ADHD Adhd??

[kerrence]

Does anyone here have adult ADHD, if so could you help me?? Im thinking of looking into whether I have it as I have looked up signs and symptoms and a lot appear to apply to me. I am finding university hard recently and I think it may have something to do with ADHD if I even have it. maybe I am making excuses for myself. But I was looking into adult ADHD because I am studying psychology and the current topics are not so interesting so I was doing research of my own and when I cam across this I immediatly became excited. If I do have ADHD I can fix the problems Im having, or at least learn to deal with them better, below I have signs and symptoms I found online and I have highligted the ones that apply to me, if anyone could give me any insight to it I would really appreciate it. I have already emailed my psychologist so hopefully he gets back to me soon. I dont want to go for a diagnosis until I get some feedback on whether people agree with me or if they think im just being a bit of a hypochondriac. Alll replies welcome, if you think I'm being silly or a bit of a hypochondriac do tell. I'd rather know then end up making an appointment to be tested just to be told im being silly by a psychologist. Anyway please reply. sorry about the length of this post.

• poor organizational skills (home, office, desk, or car is extremely messy and cluttered)
• tendency to procrastinate
• trouble starting and finishing projects
• chronic lateness
• frequently forgetting appointments, commitments, and deadlines
• constantly losing or misplacing things (keys, wallet, phone, documents, bills)
• underestimating the time it will take you to complete tasks

Common adult ADD / ADHD symptoms: Impulsivity
If you suffer from symptoms in this category, you may have trouble inhibiting your behaviors, comments, and responses. You might act before thinking, or react without considering consequences. You may find yourself interrupting others, blurting out comments, and rushing through tasks without reading instructions. If you have impulse problems, being patient is extremely difficult. For better or for worse, you may go headlong into situations and find yourself in potentially risky circumstances. You may struggle with controlling impulses if you:

• frequently interrupt others or talk over them
• have poor self-control
• blurt out thoughts that are rude or inappropriate without thinking
• have addictive tendencies (maybe in certain aspects)
• act recklessly or spontaneously without regard for consequences
• have trouble behaving in socially appropriate ways (such as sitting still during a long meeting)

Common adult ADD / ADHD symptoms: Emotional difficulties
Many adults with ADD/ADHD have a hard time managing their feelings, especially when it comes to emotions like anger or frustration. Common emotional symptoms of adult ADD/ADHD include:

• sense of underachievement
• doesn’t deal well with frustration
• easily flustered and stressed out
• irritability or mood swings

• trouble staying motivated
• hypersensitivity to criticism
• short, often explosive, temper
• low self-esteem and sense of insecurity

Common adult ADD / ADHD symptoms: Hyperactivity or restlessness
Hyperactivity in adults with ADD/ADHD can look the same as it does in kids. You may be highly energetic and perpetually “on the go” as if driven by a motor. For many people with ADD/ADHD, however, the symptoms of hyperactivity become more subtle and internal as they grow older. Common symptoms of hyperactivity in adults include:

• feelings of inner restlessness, agitation (This is a major one, I have probably told you about how as a kid I used to get really agitated and have to kick and scream to get rid of the extra frustrated energy, its lessened as I’v gotten older but I sometimes wake from sleep with this feeling, I have to expel energy to rid me of this sensation before I can eventually fall back to sleep)
• tendency to take risks
• getting bored easily
• racing thoughts (A bit but I figure that is not so much to do with the possibility of ADHD and more to do with other difficulties)

• trouble sitting still; constant fidgeting
• craving for excitement
• talking excessively
• doing a million things at once

 

[Sqweak]

Hi Kerrence,

I was diagnosed 8 months ago with ADD/ADHD. And I fit the diagnostic listing to a tee; but here's the thing. PTSD is sort of this Funky all encompassing term that envelops a myriad of symptom and ADHD is one of them( for some of us). I would find a skilled physician that’s willing to listen to what you have to say before passing out meds. And hopefully the both of you can come to the conclusion together. ADHD is difficult to diagnose because a good majority of people have these problems, I think the diagnoses is based primarily on the frequency of your symptom and how severely do these symptoms affect your day to day life. I hope this is a little helpful.

Good luck, keep us posted :)

 

[Cthulhu]

I am diagnosed with ADHD.
You may have it, who knows, maybe it would be helpful to look into an ADHD- forum to see how people with it "are"? It helped me a lot.
Have you always been like that, even as a child, before traumas happened?

