hi,

I think now I understand my problem, I have the similar smptoms as descriped here... I can never concentrate on anything... even when people are talking around me I hear the first few words and then I am in my thoughts and when then I hear the concluding sentences... the actually matter is lost to me... and then I don't have anything to talk over it and I am considered a dumb person... I am easily distracted and forget things easily.... is there any cure for this?

I have been taking ADD medicine for 10 years. I am now 34. It worked really well for me until about 2 years ago and now it doesn't seem to be working. Is there anyway you can become immune to the medicine?

I can relate. I discovered about my ADD when I was in graduate school trying to study education. I took a look at the answers I gave the test, my previous reports then I asked my doctor and he confirmed what I guessed. I am highly distractable.

It is difficult for me to follow a schedule, keep my desk clean, concentrate without thinking of many other things at once. I have a history of obsessive thoughts about men.

My medicine works to a certain extent but after it if I need to go anything else I need a caffinated soda. (This caused weight gain.)

For other problems I found I had to change medicines that I found stopped working. I am not sure my ADD medicine works well but it does help a bit.

Good luck to anyone who has this condition. It has always been hard to deal with.

femalegtrst

Hi,
Thank you for getting this message out.
It is really hard in the Toronto area to find doctors who know a lot about adult ADHD. So, even after suspecting that I had it - it is very hard to actually find a doctor who could treat it.
Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Mike
p.s. I found this great report about ADHD being a gift:
http://www.unwrappingthegiftofadd.com/findthegenius.php

I was diagnosed as a child, and it is obvious that I still have it. It's constantly in the back of my mind and it really lowers my self esteem. You are right, I am a high achiever, because I believe nothing I do is good enough, because deep down I am inadequate, unimportant and stupid.

I was so happy to see someone bringing Adult ADHD in to the limelight. I am 56 and always knew I was different but when I was a child ADHD had not been recognized and up until the last 15-20 years it was not thought it was carried into adulthood. I was diagnosed approximately 8 years ago and I can't even begin to express the change in my life since going for therapy and medication. My life would have been so, so much better if it had only been discovered and recognized sooner. I urge anyone who thinks they may fit the ADHD profile to seek counseling and be tested. You have no idea how it will change in your life! Once again thank you for talking about adult ADHD.

Jane

We had a client with ADD. When he was revved about something we had a great deal of fun. He had quite a creative business mind. When he had a clever idea, he bounce it off us and we'd go after it with full force. Then, after a few months, everything would go on hold. The guy would get depressed. Nothing happened for many more months. Then the project would be in gear again, but going off in different directions.

In his mind, seeing a psychiatrist was not what "real men" did.

At one point, one of his businesses was number one in the marketplace.

Today, it's obscure.

"Real men" take care of business by getting professional help.

You people are being led around like puppies. Gail is not your friend. She is just another commercial personality. Hired by NBC and payed 7 figures to transfer as much wealth as possible from your bank account to their network sponsors. Fortune 500 companies like Pfizer, Merck, GSK, and Bristol Myers. Who by the way, got busted recently for providing financial incentives for doctors to prescribe their drugs. Not to mention the parent company GE. Who just happens to produce equipment for medical testing. They bought NBC back in the '80s'. The 'Today' show is their flagship. Every other segment plugs the health care, credit, or travel industry. All of which have commercial ties right back to GE. Its a shady industry people. Don't be so naive. Mother Nature may not be perfect. But we are being led to believe that she can't do ANYTHING right. and that in order to be healthy, we need constant medical testing and/or pharmaceuticals. ITS A SHAM. Of course, there is some legitimate work done as well. But the health care industry is corrupt just like any other. There are dozens of class action lawsuits as we speak. Some involving allegations of unnecessary medical testing and treatment. 2 years ago, a hospital in California settled with the US government for $54,000,000. They were caught in a giant treatment and billing scam. and lets not forget about Vioxx (pain reliever), Zoloft (antidepressant), and Heporin (blood thinner). They were all under-tested, over-priced, and marketed to the largest demographic possible. That means you. Perfect little mainstream followers who sit on the couch all day long, and take the word of your favorite public figure as if it came straight from God. Getting fat, broke, and stupid in the process. So get off the couch. Get reasonably fit. Then re-evaluate. Otherwise, you are the stereotype that I just refered to. and remember. Modern society is not the environment that nature intended for us. Not even close. Gail is not part of the solution. She is part of the problem.

