Struggling with symptoms of ADD, are anyone here diagnosed? - General

Hello again fellow Facepunchers! I've been away from the site for over a year now, I kinda just drifted from the site, but you all still have a very special place in my heart. Well I'm back now, and I've recently started to suspect that I have ADD, or some other similar disorder. Yes, I do realize that this is a common scapegoat for lazy students, and self-diagnosis is a horrible idea. That's why I've scheduled a doctor appointment a week from now to get a professional opinion. I'm actually really nervous about it. I'm terrified that the test will come out negative, and I'm just lazy or hard of learning. That's why I've made this thread, to hopefully get some input from someone else that actually have the diagnose. If you do, please please take the time to read this and provide some info, or confirmation if my symptoms are grounds for a diagnosis, or just provide some tips for dealing with these really shitty behavior problems that I'm facing, because it's having a horrible negative effect on my life. I've never been very interested in school work, but in middle school and high school I had above average grades, I never studied a lot, but just got by with a intuitive understanding of what information to pick out and what the teachers wanted to hear, and a very good memory for the little actual information I actually read. I floated on this ability until I started studying at the university, and moved away from my mom and dad, where I quickly understood that I had not actually, properly learned anything, and that the new expectations of workload and self-sufficiency in my studies was overwhelming for me. I started studying educational psychology last year in Oslo, sharing a flat with my big brother, who was (and still is) studying political science. Living with my big brother afforded me a lot of monitoring, and he basically filled the place of my parents, who through my childhood had supported me a lot academically. He made sure I studied, worked out, ate regularly and healthy and all the things a normal, structured human being should do to maintain a decent life style. But this year I moved to Tromsø, way up north in Norway. And I've been living alone, studying General Psychology, which is basically my dream. After living on my own for a I've noticed a pattern of behavior that is destructive to the point of ruining a lot of my life ambitions. It wasn't until exams were due last week that I realized that I haven't been to a single lecture, and I haven't read a word of my curriculum. With a week left, I bought the books and furiously tried to cram a year of information into my head, but when I try to focus on reading school texts, it's like my brain starts screaming at me to do something else. I can't sit still, and my stomach knots up, and after about 40 minutes I suffer from mild headaches and even slight nausea. I just can't seem to make myself to finish or (in a lot of cases) even start any project any more, be they academic or even leisurely stuff. I love doing art, and make clay sculptures, but I haven't done anything with it for months now. For the last year I've been mainly just hanging out on the internet, watching youtube videos, movies and series. For a full YEAR! I've been reading up on the symptoms of ADD, and it's very consistent with my behavior and cognitive traits. I struggle to maintain focus on anything for an extended period of time, but when I do stuff I love, loke playing videogames, D&D, or redaing a fantasy novel I fall into "hyperfocus," and zone everything else out, losing myself to a fantasy world. When I talk to people in social situations or try to follow a professor in a lecture I frequently "fall out." A word will give me a mental image, or make me think about something, and I unconsciously follow that train of thought, effectively dropping out of the conversation, or losing important information. I have a bad short-time memory, frequently forgetting where I put stuff or important dates, meetings and deadlines. I have few social inhibitors, making me blurt out jokes or comments at inappropriate times in a conversation, and I'm very liable to interrupt others and steam roll others in a discussion, this has cost me a fair number of friends over the years. I have never in my life done any work unless I have to, or it's right up to the deadline, be it school work, paying bills, showing up for stuff, or cleaning my room. Now that I live alone I'm living with trash up to my ankles. I easily get bored, and when I get bored I'm unable to be still, my legs need to be in motion, or i need something to fidget with, like a stress ball or pencil. When I try to focus on stuff that's not immediately interesting to me my mind race, and a million thoughts present themselves to e in rapid succession [B]TLDR:[/B] I'm showing clear symptoms of ADD, they have been with me since early childhood, but it's become more intense the past two years, and it's having a strong, negative impact on my social, academic and worklife. I'm going to a doctor in a week to confirm or dispel my suspicions, but I would very much appreciate someone who is already diagnosed to give me hints and tips to deal with these issues, or share any managing techniques that they use Mostly I'm making this thread to be able to talk about it, hopefully with people who share my position. I'm pretty scared to go to the doctor and finding out there's nothing clinically wrong with me and this is all just laziness or that I'm just plain dumb. I've been talking with my mom about it, and thankfully she's supporting me a lot, urging me to seek professional help, and moral support. I just really wanted to get this off my chest in some way, and I know this forum can offer a lot of support. Since I'm going to the doctor about this in a week, I'm just wondering about what to expect from the diagnostic process. How long does it take? What are the common treatments? If anyone here has the diagnosis, would you recommend medication like ritalin or adderol? I feel like I'm going into this blind, and it's really uncomfortable Feel free to use this thread as a general thread to discuss any topics related to ADD/ADHD and let's keep the discussions helpful, tolerant and supportive :smile:

