I didn't see a thread about this, and I felt like talking about it and sharing my story, so I started one. I think people who don't have ADD could never fully understand people who do. So I just needed to get things of my chest, and I'm really looking for people to talk to, who understand me. People who have it too.

 

ADD stands for Attention Deficit Disorder, which basically means that you suffer from a lack of concentration. It has much more symptoms though, like being chaotic and forgetfull, lack of motivation, insecureness which causes perfectionism, and a lot more.

 

Last year I had a lot of trouble at school, and my grades got worse. I read something about ADD, so I looked up information about it. I recognised almost everything I read about it, so I started thinking I might have it.

After a long investigation, I finally got my diagnosis, ADD, about a month ago. I felt really relieved when I got the diagnosis, in the first place because for about half a year I've been pretty sure I had ADD, I just needed the pros to confirme it. And now I know that it's not completely my fault that I'm always late, that I forget everything, that it takes hours do get my homework finished, and so on. And now I know there something can be done about it.

I'm repeating class now, and it's going a bit better.

 

Lack of concentration is my biggest problem, but ADD really affects my day-to-day life, and everything I do.

 

I've been taking medication, called Ritalin, for five days now. I haven't really noticed a big difference yet, it just makes me feel a bit weird.. But I'm really curious what will happen when school starts. I do notice some side-effects though, like loss of appetite, headaches, and I can't fall asleep if I've taken it.

 

So do you have ADD, or do you know someone who has it? Please talk!

 

Btw explaining it in English is a bit difficult, so forgive me if I made some mistakes.

Btw explaining it in English is a bit difficult, so forgive me if I made some mistakes.

 

I can see how it causes perfectionism, there wasn't a mistake in there.

 

I havent known anyone with ADD, but its not the kind of thing that information people spread around.

 

In a way I can see how you feel other people would never be able to fully understand it. It sounds like a frustrating disorder. Every person knows what it feels like to have those days where we dont feel like we're paying attention, or 'with the program', but if everyday or most days are like that, then you aren't really aware that you keep drifting out of situations.

I don't know anyone with ADD. I definitely believe that it is a disorder that many people have, but unfortunately I feel that many people don't try and put themselves as having ADD when in fact it's that they're too lazy. I'm not saying that it's not real because I think it is, I just think that unfortunately it can be an excuse for laziness

Concentrate, you ****.

Yeah now I think about it, it is a good illustration.

 

Yes exactly, I don't feel like spreading it around at all. I told a few of my friends and my what we call 'mentor' and the 'coördinator' but I'm not gonna tell people I don't know very well, because it's none of their business.

Every person knows what it feels like to have those days where we dont feel like we're paying attention, or 'with the program', but if everyday or most days are like that, then you aren't really aware that you keep drifting out of situations.

What do you exactly mean by that?

It's very frustrating indeed, because after ten minutes of doing homework or listening to a teacher, I'm already distracted/completely somewhere else in my mind. At least, without medication.

Yeah now I think about it, it is a good illustration.

 

Yes exactly, I don't feel like spreading it around at all. I told a few of my friends and my what we call 'mentor' and the 'coördinator' but I'm not gonna tell people I don't know very well, because it's none of their business.

 

What do you exactly mean by that?

It's very frustrating indeed, because after ten minutes of doing homework or listening to a teacher, I'm already distracted/completely somewhere else in my mind. At least, without medication.

That was directed to Reilly, but in the mean time there were two more posts.

I don't know anyone with ADD. I definitely believe that it is a disorder that many people have, but unfortunately I feel that many people don't try and put themselves as having ADD when in fact it's that they're too lazy. I'm not saying that it's not real because I think it is, I just think that unfortunately it can be an excuse for laziness

Yeah I know what you mean. Knowing that you have it could be a big relieve though.

I'm also a bit 'scared' to tell people I have it, because a lot of people think you're using it as an excuse.

 

I'm off to bed, it's already 2.23AM. Another characteristic of ADD.. I'm always on the internet untill late in the night, but I need to get enough sleep.

What do you exactly mean by that?

 

Like I was saying, we can all understand what its like to not be able to focus. When most people are having one of those days, they are aware of it, they'll say "Ugh Im in another zone today I just cant think".

 

So most people realise it because it happens rarely, and if we really need to then we'll try to find a way of focussing. But if it felt like that every day, you'd get used to it, and not try to find a way of focussing.

 

Maybe this is difficult for someone with ADD to understand? Im trying to think of how I can make it clear.

 

Concentrate, you ****.

 

I know he was joking, but this sums up peoples attitudes towards a lot of the lesser known mental illnesses. If we dont understand something, on some level we cant help but think "Whats wrong with you? Cant you just concentrate? Isnt there some way around this?". Its because, like I mentioned, if we're having a bad day and are unable to focus, if we procrastinate or whatever, then we change it by just simply, focussing. Or preparing to be focussed by doing a routine, to get us into a concentrated mindset, like having a cup of coffee or exercising.