On a related subject. I caught part of Dateline last night. Again. You people have some nerve. To expose the shady tactics of another industry but deny those of your own network, the writers, the sponsors, and the parent company. For example: There was a scene recently in which a cop walked into a hospital room and told a patient that she would need cosmetic surgery. Ch'Ching. Another scene in which a cop walked into an interigation room and asked a prisoner if he had been given anything for his 'insomnia'. Ch'Ching. Another scene in which a cop told one member of a family that having another admitted for 'observation' was "the right thing to do". Ch'Ching. Another scene in which a toddler's life was saved after extensive medical testing. Ch'Ching. Another scene in which a cop made a parent out to be unfit because he didn't purchase health insurance for his daughter. Ch'Ching. Another scene in which a cop criticized the parents of a college student for not paying the tuition. Ch'Ching. Another scene in which one cop encourages another to have children using invetro. Ch'Ching. Another scene in which one cop walks into a room. His feet are shown. He seeks advice from another about being pressured to 'perform' on his honeymoon. Ch'Ching. Half a dozen plugs for power generators in one hour long hospital show. Ch'Ching. A game show contestant just happens to be in 'pharmacy school'. Ch'Ching. Another contestant has had multiple cosmetic procedures. Ch'Ching. Another contestant who's family wants her to "be happy". The implication was that she spend away her assets. Not leave them to her children. Ch'Ching. The same implication was made again in that hour long hospital show. Ch'Ching. Every other segment on the 'Today' show plugs the travel, credit, or health care industry. Ch'Ching. The brainwash plots are now so frequent, that its impossible to keep up with them. You people should be ashamed of yourselves. Taking advantage of your own viewers. Dumbing them down in the process. Even now, when the middle class struggle just to make ends meet. Even now, when the US is on the verge of another major depression. Caused primarily by a multi-trillion dollar transfer of wealth to the rich (that means you). Still, you have the nerve to run a show like Dateline and plug your own 'good will'. ITS A SHAM. and tell that pig Ann Cury that her sad eyes are every bit as fake as they were last week. The same goes for your stupid jokes and Al's obnoxious laugh. ITS ALL FAKE. Advised and rehearsed behind the scenes. Commercial personalities. What a joke. Any emotion. Anytime. ZERO sincerity. Like I said. You people should be ashamed of yourselves. But you're not. You are motivated by the most intoxicating and corrupt element of our society. GREED.

By the way. I've been stressed out for my entire life. I've always had a problem with anger and depression. Literally as far back as I can remember. To this day, I have no reliable sleep patterns. In fact, I'm miserable. The only thing keeping me here is dicipline. But I take nothing. No asperin, cold medicine, cough syrup, anti-depressant, or pharmaceutical of any kind. Still, I manage to hold down a job, pay my bills, and help care for my aging parents. I may be a jerk but I'm a responsible jerk. Except for my anger and depression, I'm in perfect health. I don't need treatment. I need the world I'm stuck in to be a better place. I strongly suspect the same would apply to most of you. Like I said, our screwed-up society is not the environment that nature intended for us. Neither is a daily routine of pills, powders, creams, and ointments. Most of these products serve no purpose but to confuse our bodies, tax our internal organs, lower our natural tolerance for pain, and put us further in debt. Give it some thought.

Check that ad up there to the right. That is no coincidence people. Like I said, its a shady industry. These people have market research down to a science. Don't fall for it. Don't click on the ad. Don't be their perfect little stereotype. Break the cycle.

RE: "ONE GUESS", "GREED", ETC ...

Your cautioning the public about being subjected to constant media marketing is valid, but Americans are simply brainwashed consumers with no clue as to what is going on. Who can be trusted? Which message is correct? Is the media "expert" competent in the field or is he/she simply another hired promoter? Unfortunately psychology is the new corporate tool used to increase sales and control employees. Media is now used for marketing instead of education. How can one tell the difference?

[ADHD meds are indicated sometimes, NOT all the time. Make sure your case is treated properly.]

RE: DR. SALTZ and ADULT ADD:
Dr. Saltz falls for the same misconception she attacks in her article - that ADD people are considered "dumb". While she addresses this and claims "many ADD adults are bright", her first sentence after listing symptoms of adult ADD: "On the flipside many adults with ADD are highly intelligent and creative people". Dr. Saltz's "flipside" refers to the symptoms stated before this sentence. What this implies is that adults with ADD displaying these symptoms are not bright. THIS IS INCORRECT!

Common ADD symptoms like lack of organization, easy distractibility, impulsivity, restlessness have NOTHING to do with intelligence. Often the smarter the ADD person, the more pronounced these symptoms may be. Her statement implies smart people don't display these symptoms, which could not be further from the truth. Smart adults with ADD often display their symptoms "with passion", as an intelligent individual has more tools to bring to the equation.

ADULT ADD is rarely discussed. Dr. Saltz's column brings out important points for adults who didn't realize they lived with ADD all their lives. Being diagnosed with ADD feels like coming out of a closet! Difficulties in personal relationships often head the list of individual difficulties. ADD people frequently attract each other. Awareness of the way ADD affects relationships is invaluable to an ADD couple trying to handle life's difficulties together.