I've been wondering if I've had ADD for years now and while reading this over, it sounds scarily a lot like me. My mind often wanders and it really has done a number on my academics this year. Perhaps I should also seek help before it gets worse?

Not really similar but I was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome in 2011. I've always shown traits and characteristics indicating it, for example I have compulsions and little quirks. What sticks out though is the fact that social engagement is suicide when it comes to me, that doesn't apply with certain people though - family, friends, others I believe I can trust etc.

[QUOTE=Hellsing4682;47797453]I've been wondering if I've had ADD for years now and while reading this over, it sounds scarily a lot like me. My mind often wanders and it really has done a number on my academics this year. Perhaps I should also seek help before it gets worse?[/QUOTE] Remember, to be diagnosed with ADD, the symptoms must have been present since your childhood. Most cases of ADD or ADHD are diagnosed either at early school age, or around the time you move out of your childhood home and are faced with a lot of new responsibility. If you do want to seek professional help, you will be at some point involving your parents and your old teachers to map out your symptoms. [URL="http://www.helpguide.org/articles/add-adhd/adult-adhd-attention-deficit-disorder.htm"]This page[/URL] gives you an overview of the common symptoms. if you are struggling with several of these, to the point of it having a noticeable negative effect on your life quality, both in your academic and social life you should start thinking about seeking help. I would also recommend involving your parents early, because like it or not, they will be involved in the diagnostic process. Hope this helps for you

eat a clean diet and you'll notice improvements. Cut out things like processed foods, eat fruits and vegetables. this is what works for me. try out some meditation practices. if you can't manage it alone, find groups that teach that sort of thing. me, i visited a buddhist centre and signed up for a month course. It was a beneficial experience for me. Also, get back to nature more if you can. spend time at the park, or in the grass. Allow yourself to clear your thoughts.. you will find it easier to manage after this. Go on a trip to do this if you have to, learn to just be with just your mind for a while, without the constant stimulation and information getting fed to it. learn the habits your mind falls into. work out a good exercise routine, exercise is the best medicine for your body and mind. doctor won't tell you this though, he wants to give out medications and treatments for the kickbacks the companies are giving him. you will find better long term solutions in lifestyle improvement.

[QUOTE=Drakortha;47799241]eat a clean diet and you'll notice improvements. Cut out things like processed foods, eat fruits and vegetables. I took it further and stopped eating meats for 2 years and so far, it looks like im not turning back. try out some meditation practices. if you can't manage it alone, find groups that teach that sort of thing. me, i visited a buddhist centre and signed up for a month course. It was a beneficial experience for me. Also, get back to nature more if you can. spend time at the park, or in the grass. Allow yourself to clear your thoughts.. you will find it easier to manage after this. doctor won't tell you this though, he wants to give out medications and treatments for the kickbacks the companies are giving him.[/QUOTE] Yeah, what would a professional know right? Just go green and shit. Stick it to [I]big pharma[/I] man! Doctor's know what's best when dealing with this shit, and fucking with shit like this because of some internet poster or any other random fuck's anecdote is laughably stupid at best. Seriously, don't fuck around with shit like this, you are meddling with forces the entire medical world still doesn't fully comprehend the workings of.

