Brenda, your posting describes me to a tee. I have never been diagnosed but am sure I have ADD.

I have the same problem - great ideas, but never see them through. I do well at work because my job requires me to constantly "switch gears" among different projects. I am on Zoloft for my anxiety and it helps but doesn't help the focusing. Any advice will be helpful.

Quote

I would talk to my doctor about my suspicions about having ADD. It sure can't hurt. That's what I had to do before I finally was given the diagnosis of ADHD.

Quote

Read "Delivered from Distraction" by Hallowell & Ratey. Hallowell is an MD with ADD. There are a couple of screening tests in there, but, more important, advice on the need for and how to get an accurate diagnosis.

Quote

Yes, there is another book out called "Driven to Distraction" by the same writers. It is very good. When I opened it up I knew that was me. Good Luck.

Quote

My recommendation is to see your physician and seek a professional diagnosis. I was diagnosed less than a year ago and am glad I did it. But do it the right way - don't diagnose yourself. Good luck.

Quote

There is so many different symptoms of ADD/ ADHD that it would be premature to diagnose yourself. I would advise if you strongly suspect you are ADD to find a specialist who believes in ADD.

For me, it was a child psychiatrist even though I am over 45. It helps to know that all the difficulties you experience has a reason; and that the creative blessings can be harnessed. Dr. Hallowell has many good books and in the back this is where I found my doctor. Good Luck! with your discovery ADD RN

Quote

I was just diagnosed with ADD after several appointments and assessments with a medical doctor and a counselor. I had thought that I might have ADD 4 years ago but did not go and seek diagnosis. The "ah ha" moment for me was reading the book, "The 12 bad habits that hold good people back" by James Waldroop and Timothy Butler back in 2003.

It is a career management book which opened my eyes to explain some of my behaviors. I was researching managerial styles (I was an Army Officer) and ran across a behavior called "lacking a sense of boundries". It fit me to a tee. The authors mentioned that this behavior was indicative of people with ADD. I was convinced!

It took me 4 years to finally go and seek a professional diagnosis. I was prescribed Concerta. After taking my very first dose of Concerta my head cleared up. I was able to hold a long conversation with my husband without rambling off on several tangents. I noticed the effect immediately. I managed to prioritize, plan, and complete some of my many projects within that week alone.

I am so relieved to know what was the matter with me for all my adult (and teenage) years. I see myself as unique for having ADD, in a good way. I have always been the life of the party and brought energy whereever I went. Yes, I went through many years of thinking I was "behind" my peers in school and at work and that it was harder for me to study and grasp ideas from lectures. I overcame all that by working harder and managing to get my Masters Degree.

I still am amazed by my ADD and I try to read as much as I can about it. I think the better educated you are about it the better you can understand yourself and your behavior (and how you affect those around you).

Quote

As an ADD coach, I always advise people who suspect they have ADHD to get a formal diagnosis by a psychologist or psychiatrist who deals with many ADD patients. If you are diagnosed with ADD, medication is typically the first line of treatment since it helps 80% of the population. Then I suggest self-education by reading all you can about it. Of course, my final recommendation is to work with an ADD coach for a while because pills don't teach skills! Rhonda Pawlan, M.S. AD/HD Coach

Quote

I can relate to your post to a tee. I am 43, mom to 3 kids (2 who also have ADHD), and have struggled my whole life to fit in somewhere. In some ways I treasure being different. I am able to think outside the box and come up with very creative solutions to things. On the other hand my disorganization and distractability have caused me and those close to me BIG problems. Money being the biggest one. I am horrible at managing it.

I do not take medication, though I have in the past and it helped. I should go back on one. I have times where I am very depressed. Somehow I manage to stay optimistic most times.

I have to believe that I will find my way. Otherwise my life would have very little purpose or meaning to me! My kids keep me going. I do not want them to struggle in the ways that I have. They have a better understanding of this at an early age. I was not diagnosed until my daughter was. I saw and still see so many similarities between us it amazes me. She though as well as my son have a distinct advantage over me. They are already working on overcoming this and living productive lives despite their ADD.

I never give up hope. I am different. My differences make me unique in this world and set me and all of us who have ADD apart from those who are NORMAL. I don't think life would be very fun without it quite frankly! So in closing...Embrace it and find the best way to deal. Give it the old ADD punch! This is one of my good days! Jennifer in PA

Quote

More of the same thats mentioned. Hang in there. We can do it together. Open communication is one of the first steps that couples need to take. That was the first thing that was difficult. After you date your spouse, and live together married, for some time, you got to have reasons why you love being togther...rekindle the flame and help one another. hire a counselor for 1 year. We did. Need to vent...I am here for ya. Paul Big

Quote

Important safety tip: Have your doctor test your thyroid function. Mine was low for about 40 years before they caught it. I do have ADD, but when I was slightly over corrected in my thyroid dosage, I felt more organized, alert, etc.