 

But if youre accustomed to feeling like that every day, you don't realise youre doing it, so you dont do something about it. Guess its a problem thats created by itself.

Yeah I was joking, i completely empathise with this kind of thing, I'm not an intolerant cretin.

My nephew actually has ADD. I don't know what medication he takes, but he takes something. His main problem is that he is always energized. But, he's had it ever since he was 3. So, he kind of knows how to control it.

My last year math teacher's son has ADD. Don't get too much emotional about your life, everyone is capable of doing their best and overcoming difficulties. This kid actually finished high school last year and now is in college pursuing a law degree.

My psych teacher has been teaching us about how over-diagnosed ADD is and how often sleep deprivation is the problem. He of course acknowledges ADD as a real problem, he just says too often sleep deprivation causes these symptoms.

 

Make sure you get a good 8 hours every night. [/complete hypocrite who gets 4-5]

My psych teacher has been teaching us about how over-diagnosed ADD is and how often sleep deprivation is the problem. He of course acknowledges ADD as a real problem, he just says too often sleep deprivation causes these symptoms.[/complete hypocrite]

 

I can imagine this is a major problem. It couldnt be difficult to pretend to have a mental illness which is impossible to truly analyse without spending thousands on tests and time.

 

I decided to include the hypocrite bit in the quote just for kicks.

I decided to include the hypocrite bit in the quote just for kicks.

Cool story bro. :thumbsup:

Drink lots and lots of water. It should help with the headaches, or at least it did for me. Sleep was the reason I gave Ritalin up in the end, so I'm afraid I'm not much use there, though if you figure out the half-life of the dose you're taking it might help you time when you take it better so you get more sleep.

 

Good luck to you. :hug: You're where I was about 8 years ago. You have a very long road ahead of you and there will be ups and downs, but it does get better as you learn to figure yourself out.

 

 

So most people realise it because it happens rarely, and if we really need to then we'll try to find a way of focussing. But if it felt like that every day, you'd get used to it, and not try to find a way of focussing.

 

Maybe this is difficult for someone with ADD to understand? Im trying to think of how I can make it clear.

I don't entirely think so, because when you have ADD some days are worse than others, just like with anyone else. But in my experience it's not so much that you get used to it and it's normal as that you know something is wrong because your whole world comes collapsing down around you every day. And just when you feel like you stuck with it and accomplished something, and actually lived up to expectations for once, that one thing you forgot comes along to blindside you.

 

I know he was joking, but this sums up peoples attitudes towards a lot of the lesser known mental illnesses. If we dont understand something, on some level we cant help but think "Whats wrong with you? Cant you just concentrate? Isnt there some way around this?". Its because, like I mentioned, if we're having a bad day and are unable to focus, if we procrastinate or whatever, then we change it by just simply, focussing. Or preparing to be focussed by doing a routine, to get us into a concentrated mindset, like having a cup of coffee or exercising.

 

But if youre accustomed to feeling like that every day, you don't realise youre doing it, so you dont do something about it. Guess its a problem thats created by itself.

As far as just concentrating, it's sort of a chicken and egg thing. You can learn to concentrate better, but it takes a lot of practice and effort. Practice and effort take concentration, which you don't have.

 

Unfortunately that is the biggest problem that I've found- behavioral training works much better than drugs in the long term, but most of the advice out there is really terrible. It seems like the people and experts out there with the most suggestions are highly organized and think that that's the key to "fixing" us. But they're coming at it from the perspective of someone who can concentrate.

 

For instance you can't keep a list if you don't remember to write things down and forget some of the things while you are writing them down. The list doesn't help you if you can't remember to take it with you, and you lose it all the time when you do take it with you. Sure, a big notebook will help keep your lists organized- providing that you get around to making them, but it's that much more of a burden to remember and not leave on a ledge at the bustop or somewhere. :bomb:

 

 

 

...I've said it a million times before and I'll say it again. ADD is modern society's way of trying to force people with incompatible brainstyles to conform to modern society's liner definition of what "normal" is. And because people with ADD will never be able to conform no matter how much they want to, they will be branded failures and dismissed. And it isn't true. :tongue:

My psych teacher has been teaching us about how over-diagnosed ADD is and how often sleep deprivation is the problem. He of course acknowledges ADD as a real problem, he just says too often sleep deprivation causes these symptoms.

 

Make sure you get a good 8 hours every night. [/complete hypocrite who gets 4-5]

Lack of sleep and processed meat nitrates. The guaranteed way to make any little kid hyper.

 

And yet in the category of different brainstyle, people who genuinely have ADD tend to be night owls. Sure you can wake them up early for school and force them to get 8 hours of sleep a night, but they'll still be a bit tired all the time because they're fighting their body's natural rhythms. And seeing how it takes them two hours to focus long enough to actually get ready for bed, the chances of actually getting 8 hours are slim. Voila, sleepy person with ADD who really can't concentrate because they're overtired. The basis for any good self-perpetuating myth.