[QUOTE=draugur;47799252]Yeah, what would a professional know right? Just go green and shit. Stick it to [I]big pharma[/I] man! Doctor's know what's best when dealing with this shit, and fucking with shit like this because of some internet poster or any other random fuck's anecdote is laughably stupid at best. Seriously, don't fuck around with shit like this, you are meddling with forces the entire medical world still doesn't fully comprehend the workings of.[/QUOTE] yes the doctor always knows whats best, because he has that degree and the papers to prove it? don't learn to fix your life yourself or anything.. just take your magic pill and everything will be alright.

[QUOTE=Hugo Strange;47797487]Not really similar but I was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome in 2011. I've always shown traits and characteristics indicating it, for example I have compulsions and little quirks. What sticks out though is the fact that social engagement is suicide when it comes to me, that doesn't apply with certain people though - family, friends, others I believe I can trust etc.[/QUOTE] My social life thankfully hasn't been affected as bad as my school work has. I have a small number of very good friends, and I have a very good relationship with my close family. It's just impossible to maintain "casual" friends, because I never put any effort into maintaining my relationships with people, and since I never go to my lectures I don't meet up with the people I know. This last semester I've discovered a student organization at my School called Imladris (Yes, Elvish for Rivendell) and it's kinda like a club for all things nerdy. I've started playing D&D which is the greatest game ever, and it's a social arena that is centered around the few things my ADD symptoms doesn't directly interfere with. That's actually the best advice I can give to someone who struggle with this in a social sense. find some arena where you can do what you like best, maybe the people there doesn't make you come back, but the activities will, and the company will be a very nice byproduct of those activities.

[QUOTE=Drakortha;47799263]yes the doctor always knows whats best, because he has that degree and the papers to prove it? don't learn to fix your life yourself or anything..[/QUOTE] Good plan. I'll just stop taking medication and seeing my therapist and you know what I can do to fix my life instead? I'll go all natural. Right. Of course all that's keeping me from blowing my own god damn brains out is my life style and reliance on modern medicine yeah? Good to know that the solution to my fucking PTSD is to simply exercise more, eat less meat and meditate. Surely that'll solve the periods of derealisation, the nightmares, subsequent insomniac periods, etc.. Yeah, right. I'll take the word of a guy that went to school for at least six years and has been in practice for much longer over that of some guy on a forum. You know why I take medication now? Because I tried all that fucking shit. I couldn't find a way to see a therapist and get treated without someone knowing when I came home. (long story on that one), so I toughed it out. It's all in my head right? I was one finger movement short of blowing my fucking brains out because I thought I could find some way to manage my condition on my own. Some shit can't be solved by changing your diet and meditating, and serious mental disorders are one of those things. Maybe this guy's condition isn't that severe, maybe he can manage it enough without professional help all the time, but to outright say "nah fuck that, just try a whole bunch of shit on your own and see what works! It's all a construct of [I]insert stupid conspiracy shit here[/I]" Is so fucking head up ass retarded I'm not even sure anyone saying that with a straight face can even remember what the warm glow of the sun on their face feels like.

[QUOTE=draugur;47799300]Good plan. I'll just stop taking medication and seeing my therapist and you know what I can do to fix my life instead? I'll go all natural. Right. Of course all that's keeping me from blowing my own god damn brains out is my life style and reliance on modern medicine yeah? Good to know that the solution to my fucking PTSD is to simply exercise more, eat less meat and meditate. Surely that'll solve the periods of derealisation, the nightmares, subsequent insomniac periods, etc.. Yeah, right. I'll take the word of a guy that went to school for at least six years and has been in practice for much longer over that of some guy on a forum.[/QUOTE] you don't have to listen to me, it's just my 2 cents. It's what's finally worked for me after 10+ years of going to doctors, now i just help myself. Who are you anyway? you are not even the OP of this thread.. it's titled ADD not PTSD.

[QUOTE=Drakortha;47799313]you don't have to listen to me, it's just my 2 cents. It's what's finally worked for me after 10+ years of going to doctors, now i just help myself. Who are you anyway? you are not even the OP of this thread.. it's titled ADD not PTSD.[/QUOTE] I'm the guy giving my 2 cents about your stupidly dangerous advice. If you're going to throw anecdotes out, my anecdote is just as valid as an example of why your advice is dangerous.