Once they lowered the dosage ( too much risk of osteoporosis, heart problems), ADD symptoms became prominent again. I think I'm saying that if you have hypothyroidism, it can exacerbate the ADD symptoms and if it's undiagnosed, it's going to be harder to control the ADD symptoms.

My ADD wasn't diagnosed until I was 49 ( I'm 51 now) and probably wouldn't have been if it hadn't been for the thyroid problem.

Quote

My daughter was diagnosed with ADD a year ago, and I started reading and researching, after reading Driven to Distraction I realized that I had ADD as well, I knew I was dyslexic but ADD never occurred to me.

I went and saw my daughters doctors who confirmed the diagnosis. I have just started on Strattera and waiting for it to start kicking in, I feel so relieved as it explains my whole life and I now know that I am not just ditzy and unattached from life. Go to a Dr and put your mind at rest

Quote

I'm 44 and I found I had AHDH 2 years ago when one of my children was diagoned with it and I started reading about this disorder. After reading a lot, I'm happy that I managed instinctively/uncounsciously to find my own coping mechanisms , finish my MA Degree and have a successful career (having no idea that such a disorder existed). I see our problem in the following technical way:

- The "normal" people are born with a chip/module in their brain that allows them to switch to an "AUTOMATIC MODE" whenever they are supposed to sustain attention (even in boring environments). Then they can keep an uncounscious control over the attention, which keeps them on track out of distractions.

We (ADHDers) have a "MANUAL MODE", which requires our concious control over the attention we pay. We have councious control over the attention, which implies that we have to keep monitoning our attention, otherwise (if we don't feel interest or motication) we can get easily distracted.

Having a "MANUAL MODE" has advantages and disadvantages. ADHDers actually have a broader atention spam than the "normals" (in the two opposite extremes...). We can go from a totally absent-minded/distracted status to a highly-focused/concentrated state (hyperfocus), depending on the interest and motivation we have. Our "normal" friends have a "factory-fixed" automatic setting of their "AUTOMATIC MODE", which is very confortable and practical (you just swicht on the module and that's all), but limited to the "factory-fixed" setting . They would never become so distracted like an AHDH, but they cannot either become so focused like a hiperfocused ADHDer, when is really interested/motivated. Our Hyperfocus ability can be our best friend and our worst enemy depending on the way we use it. I'd continue with this if I get any feedback guys and become "motivated", my hiperfocus is finishing......

Quote

Please continue. I think that most ADDers have the ability to achieve much higher goals than the common person.

Hi, I am Ralph Myers. I have been a support group director for the Adult ADD groups around Denver Colorado, from 1990 to 1995. I also wrote a newsletter "ADDvantage" for three years. Though I am still listed in the back of Hallowell's books, I am no longer involved in ADD services, but I still get a call or two every few weeks.

Quote

One of the most helpful books for me when I was newly ADD diagnosed was about ADD Women written by Sari Solden. It helped convince me that I truly had ADD...what a relief to find a reason for so many life struggles!

Quote

Do you know an experienced ADD Coach in the Louisville area?

Thank you,

Larry Williams Quote:

Rhonda Pawlan said: As an ADD coach, I always advise people who suspect they have ADHD to get a formal diagnosis by a psychologist or psychiatrist who deals with many ADD patients. If you are diagnosed with ADD, medication is typically the first line of treatment since it helps 80% of the population. Then I suggest self-education by reading all you can about it. Of course, my final recommendation is to work with an ADD coach for a while because pills don't teach skills! Rhonda Pawlan, M.S. AD/HD Coach

Quote

i believe my husband has ADD. he's definitely not hyperactive,yet he has the memory of a gnat(to put it kindly). he's incredibly intelligent yet never finishes anything he starts. anything he 'puts his hand to' he does well, but he never masters anything.he wants to talk to people and have friends,but he disconnects within seconds. people think he's shallow-but he's NOT. i love him dearly but to be honest, his refusal to seek help is putting a real strain on our marriage (i did talk him into going to an ADD support group once but the only outcome was buying himself an expensive pda/pdd??? which he got bored with and stopped using before it was paid for). how can i help him???if i write notes he gets mad,if i remind him of things he 'yeses' me to death and then never does it. i've become a nag for his own well being. our 15 year daughter has ADD symptoms but is doing great b/c she's willing to work on strategies that help her organize and remember. how can i be supportive without being 'mommy/nag'? thanks

Quote