re: Does anyone have Adult diagnosed ADD?

quote:

---

the majority of the time they go by DSM-5 and its just a series of questions. All they have to answer is like 6/9 in two of the 3 categories and they can be diagnosed

---

The majority of the time? Maybe if your doc is a pill mill.

quote:

---

This is the function of a normal human brain

---

Are you a Dr?

I went through extensive testing over three days with a psychologist. Most doctors refuse to diagnose the disorder because so many people are just looking for medications. We can all find a doctor somewhere willing to write us a script for whatever we want. That doesn't make it a proper diagnosis or the process for obtaining a proper diagnosis. The questionnaire being referenced is a screening tool meant to determine if further evaluation is needed.

And I didn't jump right into "give me meds". Went through nearly a year long process with my daughter getting diagnosed and realized through that I had a lot of the same struggles even as a child which are symptoms of ADD in girls (which present differently so it is very often overlooked because there usually isn't the hyperactivity component).

I listen to a couple of podcasts about ADHD and constantly nodding my head in agreement. The ADHD podcast and Distraction with Dr. Ned Hallowell.

He's only capable of processing simple concepts. "I was misdiagnosed with Lyme disease once, Proving that Lyme disease is fake"

You'd be surprised at how many kids, boys especially, are on ADD/ADHD in high schools in affluent areas.

My three kids:

School counselor told us daughter was ADD in third grade and should see a doctor. We said thanks we already knew that, and we handled by helping her structure her day with things like a job board where she had tasks like chores, brushing her teeth, making her bed, etc.. that got her gold stars and rewards. Worked well for her and she never needed medication. We knew if we put her on medication, she would lose a lot of her creativity and spark.

Son No. 1's grades and focus tanked in 7-8th grade. It was heartbreaking watching him study and study for hours with little to show for it. Tried him on Vvanyase and he immediately got all A's. He graduated as a National Merit Scholar and took a full ride merit scholarship to college. Downside is he hates how he feels sometimes on the medication, and he can have mood swings that include depression. He does not take it in the summers, and is trying to ween himself off it entirely.

Son No 2 is convinced he will score better on standardized testing if he were on ADD meds, like many of his HS classmates. But he does well in school without it, and we don't see the benefit in altering his personality with drugs for an extra 50 points on the SAT. So we tell him to suck it up and so far he has found constructive activities to sooth his restless mind.

Yes. Diagnosed and prescribed medication. Taking it as prescribed makes me a regular & average person. Not taking it, for me, is constant fog brain, trouble thinking and processing information, poor comprehension, no initiative.

Friends & family can tell when I’m on it or not based on my level of social interaction, energy, and appetite. It kind of sucks to be honest. I’d rather not take it but it’s better if I do.

quote:

---

Yes. Diagnosed and prescribed medication. Taking it as prescribed makes me a regular & average person. Not taking it, for me, is constant fog brain, trouble thinking and processing information, poor comprehension, no initiative.

Friends & family can tell when I’m on it or not based on my level of social interaction, energy, and appetite. It kind of sucks to be honest. I’d rather not take it but it’s better if I do.

---

this is pretty much me

I was diagnosed with it at 20 which was my sophomore year of college. Without the meds I was pretty smart and did ok in school, but it took me forever to complete routine work because I was constantly daydreaming. A random thought would enter my head, and I would go off on a tangent for an hour. The best way I can describe it is I had a non-stop dialogue in my head with myself.

Once I started adderall, the tasks that took me two hours before now took thirty minutes because I was able to complete them without thinking about how those Indian kids built a pool in the jungle and posted a video of it to youtube

quote:

---

Friends & family can tell when I’m on it or not based on my level of social interaction, energy, and appetite. It kind of sucks to be honest. I’d rather not take it but it’s better if I do.

---

Are you on Adderall or Vyvanse? I had those issues on Adderall, but Vyvanse hasn't changed anything except appetite but even that just depends on the day. It is FDA approved for binge eating disorder as well so it will have that effect.