Draugur, Drakortha does bring up a valid point. especially things like depression can actually be caused by a bad diet and an unhealthy life style. Meditation can be an effective tool to combat a lot of problems (even if you don't buy into the mystical element of it [i know I don't]) and in my case, I'm still at a VERY early stage of diagnosis. I don't yet know if it's just ADD or underlying mental issues that are causing my symptoms. I understand completely your aversion to his advice though, it would indeed be horrible to give that advice to someone in your position, and I bet that you've heard it enough to be sick of it The thing is Drakortha, I've tried to combat this on my own for some time now, both alone and with the help of my closest friends and family, so I'm prepared to take it a step further and seek professional help. But I do appreciate your advice. One should always try to better your life style, and be the best version of yourself possible.

If you don't want to jump into stimulants then you should try getting your doctor to give you Estulic (guanfacin), it is a terrible blood pressure drug but it is proven to have just as strong effects on cognition and attention as other stimulants like amphetamine, dexamethamphetamine, metamphetamine (commonly known for crystal meth) or methylphenidate. You should really seek out a doctor who works in this field because there are different forms and drugs for each type of ADD or ADHD, for example methylphenidate is for the original type of ADHD that it can treat perfectly well and might not work for Type A or other kind of attention deficits. Or, it is even possible that you don't have ADD or ADHD but instead you have a bipolar disorder that have a much different treatment and scale of drugs for it like lithium for mood stabilizing that controls attention deficit caused by bipolar disorder, but keep in mind if you are misdiagnosed the drugs given for you will cause long term or even permanent mental problems. I was misdiagnosed by a stupid doctor in my country after having years of ADHD diagnosis, the guy claimed it doesn't exist because I'm the only patient who comes to him and have that written onto his paper, and because of that he said I got bipolar disorder and gave me other type of drugs, the mood stabilizers and serotonin controllers gave me lengthened depression that lasted for years, so this is a really dangerous game.

My Mom has ADD and I was diagnosed with it about eight years ago. It's a good thing too, because my grades were slipping pretty badly in school at the time since I could hardly pay attention in class. As soon as they put me on medication, I started doing progressively better and better.

[QUOTE=draugur;47799300]Good plan. I'll just stop taking medication and seeing my therapist and you know what I can do to fix my life instead? I'll go all natural. Right. Of course all that's keeping me from blowing my own god damn brains out is my life style and reliance on modern medicine yeah? Good to know that the solution to my fucking PTSD is to simply exercise more, eat less meat and meditate. Surely that'll solve the periods of derealisation, the nightmares, subsequent insomniac periods, etc.. Yeah, right. I'll take the word of a guy that went to school for at least six years and has been in practice for much longer over that of some guy on a forum. You know why I take medication now? Because I tried all that fucking shit. I couldn't find a way to see a therapist and get treated without someone knowing when I came home. (long story on that one), so I toughed it out. It's all in my head right? I was one finger movement short of blowing my fucking brains out because I thought I could find some way to manage my condition on my own. Some shit can't be solved by changing your diet and meditating, and serious mental disorders are one of those things. Maybe this guy's condition isn't that severe, maybe he can manage it enough without professional help all the time, but to outright say "nah fuck that, just try a whole bunch of shit on your own and see what works! It's all a construct of [I]insert stupid conspiracy shit here[/I]" Is so fucking head up ass retarded I'm not even sure anyone saying that with a straight face can even remember what the warm glow of the sun on their face feels like.[/QUOTE] You're projecting your personal issues on a completely unrelated topic right now. I hope you're going through counseling on top of taking medication. PTSD is something that can be cured over time through the use of cognitive behavioral therapy. Many people recover from it if they get the right help. Medication makes the process easier, but ultimately you cannot rely on a drug to fix your problems - you need to address your issues and find ways to deal with them rather than repressing them. Repressing something does [b]not[/b] make it go away - your overreaction in this thread is pretty good evidence that your medication alone isn't that effective in helping you right now. [editline]25th May 2015[/editline] And yes, diet and exercise can cure issues like depression or ADHD (which ARE what this thread is about). Having a good diet can lead to better mental clarity and a better mood.

