feel like I can fight it and manage it.

[Jims5543]

BTW- They (the Doctors) drugged the crap out of me when I was 4 and it brok emy parents hearts to see me in a semi catatonic state. My mother started to read tons of books on the subject and found out diet could be a factor. She put me on a all natural food diet, no artificial color or flavor and no candy and from what I was told it turned me around 180°.

My mom could tell in a second if I had eaten something I wasn't supposed to. I would blink a lot and be a total mess not being able to sit down to do homework and bouncing all over the place.

We actually managed it all those years with diet. Remember too this was in the late 60's-80's there was really no Natural Food to be had int he 60's, at least mainstream and we were pretty poor so going to a hippy nature store where everything was 3X the price was out of the question. Mom made a lot of food for me herself.... I need to give her a special hug next time I see her.

[Vipergrün]

Jim, I know what you mean about the "jacked up" part. I am there now, hence my post. I'm a bit freaked, so I guess I had better get an absolute diagnosis. I appreciate your post.

[dhoward]

On the other hand, is this really a disease or a condition that put you outside of the currently 'acceptable norm'? Is it the case of a drug looking for a disease?

Wanna ride bikes?

[Vipergrün]

ummmm, define 'normal'

[dhoward]

You know, television normal.
Whatever we see on the magic box is what we're supposed to be.
I'm not saying there's not something seriously wrong with you , I just wonder if we as a society aren't over-analysed and over-medicated...

My kitty's breath smell like cat food....

[sammyg2]

Will all due respect, here's my take on the whole ADD thing (which i think is a scam):

Both of my kids were diagnosed with ADD by two so called professionals that were totally full of *****. My kids did not have ADD or anything like that at all. All 5 of my nieces and nephews were diagnosed with it when they were 5, guess what? None of them have any disorder or anything. They turned out just fine because we did not give them a reason to be a screw up. The BS spewing medical idiots either didn't know what they were talking about or they were just after some more money.

I would like to see a study done to find out how many kids (or adults) that are evaluated for ADD are actually diagnosed as NOT having a disorder. I'd bet that number would be very small.
They are not going to say there's nothing wrong will a kid, that would be taking money out of their pocket. Almost everyone who gets evaluated is diagnosed as having ADD to some extent.
I'd estimate that 90% of all people diagnosed with ADD don't have it, and those that do have it (if it exists at all) should not be told that they do.

Oh great, I can be a screw up all my life because I have an excuse, a get of jail free card. My parents told me I have ADD so I don't have to try, I don't have to be sucessfull at anything, I don't have to stay out of trouble, I can be a POS my whole life and it isn't my fault.

I would never do that to a kid.

Life is hard for everyone, not just for us or our kids. We need to get in there are work hard at it. Most of the time a good swift kick in the pants will do more for a kid than an excuse or medication.

[GDSOB]

Come to think of it - after I have my 4th or 5th cup of coffee for the day, I begin to lose concentration...

[bivenator]

Sammyg2 that is an interesting take on the whole ADD thing. I believe that ADD is real. I work with a psychiatrist imaging children diagnosed with ADD. It is possible to "see" the over active areas of the brain that are associated with ADD/ADHD/OCD/bipolar/schizo. I will agree that many children are misdiagnosed. It is definately a problem. Seek help from a qualified doc.
Do you mind sharing more info about your experiences with your kids and nieces. What were the symptoms/reasons they were diagnosed. THe meds prescribed and how the situation was resolved

[scottmandue]

My problem is that everyone else is crazy.

But me? I'm chainsaw monkey wrench washing machine carburetor fine.

[Evans, Marv]

Being older and able to look back on my life aways farther back, I came to believe I had ADD as a youngster and to some extent throughout my life. As a kid, I was overactive (developed a mild case of Osgood Slauter's [Sp.?] disease as a result) and had trouble dwelling on anything for long. In elementary school I was one of the kids the teachers drew straws to see who got me in class. In the 5th grade, I would take over the class from the teacher. She finally got mad enough to hit me on the head with her paddle (back in the day when teachers could use them - cracked the paddle too). What kind of helped me was the fact the I could go out for sports starting in the 6th grade. I could use football, basketball & track to burn up energy,and this continued through high school. Also, in the last two years of high school, I worked 4 days a week at night loading semi trucks at a dairy. This along with sports, skiiing, diving and girlfriends helped burn up energy.
As somebody else said earlier, I think it prevented me from achieving as much as I could career-wise. I was always pushing things to the edge (and still do to some extent) and living that way, because I didn't get enough action otherwise. To this day, I can hardly stand to say inside and not move around much. Guess I'm lucky to be faced with more than I have time to do. But, I'm wondering how I will feel if that situation ever comes to an end, although I can always concentrate on physical activities more. I often wonder if medication would have helped when I was young, especially in school to concentrate and pay more attention.