My nephew actually has ADD. I don't know what medication he takes, but he takes something. His main problem is that he is always energized. But, he's had it ever since he was 3. So, he kind of knows how to control it.

Are you sure that he has ADD, and not ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)? That seems more likely to me.

And you're born with it, so I think he's known about it since he was 3.

 

By the way I'm not so good with the quoting thing :\

 

Originally Posted by dfit00

My last year math teacher's son has ADD. Don't get too much emotional about your life, everyone is capable of doing their best and overcoming difficulties. This kid actually finished high school last year and now is in college pursuing a law degree.

This sort of reaction is exactly why I'm a bit scared to tell people about it.

I'm not saying that people with ADD are pathetic stupid and incapapble of anything.. I'm doing the 2nd highest level of high school myself, and I'm doing the best I can.

 

Originally Posted by Fitz;3841908

My psych teacher has been teaching us about how over-diagnosed ADD is and how often sleep deprivation is the problem. He of course acknowledges ADD as a real problem, he just says too often sleep deprivation causes these symptoms.

 

Make sure you get a good 8 hours every night. [/complete hypocrite who gets 4-5]

I have no doubt sleep-deprivation is often the problem, but it couldn't explain all the symptons.

 

You can never be a 100% sure of ADD. It's caused by a lack or shortage of neurotransmitters in your brain, and you simply can't check how much of these neurottransmitters you have.

But they do a lot of testing and questioning, and with that and your history, I think you can get a pretty good diagnosis.

 

Originally Posted by Space Cadet

Drink lots and lots of water. It should help with the headaches, or at least it did for me. Sleep was the reason I gave Ritalin up in the end, so I'm afraid I'm not much use there, though if you figure out the half-life of the dose you're taking it might help you time when you take it better so you get more sleep.

 

Good luck to you. You're where I was about 8 years ago. You have a very long road ahead of you and there will be ups and downs, but it does get better as you learn to figure yourself out.

Thanks for the support :hug:

I'm not having major sleep issues yet. When I go to sleep, it's not working anymore. Now I have no school, I go to bed late and I sleep late. I have to take my first dose at 10 am at the latest, and sometimes it's hard to fall asleep after that. I just need to find a rythm.

I really don't know how it's gonna go when school starts, though.

My doctor told me when I should take it, so I'm just gonna stick to that and see how it goes.

Quote:Originally Posted by Reilly;3841707

So most people realise it because it happens rarely, and if we really need to then we'll try to find a way of focussing. But if it felt like that every day, you'd get used to it, and not try to find a way of focussing.

 

Maybe this is difficult for someone with ADD to understand? Im trying to think of how I can make it clear.

 

I don't entirely think so, because when you have ADD some days are worse than others, just like with anyone else. But in my experience it's not so much that you get used to it and it's normal as that you know something is wrong because your whole world comes collapsing down around you every day. And just when you feel like you stuck with it and accomplished something, and actually lived up to expectations for once, that one thing you forgot comes along to blindside you.

Yeah I get what you mean.

I'm completely aware of my lack of concentration, and I always try to find a way of focussing.

 

Originally Posted by Space Cadet

And yet in the category of different brainstyle, people who genuinely have ADD tend to be night owls. Sure you can wake them up early for school and force them to get 8 hours of sleep a night, but they'll still be a bit tired all the time because they're fighting their body's natural rhythms. And seeing how it takes them two hours to focus long enough to actually get ready for bed, the chances of actually getting 8 hours are slim. Voila, sleepy person with ADD who really can't concentrate because they're overtired. The basis for any good self-perpetuating myth.

That is exactly my story.

ADHD yayyyyyyyyyy :awesome:

ADD is a bitch for people who really have it. Ritalin is going to make you feel like crap, probably. But probably it will help you concentrate. Good luck, man.

 

(semi-relatedly: I used to think I had ADHD when I was a kid but it was just because I hated school coz it was so uninteresting. If there's something I'm interested in I have no problems concentrating.)

Ritalins not actually that bad, except for it like mega takes away your appetite and can make you really dizzy :awesome:

Maybe for you. :P

 

For a lot of people Ritalin is total shit, keeps them from sleeping, reduces appetite, etc. (I wrote a paper about it n stuff so I basically count myself as an expert now.)

yayyy for expertism. :awesome:

 

Well yeah, it does all that.

 

Maybe I'm just used to it. Except I'm not up all night now because I have medications that like, knock me out.

Ah, sorry then. Sleep meds are nasty. :sick: Ew ew ew.

actually they're anxiety meds :awesome: I'm afraid to ever take sleep meds.

 

Maan, I must really seem strange to everyone of the world. The autistic girl with ADHD. Yay, let's all be her friend! :cheesy:

You already have like 9 million friends, you will be okay.