I just had to laugh when I read this. I have also just been diagnosed, although I have know for years that I was ADD.

The part about having a million tabs open in Explorer is so familiar and it's wonderful and sad simultaneously to hear that someone else is struggling with the same problem.

It usually starts innocently enough - I have to get information on a subject before I can complete a task - the information I find on the webpage is not exacly what I need - because it's not the PERFECT answer, but another link on that page looks promising. I open the link and sure enough there is another answer to my problem, but it's still not the PERFECT answer, and so I hop from link to link, not closing anything, because I haven't had time to read through the entire thing before a new link calls.

And the result - I have something like 44 webpages open, I still don't think that I have the perfect answer, but just in case I can actually use some of the info anyway, I have downloaded or copied everything on those 44 webpages, resulting in folder after folder of "reference material" on my computer and I still haven't completed my work for the day.

Try to explain why you haven't completed the task to anyone that's not ADD - not possible, they'll think you're mad.

AAAAAARGH

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As I'm writing this, I have 10 windows open on my computer - including facebook, this page, a page on web design and others started cleaning my kitchen, had to feed my son a peanut butter sandwich for lunch because I ran out of time, watered some of my plants, gotten a load of laundry started, and have posted several facebook replies and checked my e-mail about 50 times.

My husband does not think that ADHD is a real 'illness' (lack of a better word at this time), he just constantly gets on me for the following reasons:

The house is chaotic when he gets home from work (I am on mat leave right now) My older son doesn't eat till it's getting time for bed because I start dinner too late There are piles of unfinished work in various parts of the house - it is not huge, it's not really crazy, but there are piles everywhere I can't really answer him when he asks what I got done during the day.

I have what I refer to as the 'thought tornado' - just a continual tornado of various thoughts raging through my head from what I need to make for dinner, issues in politics, what my son needs for his next soccer game, etc. It's EXHAUSTING!!! I go to bed and it takes me a long time to get to sleep, I wake up more and more exhausted every day... my 5 month old son is only a small contingent of the lack of sleep now... I came to this site for some help because I took one of these self-tests and it says I have high-extreme tendencies.

I think I should go and get properly diagnosed but as a nursing mom and someone who really tries to avoid medication (even aspirin when I have a headache), I don't want to take stuff to deal with it, I want more natural remedies...

Anyway... as with my usual life, I have rambled... again...

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Hi everyone! There is actually a song, called "which way is up!" I too have finally accepted the ADD/ADHD label. It has only been after several weeks of dealing with somethings my youngest has had going on at school. My husband mentioned several months ago, that 'you have ADHD!" I always have several windows open on my laptop or pc, will start cooking dinner, and wander off, do laundry, begin a workout, etc. We always eat on time because I have been running a house for years as a kid. But, the up side is we can multi-task alot better than most who don't have ADD/ADHD.

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What we call disorganization and impulsiveness, others call multitasking. Thomas Edison was known for working on at least forty projects at one time, rarely finishing any of them. He did not turn out so bad.

We beat ourselves up over things that are in reality unique attributes. Different from the so-called norm, yes, but attributes that many ADHD experts are now calling "gifts."

How many of the people who leave their children or pets locked inside of a car on a steamy summer day have ADHD?

Don Author, "Dear Mary: My Life with ADHD

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Our choice of Web browser belies our noconformity!

I admit to having at least 3 browsers installed on my computers and they were all a matter of "ooh, that's neat, a new browser, let's try that." And after tabs, who can go back to separate windows?

Having great skills in specific activities doesn't contradict ADHD. It's often part of the paradox of the ADHDer's ability to hyperfocus on things they like. Being organized can also be an adaptation you've picked up as a life skill to manage an otherwise hectic or chaotic life.

I've read dozens of self-help, organizational, and leadership books; have had several planers and journals; and picked up even more habits; all designed to help me be functional. My non-ADHD wife is as organized or more so, without the same effort or any of the adaptations I've made.

If you find it easier to help OTHERS organize, it could relate to ADHD-associated traits such as being friendly, social, or empathetic.

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Your description immediately brought me back to my college days. While I didn't have the Internet to satiate my speeding brain, I found enough other distractions. I immediately identified with your description regarding reading. At that time, I got help, but ADHD was not a common diagnosis.

For me, the difficulties -especially with reading and finishing tasks did not outweigh what some describe as advantages of ADHD.

Finding a coach and the right medication, while not solving all my difficulties, has significantly improved my ability to sit and read quietly and complete tasks.

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I'm 42 and Wow... am I relating to a lot of this. I too am newly dx, and newly medicated. I always had a hard time with making clear decisions, however when I am truly on fire or interested in something - I can be a strong force to be reckoned with. Going to the grocery store is a nightmare because there are too many choices and I feel the need to make "the right choice". What should be a 25 minute trip, turns into an hour and a half. Ordering off the menu is another problem. I want to make the "best" choice. I always called it "ddd" (decision deficit disorder) because I couldn't possibly have "adhd" because I have found ways to function in my life. Well, the functioning became a problem after two kids, aging parents, my add husband losing his job... etc... suddenly my coping was no longer working. My anti-anxiety meds. Stopped working. Turns out anxiety was the symptom of trying to control my adhd without help. (sigh) :)

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I agree with "42" above. I'm the same age, and also have coped well - well most of the time. I always thought that I couldn't have it because I was able to get grades and could read a book. Lately I realized that if it's something I'm not passionate about, I cannot read it or concentrate on it. I feel like I'm realizing more and more symptoms and my kids who are all ADD tell me that I am. So - I am going for an evaluation.

I'm tired of not having motivation, feeling like I'm working hard at things and getting nowhere - a constantly messy house (everyone has ADD) and always struggling to remember to pay bills (so have a credit rating problem) , go to appointments, and even making the call for my ADD evaluation.

I lose important mail, checks, my grad school papers and documents. I've started setting alarms on my cell phone because I don't trust myself anymore. I change tasks by the second, cannot focus when shopping - often forget what I wanted and go home with $70 worth of something else. Last night was the last straw - I was staring at the moon while driving around a corner and almost hit a center median - I couldn't believe this as I've always been a really good driver. Definitely getting worse.

It's a relief to hear that I am not alone.

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