[QUOTE=Soret;47799401]If you don't want to jump into stimulants then you should try getting your doctor to give you Estulic (guanfacin), it is a terrible blood pressure drug but it is proven to have just as strong effects on cognition and attention as other stimulants like amphetamine, dexamethamphetamine, metamphetamine (commonly known for crystal meth) or methylphenidate. You should really seek out a doctor who works in this field because there are different forms and drugs for each type of ADD or ADHD, for example methylphenidate is for the original type of ADHD that it can treat perfectly well and might not work for Type A or other kind of attention deficits. Or, it is even possible that you don't have ADD or ADHD but instead you have a bipolar disorder that have a much different treatment and scale of drugs for it like lithium for mood stabilizing that controls attention deficit caused by bipolar disorder, but keep in mind if you are misdiagnosed the drugs given for you will cause long term or even permanent mental problems. I was misdiagnosed by a stupid doctor in my country after having years of ADHD diagnosis, the guy claimed it doesn't exist because I'm the only patient who comes to him and have that written onto his paper, and because of that he said I got bipolar disorder and gave me other type of drugs, the mood stabilizers and serotonin controllers gave me lengthened depression that lasted for years, so this is a really dangerous game.[/QUOTE] Thanks for the input! My mom works in rehabilitation of drug addicts, and she has told me that anti-depressants are horrible, and that I should never agree to be put on them, everyone I've talked to that have used them seems to share her sentiment. If my doctor suggests medication I'm gonna be careful with it, and try to educate myself before agreeing to take drugs regularly. It's kinda creepy, I've never taken prescription drugs before, other than antibiotics a couple of weeks for a boil I got

[QUOTE=xeo xeo;47796751]I've never been very interested in school work, but in middle school and high school I had above average grades, I never studied a lot, but just got by with a intuitive understanding of what information to pick out and what the teachers wanted to hear, and a very good memory for the little actual information I actually read.[/QUOTE] It's completely normal for higher-IQ kids to get through early education without learning study skills. Not being constantly challenged in an academic setting will eventually lead to you struggling to adapt in higher education once you actually need to practice the material. Patience is a learned skill - there are some subjects you aren't going to get right away, and it's common to panic if you aren't used to the feeling of being stuck on a certain concept. There are probably ways you can adjust your study habits to be more efficient - for me, I stopped panicking when I started taking difficult subjects one thing at a time. Instead of thinking about how you don't understand anything in the class, try and identify specific questions you have and tackle them one by one. [QUOTE=xeo xeo;47796751]It wasn't until exams were due last week that I realized that I haven't been to a single lecture, and I haven't read a word of my curriculum. With a week left, I bought the books and furiously tried to cram a year of information into my head, but when I try to focus on reading school texts, it's like my brain starts screaming at me to do something else. I can't sit still, and my stomach knots up, and after about 40 minutes I suffer from mild headaches and even slight nausea.[/quote] You made a mistake - a huge mistake - and ended up panicking. Again, this is completely normal in that kind of situation. Anyone would panic if they had to learn an entire semester worth of material overnight. [QUOTE=xeo xeo;47796751]I just can't seem to make myself to finish or (in a lot of cases) even start any project any more, be they academic or even leisurely stuff. I love doing art, and make clay sculptures, but I haven't done anything with it for months now. For the last year I've been mainly just hanging out on the internet, watching youtube videos, movies and series. For a full YEAR![/QUOTE] Your focus isn't the problem, it's your ability to focus on things you find boring... Which is a completely normal issue. Self-discipline is something that is learned. Nobody is stopping you from doing these things but yourself. You are 100% in control of how you choose to spend your time. Schedule specific times to engage in other hobbies. You could also try planning internet-free days for yourself (I occasionally take a day off to just cook a nice meal and read). For a hobby that requires frequent practice, try to set aside a certain amount of time each day. For instance, I require myself to spend at least 15 minutes a day practicing piano - 15 minutes can easily turn into an hour. If it's something you enjoy, the hard part is just getting started. [QUOTE=xeo xeo;47796751]I'm showing clear symptoms of ADD, they have been with me since early childhood, but it's become more intense the past two years, and it's having a strong, negative impact on my social, academic and worklife. I'm going to a doctor in a week to confirm or dispel my suspicions, but I would very much appreciate someone who is already diagnosed to give me hints and tips to deal with these issues, or share any managing techniques that they use[/quote] Have you had any significant lifestyle changes lately? You mentioned that your brother helped you stay in good health. Have you continued to eat well and exercise regularly? Keep in mind that it's easy to see symptoms of a disorder in yourself because everyone technically has those symptoms - diagnoses are not based on whether you can technically apply the symptom to yourself, but whether it's something prevalent in your personality/something others can see. By all means, speak to a doctor, and if a doctor believes a drug prescription is necessary then go with it, but there are always ways to cope with mental disorders without the use of chemicals. I would strongly recommend continuing to see your therapist, or speaking to a counselor that specializes in ADHD/similar issues, in order to learn some techniques to deal with the things you have difficulty with. I'm not sure what your school system is like in your country, but in the US many colleges offer free counseling services for academic as well as non-academic issues. If your school has licensed counselors working there, they may be able to offer you some advice.