[FrayAdjacent911]

what were we talking about?

[Jims5543]

Sammy to an extent I agree with you. Hence my not wanting to go to a doctor. Doctors today just want to prescribe the next new drug to you and send you on your way, its all bout the 5 minute office visit these days.

I refuse to have some clown start me on drugs so I fight a battle every day to try to concentrate on my work and get it done.


I know for a fact there was something wrong with me growing up. Maybe I was indeed ADD or Hyperactive as they put it. I had a lot of trouble learning in elementry school and did not actually start to be able to read until 2nd grade. I was always behind the other kids and I thank god now the teachers pushed me through. Once I got to middle school it started to click and I could concentrate long enough to grasp enough to get by. Once in High School I was able to sit and do my homework for the next class while I listened to the teacher lecture on the topic of the day. I was a B student in HS and never did any homework at home and never studied for tests.

In my 20's and early 30's I worked as a drafter and was a machine pulling 12 hour shifts with barely a break. I could do the work of 2 people.

I got my business off the ground working outside as a land surveyor all day and doing my own drafting all night. Never needing a break.

Then in my late 30's I started having problems sitting down and tackling a task. I am at war with myself trying to keep my mind on one place, it is everywhere.

If Procon sees this he can attest, he was talking to me and I disapeared while sitting in front if him. I know he could tell but was polite and did not say anything. I had no clue what he just said to me, how wacked out is that? When I came back I realized he was waiting for a response from me and I felt like a fool having no clue what he just said.

My wife gats sick of it too I just check out and start running something through my mind, it can be anything from trying to remember if I did something, to thinking about my last track day session and how I was hitting turns to something someone said to me a week ago that I decided to recall at that moment that had nothing to do with the matter at hand. I cannot control it it just takes over my mind like I have lost control of it. I am aware of what just happened and that I blanked out. Sometimes I am not so aware but can tell by the look on the persons face that was talking to me.

My brother in law is classic, he will walk away, sometimes I will not even realize I blew him off like that and it will take me 10 minutes to say to myself, Hey Scott was trying to tell me something and I will go to him and ask what he wanted. He just shakes his head.

If you are not going through this you have no clue how frustrating it is.

I only gave examples of conversation situations, sitting down to do something alone is an adventure, 3 ring circus is a perfect description.

[sammyg2]

My kids and nieces and nephews were examined while in kindergarden or 1st grade at the recommendation of a "professional" who was visiting the schools and interviewing teachers. Basically trying to drum up business. Although I can't prove it we have some circumstantial evidence that these people pay a fee to the schools for every student that is diagnosed and treated.
The occurances were spread out over 15 years or more. Evidently it is a common practice around here. I found out later after talking to other parents, a high percentage of all the kids in the classes were identified as requiring further diagnosis, it looks like about half based on what i could find out. Behind my back my wife took my kids in for an evaluation. Bla bla bla, they recommended all kinds of medication and treatments. I said BS, there is nothing wrong with these kids and I refused to allow any medications or treatments. Nothing except love and discipline and long talks.
I was right, they do not have a "disorder" and never did. They are on the honor role and have exemplary records as far as behaving themselves in school. They are very well behaved and well adjusted, happy kids.
The story of my three Brother's kids is almost identical.
Like I said, I'd guess that they use those visits to local schools like spam, they tell almost everyone that their kids need special care. If a kid shows even a slight bit of energy or free spirit, he is red flagged.
If they only get a few to actually swallow the BS they build their business and get rich.
This happened in both public and private schools.

Of course I and other parents got together and decided to stop this crap but we couldn't get very far with it, seems every single piece of information was considered as confidential medical records and we couldn't get anything without a court order. They can do anything they want and it's completely secret.

[pmajka]

i do have it,(mildly) i have always had it, my son has it worse, and my dad definetly has it.

i was never diagnosed clinicly, ***** i really just lost my train of thought here.

Oh yeah...My wife called it CRS (cant remember *****), mom called it selective hearing. Hey, does that mean i get a disabled tag for my porsche?

[Vipergrün]

I totally agree that there is waaaayyy too much over diagnosis. I also think the diagnoses are being done waaayyy too young as well. However, having lived this way for so many years, I can say that "something" is just not right. Additionally, things were just not right for my son either. All I know is that there was a literal night and day difference for him after getting some special Summer classes and taking meds. I do not want to have to pop a pill, but damn it, if my chemistry is whacked, like my dads is, then so be it.

Thanks for the responses, I really appreciate it!

[dhoward]

sometimes I think modern chemistry is a bane. And just MHO.