 

[kerrence]

thanks to both of you for the speedy replies. I have always been like this, my parents used to say it was me being lazy. As in my forgetfulness was lazy because i wasnt thinking about where I left stuff. I think over my lifetime(20 years) Ive had my keys replaced ten times at least and more times lost but then found. My trauma did not happen till I was 18 but I also am diagnosed with depression and bpd so I dunno if those encompass some ADHD symptoms. Im currently recovered from depression though. Iv always had problems with pent up rage, I figure that is why I used to self harm. For that period of time I did not have the waking up with excess energy as often. My main problem is that now that I am living on my own I find it really hard to get tasks done like going to doctors appointments etc. and of course attending uni even though I know I need to!! and that results in me stressing over uni work. Even when its due in the next day I cant help but procrastinate. I also read a comment on a thread about ADHD earlier. Someone describing their day without ADHD meds. Its sounds awfully similair to me, even down to the idea that they put the kettle on three times to boil before getting around to making her tea. I do that so often. I think I will go and get it checked at least if I'm not thats one diagnosis I can cross of the list that I defo DONT have :P thanks again sqweak and cthulhu for your advise. Kerrence

 

[kerrence]

I also have trouble sleeping I dunno if it has anything to do with ADHD but its not due to any of my other problems most of the time, its not anxiety its more just restless sleeplessness.

 

[Cthulhu]

Depression can have some symptoms similar to ADHD, i.e. poor concentration and memory. Insomnia also happens ind depression- but as far as I know it is nothing typical for ADHD. The listlessness, which often happens in a depression can look like the procrastination of someone with ADHD, but it is something different.
Naturally, yo can have both at the same time...

I think someone with depression lacks energy in general and someone with ADHD cannot use it properly for 'productive' things and is easily distractable.
I know both and that's the way it works in me.

 

[kerrence]

you're right, it could be the depression coming back a little or something, I will remake my missed assesment appointment for my ptsd here and then go from there. hopefully things will get better for me and esp. for you. hope your doing well. pm me if you ever need any help or advice or just someone to chat to. kerrence x

 

[Cthulhu]

Thanks, I'm as OK as I can be ;), no current big problems or so, just the usual stuff I always have to deal with.

 

[njray]

There is a great website called [DLMURL]http://www.totallyadd.com[/DLMURL] check it out the videos are awesome... If you are concerned definitely consult your doctor and see if she/he can suggest a specialist that deals with ADHD and PTSD.

 

[Marvina]

Ohhhhh, I hate to say this but you probably do have ADD/ADHD as well. After many years of "suffering" in school, I had no clue I had it. I just thought everything was RTS/PTSD. After being prescribed a stimulant, my whole life changed (not necessarily perfect, but I could actually move again). Still didn't believe I had ADD/ADHD but I was formally tested at a major university by an ADHD specialist, and I pretty much passed that test with many, many flying colors!

Passed meaning I have a very bad case of ADHD, Inattentive subtype (Ie, the comatose/zombie-like kind). The way that they could distinguish between PTSD and ADHD with me was the "X Test." There's a computer program that tests this, and the screen is black, and letters pop out at you, like flying large letters. The rule is to press the space bar for each and every letter you see, except for when you see the "X" pop out. You have really pay attention to not press the spacebar for the X's, which was hard. I probably pressed the spacebar on accident about 95% of the times that I saw the X. I think I only missed the Xs about 3 out of 20+ times, LOL!! Anyway, long story short, the X test, along with a battery of other tests she gave me, proved that it was not simply depression or PTSD but very impulsive reactions with the Xs. Don't know how they worked it all out, but I'm not questioning it.

Just give me my pills and I'm much happier

Anyway, I would highly suggest getting some kind of neuro-psych test or an ADHD test if you are lucky enough to find someone who will only test for that. Neuro-psych may not be the most accurate test in the world but it will at least tell you if you're ADD/ADHD and what else could possibly be going on in your brain, ie a learning disability too? After 35 years on earth, I finally learned I'm dyslexic too, YAY FOR ME!!!! It's a lot of fun to be me, but don't be scared of getting the test done, it can do you a world of good if you "know" either way.

PS-I'm a strict vegetarian, practically a vegan, tree-hugging, recycling addict who hates chemicals in any way (beer is good though, so is vodka!), but homeopathic stuff and herbal remedies do nothing for my body, I mean nothing. Give me those stimulants and I'm a very happy girl. Don't be scared

Hope this helps!!!

 

[cherryblossom]

Hi Kerrence

I just want to say that self-diagnosis really isn't an option. That's for any illness physical, or mental/psychological.
Guessing at diagnosis is a game - please seek professional advice.

 

[njray]

kerr,

You really should be evaluated and tested by a qualified party. If you are found to have ADHD there are many avenues to seek treatment to help you manage ADHD. At 20 years of age there is great hope for success. Trust one that suffers from the disorder you do not want to suffer as I have.