[QUOTE=Guy Mannly;47799513]You're projecting your personal issues on a completely unrelated topic right now. I hope you're going through counseling on top of taking medication. PTSD is something that can be cured over time through the use of cognitive behavioral therapy. [/QUOTE] yeah, I guess I'll part ways to cease causing problems. To answer the question though, no I'm not actually seeing a therapist or anything currently. It costs more to do that than it does it take medication and this is the U.S., land of fucking you over at every turn. Not that it matters though, I've had plans to off my self eventually for years, the army just threw another reason into the mix of why I shouldn't live much longer. I'm a liability, and I love humanity too much to become the latest media sensation.

[QUOTE=Guy Mannly;47799570] By all means, speak to a doctor, and if a doctor believes a drug prescription is necessary then go with it, but there are always ways to cope with mental disorders without the use of chemicals. I would strongly recommend continuing to see your therapist, or speaking to a counselor that specializes in ADHD/similar issues, in order to learn some techniques to deal with the things you have difficulty with. I'm not sure what your school system is like in your country, but in the US many colleges offer free counseling services for academic as well as non-academic issues. If your school has licensed counselors working there, they may be able to offer you some advice.[/QUOTE] A lot of valid points here. I have had some bad lifestyle changes, bad diet, loss of exercise and the like. I like to think that I could "fix" everything by forcing myself to be more structured, but I've tried this whole year to exercise and have a balanced diet, I really have. I start out really well, but after a week all semblance of motivation and purpose just drift away, and I'm no longer motivated to do anything, not showing up for school, not meeting up with friends, not anything. I've never really had a problem with these thoughts and lack of motivation, because I've been content in being alone, not needing friends to hang out with because my racing thoughts have been more interesting than a lot of social interaction, but it's not healthy to shun all activities and other people like that your entire life. Last year I saw a school therapist about these same issues, but at that point they weren't as fully developed, and we did some Cognitive Behavior therapy. it helped some, for a time, but when it got better i stopped showing, and they came back in a second. I do agree with you that I should seek therapy as my first line of treatment. I think that the reason that I want to see a doctor and get tested for ADD is that, if we do reach a diagnosis, it's gonna be a lot easier for me to tackle these problems that have been affecting me for my entire life. It's gonna be like putting a concrete face to a faceless problem, or a presence that has been looming over me. I'm finally ready to start actually fight this, and I feel good about it. And it's really nice talking to all of you guys about it too

Get some amphetamines for that A.D.D. bruh.

I really recognize myself in that post. I can't really talk to anyone about it though because classmates and friends don't care and teachers and my parents will just think i'm looking for excuses because i'm failing this year. Let me know how it goes OP.

[QUOTE=Zotobom;47813833]I really recognize myself in that post. I can't really talk to anyone about it though because classmates and friends don't care and teachers and my parents will just think i'm looking for excuses because i'm failing this year. Let me know how it goes OP.[/QUOTE] I will, if this thread dies out before that, I'll Pm you :smile: Also, if you feel that you are struggling in school, see if your school has someone to talk with like a school counselor or therapist and get some help or advice on how to maximize your potential. There's no shame in seeking help with a professional, even for something that seems minor. I think about it like going to a doctor for a cold that has been going on for too long. We never hesitate to seek help for physical ailments, but the stigma surrounding mental issues makes going to a therapist seem like a bigger deal than what it really is, and minor things have a tendency to blow over, but it can also escalate if you just suppress it. I wish you the best of luck on dealing with your problems!

