Sorry, I'm new. Think i posted that msg on the wrong thread in Adult ADD

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deb h said: I have been diagnosed with Adult ADD for about 10 years but haven't had any treatment other than Meds that don't seem to help. It seems since my teenage years (I'm now 54) I've always been addicted to something: drugs, alchohol, cigarettes, compulsive spending, and now gambling (slot machines).

Can this compulsive gambling be a symptom of ADD? Over the years I've gotten my other addictions under control, but the gambling I can't seem to stop and it is ruining me financially.

Do any other ADDers have these addiction/compulsive behaviors?

In the reading I've done, yes, gambling is considered one of the red flags for ADHD. Due to this (and a history of alcoholism in the family connected to gambling problems) I suspect ADD/ADHD can be traced back to at least my maternal grandfather...

Thankfully I'm careful when it comes to gambling and most of the other things we can end up abusing. I say most, because I spend when upset, and I'm an emotional eater, two of the other red flags.

I'm currently undergoing assessment, and it will be interesting to see what the actual diagnosis is.

The hardest part of the assessment was the first appt. I had to take a "collateral historian" with me. I took my best friend of over 30 years. After the appt. she turned to me and ask, if I hadn't told her some of the things that came out in the session, because I was afraid she wouldn't like me? Honestly, I've been on a journey of self discovery since my eyes were opened in April to what was going on in my life. Stuff I'd been ashamed of and buried deeply. Once I realized what was causing it, a lot of things came flooding back. There were a lot of tears, not of shame, not of anger, but relief, because I was seeing my entire life through a different lens.

My push right now for diagnosis is a very nasty temper, which I have problems controlling. I never shared the background of it because I really didn't want to admit I was capable of feeling that way.

Best of luck with the gambling. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

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