Think you have ADHD? Read here

[glitterbizkit]

While poor nutrition may not be the cause of ADHD, I do strongly believe that it may cause ADHD-like symptoms. The crap that people allow their kids to eat these days shocks me (lots of sugar, lack of vitamins, artificial sweeteners, etc) - no way I'd feed my kids that.

 

[negrogesic]

I agree with djsim, ADHD is a vague disorder at best. I supposedly have/had ADHD, but can do very well without medication. I have taken the SAT's and MCAT's (as well as countless midterms and finals) without the medications, and have always scored highly.

In fact, the first time I took the SAT's, I had taken dexedrine and scored highly (1400 something out of 1600), but after taking it a second time with no meds, I scored a 1600/1600.

I am not saying ADHD does not exist, but I question the need for stimulant medications. I have taken everything from pemoline to desoxyn, but none of these medications "improve my performance". The use of these medications in children can be detrimental, I know I didn't eat nearly enough as a child because of the pemoline/dexedrine, which may have contributed to my barely 5'9" stature...

 

[pr0d1gy]

ADD is no more vauge or over prescribed then depression...

I was diagnosed with ADD about 2 years ago, I never had trouble in school but I had insomnia and anxiety which Dexedrine helped much more then taking benzos and ambien.

Stimulants are over prescribed but compared to other psychiatric drugs they are not extremely harmful or "hard"

 

[Gormur]

ADHD now is more of an umbrella for multiple disorders. Inattentive ADHD has little in common with the classic hyperactive variety and in reality isnt really a behavioural disorder. Its an attention disorder in the way that autism is a hand flapping disorder.

While the OP isnt innacurate it is a gross simplification of a horribly complicated topic.

^ This

MDs can really say what they want as far as diagnoses.

I myself was writing backwards and had a lot of developmental+balance/coordination problems..so much so i was held back from entering kindergarten for a year, because i wasn't ready - diagnosed with dyslexia at 6. Two years of therapy involving problem solving and basic motor exercises with an LD specialist helped quite a bit at the time..altho my concentration did not improve.

I went through school sitting in the front of the class and making straight Fs. The occasional extra help did nothing. I simply couldn't learn a fuckn thing and keep it in my memory. I'd read a sentence over and over to try to understand it...when i'd move to the next sentence, i'd already forgotten the first one..so you can imagine the hell of any kind of history or writing class. Listening was impossible. I'd be so entrenched in my own thoughts i couldn't hear any outside noise/voices apart from the one in my head.

Worst of all i felt like a fuckn failure and had very low self-esteem by the beginning of highschool..when i was finally taken out because i couldn't pass anything. I was homeschooled till graduation (my mom passed me, of course).

I went on to college for 2 years. Got heavily into drugs and partying because focusing was simply out of the question. My mind was a constant haze and i was now suffering from chronic fatigue. I think at first it was due to high stress then lots of alcohol to try to somehow compensate..which just ended up giving me a candida infection for about a year where i would pass out at any given time..

I figured out i had to stop eating gluten/sugar/etc altogether, and limit my diet. I dropped out of college after one last effort to pass a course failed, so i had no reason to stay and waste more time/money/energy. That was in 2004.

Years pass and i get more heavily into drugs..bud, lsd, opiates, mdma, etc. I worked odd jobs here and there - part-time music teacher at university/music store, some site maintenance with my dad... i just felt like a fuckn loser with no aim and only dreams with no future. It was like i knew there was more in me, i could dream incredible things..think them even..but i couldn't get the thoughts out. It was just a bunch of unorganized bullshit by the time it came out.

2008 rolls on and i go through a lot of testing/counselling with my psych, take the MMPA-A test and get diagnosed with a bunch of bs terms... borderline PD, schizotypal PD, and a few others i don't care to look back on. I decide to head back to TN where my dad was, because i was going through some psychological shit with cymbalta and klonopin, which an MD scripted me after getting all this info and talking to me for about 5 minutes 8)

Went through benzo withdrawal without anything...and i had been dosing 4-5mg a day..so it wasn't pretty. luckily no seizures. cymbalta withdrawal was almost worse, psychologically... anyway, i go to another psych who tells me i have bipolar II and puts me on zyprexa. i was on the shit for 2 weeks before i just gave up... maybe i'm schizotypal, but that shit turned me into a full blown schizophrenic (my grandfather had it later in life, so i knew i didn't want to be fucking with that shit)...horrible withdrawal...tardive dyskenesia, debilitating depression and anxiety, hallucinations and vivid dreams.. it finally ended at some point

March 2009 rolls around and i decide to see an AD(H)D/LD specialist/psych. I went through quite an extensive testing program and went through all my documented history etc. I got scripted d-amphetamine (vyvanse) and have never been better. When i look back, i'm way more balanced mood-wise and i realized a big part of that is due to simply being able to function better..like i can finally say what i'm thinking. I related to people and they relate to me. My life has changed, and if anything maybe i'm a bit bitter about the past...but i'm so thankful it didn't take 10 more years of wasted years to get something that would change my life so dramatically.

So that's my story...in a nutshell. And believe it or not, i'm not amped up right now. Sometimes i can go a day or two without the meds; say today, since i'm not working -- yet feel perfectly fine, clear-minded and functional.

To someone above who mentioned diet playing a role. I definitely agree with this. Altho i know in my case at least it is mainly genetic (family history of dyslexia; dad and brother), i still take heeps of vitamins, amino acids, eat well and exercise on a daily basis.

Peace,

-G

 

[Lupus]

yeah! question is, what kind of tests are there that can truly be accurate? symptoms can easily be feigned!

Every mental disorder is diagnosed via simple questions and observations all based on the DSM-IV psychiatric manual. There is no real tests and any company or doctors offering a test are working completely on personal experience rather than something standardized.