Was diagnosed with ADHD-PI and Generalized Anxiety Disorder after a bout with stress and depression my junior year of high school. This shit wrecks you. I took a gap year to work and save some money - managed to save up about $2k, moved back with my dad halfway across the country. Down to about $150 in my bank account and I'm too distracted and anxious to try to get a job after 20+ applications. Get diagnosed and prescribed. Medication helps. Meditation was a lifesaver until I got a prescription - really clears your head and helps you build executive function to get rid of some of the symptoms. Maybe a year down the line you'll hate the medication because it'll make you feel uptight and even more stressed. Adderall was decent but a bit bumpy, vyvanse was the smoothest and best, concerta lasts a good 24 hours and won't let me sleep despite being physically and mentally burnt out completely. Hyperfocus can be god's gift to man. I can focus more intently than anyone I know, but 90% of the time it's on the most pointless bullshit. I make grid icons for steam when I want to distract myself and I've built up a collection of almost 3,000 games and programs for steam when I own like a tenth that many. I binge netflix and argue with people about race relations on the internet. I distract myself an insane amount. But when I get back into school, I know that hyperfocus will be a lifesaver instead of a distraction - if you can force yourself into an environment where you can solely focus on a single thing, you'll get it finished pretty quickly. People always told me to cut out all distractions when I wanted to work on shit, but that never works - I'll get bored and walk away from it eventually. So I distract myself while I do stuff. Netflix or music on constantly just to pull some attention from my brain so I can actually give a part of my attention to one thing. You'll always want to multitask unless you're hyperfocused. It's annoying. You get into mental feedback loops - you can't focus, your brain gets frustrated that you can't focus, so you try to focus more, but your brain can't, so you get mad at your brain, and your brain ends up fighting itself until you're an anxious wreck wondering why you're so lazy and useless and trash and then you get depressed and then you end up another one of those genius kids who shoots himself at age 20. That was dark, but it's sort of a truth - the #1 thing you have to do with ADHD is build executive function so that you can stop having those two parts of your brain argue with each other. You can't just "will yourself" out of ADHD, obviously, but you can build enough executive function to convince yourself to actually shut up and focus for a few hours. That's where meditation is amazing - over enough time, you build greater executive function and it helps you control your thoughts and your anxiety and your frustration and your self-blame a lot more easily. Doesn't alleviate the symptoms of ADHD, but it cuts back the negative "side effects" that self-derogatory thinking can lead to. But really. Medication. The first time you take an amphetamine you'll shit out 70 essays and feel amazing. A year down the line you'll take your vyvanse and browse the internet all night and then feel like shit the next day. But still - talk to a doctor, run the gamut of tests, get your drugs, enjoy your life for a year until you build up a tolerance and a distaste for the drug, then start from square one with no medication.

Am I the only one that believes ADD/ADHD doesn't exist?

[QUOTE=Cypher_09;47823086]Am I the only one that believes ADD/ADHD doesn't exist?[/QUOTE] It's not my place to comment, but the person who invented ADHD has stated himself that it is a "fictitious disease", and there are certainly other psychologists who agree: [url]http://time.com/25370/doctor-adhd-does-not-exist/[/url] [editline]28th May 2015[/editline] But in children at least, most of the symptoms of ADHD are just symptoms of being children. Don't medicate a kid just because classrooms aren't well-tailored to the needs of children. Boys in particular tend to be poorly suited to academic settings at a young age.

[QUOTE=Cypher_09;47823086]Am I the only one that believes ADD/ADHD doesn't exist?[/QUOTE] I'm not educated enough to say anything factual about that, but I can certainly see your point, especially in light of Guy Mannly's sources, though the article focuses more about the laughable low criteria for a ADD/ADHD diagnosis, and the frankly alarming rate medication is given as a first option. But that is becoming a growing tendency in all aspects of health care I feel. Why spend a lot of time treating a mental disorder with therapy, when you can take pills to just "fix it"? Our cultures growing dependency on medication is definitely a rapidly growing social problem, and we have to start raising the bar for when to prescribe drugs. But whether or not you can classify the behavioral tendencies associated with ADD/ADHD as a disease, that doesn't change the fact that there seems to be some people that's struggling more with specific focus problems, and it's something that can be clinically treated with medication and therapy. Without this treatment the people affected would have a negative impact on society, as lost assets, so whether or not you call ADD/ADHD a disease or not, you must agree that treatment of these symptoms (the [I]proper[/I] treatment, not just handing out pills like tic-tacs) works in favor of society as a whole? [editline]28th May 2015[/editline] [QUOTE=.Isak.;47818950]Was diagnosed with ADHD-PI and Generalized Anxiety Disorder after a bout with stress and depression my junior year of high school. This shit wrecks you. I took a gap year to work and save some money - managed to save up about $2k, moved back with my dad halfway across the country. Down to about $150 in my bank account and I'm too distracted and anxious to try to get a job after 20+ applications. Get diagnosed and prescribed. Medication helps. Meditation was a lifesaver until I got a prescription - really clears your head and helps you build executive function to get rid of some of the symptoms. Maybe a year down the line you'll hate the medication because it'll make you feel uptight and even more stressed. Adderall was decent but a bit bumpy, vyvanse was the smoothest and best, concerta lasts a good 24 hours and won't let me sleep despite being physically and mentally burnt out completely. Hyperfocus can be god's gift to man. I can focus more intently than anyone I know, but 90% of the time it's on the most pointless bullshit. I make grid icons for steam when I want to distract myself and I've built up a collection of almost 3,000 games and programs for steam when I own like a tenth that many. I binge netflix and argue with people about race relations on the internet. I distract myself an insane amount. But when I get back into school, I know that hyperfocus will be a lifesaver instead of a distraction - if you can force yourself into an environment where you can solely focus on a single thing, you'll get it finished pretty quickly. People always told me to cut out all distractions when I wanted to work on shit, but that never works - I'll get bored and walk away from it eventually. So I distract myself while I do stuff. Netflix or music on constantly just to pull some attention from my brain so I can actually give a part of my attention to one thing. You'll always want to multitask unless you're hyperfocused. It's annoying. You get into mental feedback loops - you can't focus, your brain gets frustrated that you can't focus, so you try to focus more, but your brain can't, so you get mad at your brain, and your brain ends up fighting itself until you're an anxious wreck wondering why you're so lazy and useless and trash and then you get depressed and then you end up another one of those genius kids who shoots himself at age 20. That was dark, but it's sort of a truth - the #1 thing you have to do with ADHD is build executive function so that you can stop having those two parts of your brain argue with each other. You can't just "will yourself" out of ADHD, obviously, but you can build enough executive function to convince yourself to actually shut up and focus for a few hours. That's where meditation is amazing - over enough time, you build greater executive function and it helps you control your thoughts and your anxiety and your frustration and your self-blame a lot more easily. Doesn't alleviate the symptoms of ADHD, but it cuts back the negative "side effects" that self-derogatory thinking can lead to. But really. Medication. The first time you take an amphetamine you'll shit out 70 essays and feel amazing. A year down the line you'll take your vyvanse and browse the internet all night and then feel like shit the next day. But still - talk to a doctor, run the gamut of tests, get your drugs, enjoy your life for a year until you build up a tolerance and a distaste for the drug, then start from square one with no medication.[/QUOTE] That was the best description I've ever read on how I feel when I'm studying. Your experience with focus meds seems.. I dunno, grim? And really like a good short-term solution that leads to greater difficulty later on. But that's life for you I guess. I never though that pills would be a permanent solution, but to hear it from someone that has had personal experience with it was sobering. If my doctor does put me on medication, I'll talk a lot with him about how to stretch the effects out, and how to use them to supplement my own abilities and not be a solution in themselves. I really don't wanna get addicted to anything, and I'll be really careful with dosage. Thanks you so much for your insight and advice! I'll save your words some where and use them when I'm describing my symptoms for my doctor, because it's kinda difficult to explain some times.