 

[LivingInTheMoment]

i guess i should tell you the reason i am so skeptical of these disorders. when i was 17 i went to the doc with every intention of faking through a diagnosis of ADD so i could get on adderall, and my plan worked and i have had access to a steady supply of scripts (if/when i want them) for the past 7 years.

i suppose there are a lot of mental disorders that people can fake to get meds, and my situation is no differe[/B]nt, so

maybe my opinion is more that i don't understand why better tests aren't developed to determine cases of mental diseases or disorders.

i don't feel like there is solid enough evidence to be found to warrant some diagnoses and medications... attention disorders are grossly overdiagnosed (ESPECIALLY in kids) and that is a problem!

Totally agree with all you say above! Docs ask for it! So they get it!

I don't agree with flaunting meds by question and answer testing, but there you got it! This is why there are so many myths, and so much failing at finding cures. It is a hit and miss situation.

I have found practical and wise ways at curing things that work-it does not involve meds, but it comes with pain.

 

[thujone]

you know what's funny? i was diagnosed with ADHD and have tried SNRIs and amphetamines and what they both did was make me so fucking amped out I couldn't focus on anything but the next sentence i was about to say without pausing to think for a second about what i am saying right now.

what i realized is planning long-term dependence on powerful drugs like those (which is what the original post does imply by saying "it is a condition ... will impact... rest of your life if medication... is not implemented") is a retarded-ass plan if you actual intend to get a better grip on your problems instead of trying a bunch of these crazy pill cocktails until you find one that doesn't turn your skull into a fucking circus tent.

i'm doing a lot better without any drugs than i ever did with them, legal or illegal. doubtless a lot of you will scoff, but i wonder if those of you have even attempted to give proper maintenance of health a shot instead of self-medicating or having your doctor medicate you as an easy way out of the problems. caveat abuser

 

[red9248]

you know what's funny? i was diagnosed with ADHD and have tried SNRIs and amphetamines and what they both did was make me so fucking amped out I couldn't focus on anything but the next sentence i was about to say without pausing to think for a second about what i am saying right now.

what i realized is planning long-term dependence on powerful drugs like those (which is what the original post does imply by saying "it is a condition ... will impact... rest of your life if medication... is not implemented") is a retarded-ass plan if you actual intend to get a better grip on your problems instead of trying a bunch of these crazy pill cocktails until you find one that doesn't turn your skull into a fucking circus tent.

i'm doing a lot better without any drugs than i ever did with them, legal or illegal. doubtless a lot of you will scoff, but i wonder if those of you have even attempted to give proper maintenance of health a shot instead of self-medicating or having your doctor medicate you as an easy way out of the problems. caveat abuser

wholeheartedly agree

 

[Eagleman]

Meds only give you a push along the way. It is the "mental muscle" we must exercise to overcome our disabilities. While I still stand firm that ADHD is a real, chronic condition, I do also stand firm that medication is not the only answer. Behavioral therapy will probably have a better outcome.

 

[Zzyzx]

Every mental disorder is diagnosed via simple questions and observations all based on the DSM-IV psychiatric manual.

Nothing is that simple.

I was a text-book case of ADD/ADHD or so me and my therapist, and the doctor would believe.

It took one month of trial with Methylphenidate to figure that it wasnt the case!

But according to the simple questions based on the DSM-IV it was clearly ADD.

Sometimes a trial-error approach is required to make a good diagnostic in the end

Meds only give you a push along the way. It is the "mental muscle" we must exercise to overcome our disabilities. While I still stand firm that ADHD is a real, chronic condition, I do also stand firm that medication is not the only answer. Behavioral therapy will probably have a better outcome.

The therapy will help overcome the bad habits that you aquired, and to gain the good habits that you didnt. The disorder itself is caused by chemical imbalance in the brain and only a medication can help with that, no matter how hard you try with behavioral therapy.

To have real success fighting ADD/ADHD one needs both medication and therapy

 

[euphoria]

Hi earthly...

If you're at university and have access to the university's health clinic you can probably go there and talk to any general practitioner about getting an ADHD assessment. Keep in mind performing terribly in academics doesn't necessarily mean you have ADHD! If you're wondering if you should be seeing a specialty doctor, you can either see a general practitioner or a psychiatrist. If you can't afford a private consultation, it's common for doctors at a university health clinic to work out a payment plan or take an approved adjusted payment for the appointments. It's worth it just to see! Especially if you are really suffering.

 

[n3ophy7e]

Hi earthly, are you an Australian citizen?? If so, you are eligible for free GP visits at a Medicare bulk-billed medical centre. I'm sure you can google one in your area (or if you want some assistance please PM me which area you live in and I'll have a search for you). Also, as euphoria suggested I'm sure your university has a medical centre which offers cheaper GP rates. So, my advice is to start with a GP, they may or may not give you a referral for a psychiatrist in order to be properly assessed. Medicare also offer a 12-visit subsidised mental health plan so please ask the GP about this when you go, because if you need to see a psychiatrist, those visits will be covered by Medicare (but you have to specifically sign up to the mental health plan to get the free psych visits).

Lastly, as euphoria also said, your poor grades and lack of concentration may not mean you have ADHD. In fact, due to your age it's less likely that you have ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorders tend to get less severe/troublesome with age, after teenage years). Your poor academic performance and lack of concentration (and whatever other symptoms you have) could be a manifestation of mild depression, or perhaps related to something troubling that is occurring in your personal life, or substance use etc etc. So try to keep an open mind when you speak to a GP and see what they have to say. Good luck! And please feel free to PM me if you want to discuss anything about this (I had ADD when I was a kid and also have depression and anxiety).