Recently it was reported that ADD brains develop at a slower rate than non-ADD brains. The conclusion was that although they develop at a slower rate, lagging by 2 or more years, eventually ADD brains "caught up" with normally developing brains. Perhaps it isn't that the ADD brain develops "slower than" a normal brain, but that the ADD brain develops differently and continues in a different direction over the lifetime of the individual?

ADD people don't suddenly think like "normal" people when their brain development "catches up". Instead, ADD people continue to think in a way peculiar to people with the ADD condition. ADD is a disadvantage because our educational system and workplace are set up to maximize learning and performance of people with "normal" or non-ADD brains. People with ADD are in the minority and continue to be ignored by a society set up to serve the majority.

When we learn the benefits of ADD, we will be able to take advantage of that condition. Until then we remain limited, having only vague ideas of benefits of having ADD - like being better with computers and better at thinking "outside the box" than non-ADD people.

Why isn't adult ADD discussed more frequently? Perhaps there's a "conspiracy" by the majority, those without ADD, to prevent ADD people from surpassing them in many areas?

The majority continues to rule, the media continues to market to the clueless masses, and most remain oblivious to it all, by choice. Reality is often too painful for those whose main defense is denial.

After having lived a very difficult life with an ocean of failures despite rocket propelled effort it is outright painful to hear good souls saying ADHD doesn't exist.

Thank you for bringing this to the public's attention. I've mentioned my concern about myself to my doctor and have basicially been dismissed and put on anti-depressants. I don't believe I need them, I need to deal with my ADD. I don't recall being like this as a child. I was an over-achiever and an A-B student. It has become more noticiable to me since my early 30's that I think things started to change. Is this possible?

While adult ADD is a real condition adults need to be very careful about taking medications for any extended period of time. New research (and some old stuff that was suppressed by the drug companies) shows that continued use of the stimulants and other drugs leads to more severe psychiatric conditions and psychosis in significant numbers of adults. In addition the drug "adderall" is a mixed amphetamine salt that is addictive and can contain more than 5% methamphetamine.

My life has always been so scattered. I bore quickly, and then will jump to another activity or train of thought. On the other hand, I hyper focus on inane details that capture my imagination. The outlines of my life are a mess, as is my house. My mind usually is operating "outside the box" which makes me seem super creative with innovative ideas.

The downside has me bogged down, so I never seem to be able to get above my physical chaos to actually do what is in my mind. For instance I design complicated quilts in my head, seeing the nuance of colors and small shapes to create overall great quilt designs. However, I have never made a quilt and probaly never will because the doing is tedius, and besides I would have to clear a space to work, which presents other problems. You all understand.

I am not able to do simple household chores that others do without thought. It is much easier for me to create something. Simple chores (sweeping a floor) requires so much effort. When I do, it feels like I am very sick and tired and walking up 3,000 steps, needing to concentrate on each step to complete it. Doing something else, that might be complicated for some, is fun and effortless. You know what happens. My husband has insisted that I only do what is fun for me. He is right about that, but he doesn't understand how impossibly difficult normal life and simple chores are for me.

I have always been this way, and was termed a difficult child, not easily molded by the thinking of others. In fact, I was called "no damn good", as well as other things. I'm over that now, but not without therapy. ADD was not known of when I was a child. I learned coping strategies when I was a kid, and did well in school, being an interested and cooperative student.

I was diagnosed in adulthood, and put on meds. I found that the coping mechanisms I employed worked better than drugs. I have learned more about ADD and have employed adsitional strategies to help me keep on track. But even now, writing this for the ADD forum is my ADD at work. I have so many other things to do, need to do today, and here I am clicking away on my keyboard.

My husband just doesn't get it. He operates by making lists and crosses things off as he completes them. He keeps making lists for me, thinking it would help. I appreciate his help, but I know he can't grasp what it is to have ADD. When I tell him what I really need (cleaning help, for instance) he does his best so I can function better.

I think he has put up with the chaos created by my ADD because I have interesting ideas, can be off the wall with fun, steadfast in my loyalty and have lots of friends who adore me, as he does. There is an upside and a downside. He has to tolerate lots of physical chaos in our home, which is a huge trial for him. I too want a less chaotic home environment, but am honestly unable to achieve it.

If I could release my need to decide for myself what I need to keep and where to put it, I could have friends remake my household (believe me, they are itching to do it). If I could get this far in the process I would be under tremendous pressure to maintain the order under their watchful eyes.

Why yes indeed. What a fabulous idea. Having friends declutter and organize me and then monitor me is probably what I need. For I certainly am not a "self starter" or "completer" in this area. It was worth my while to meander through my thoughts as I wrote this to to arrive at what I need to do, but don't want to do, because I honestly can't do it myself. Thanks.

It's obvious to me that my friend has ADD, but she won't seek medical treatment for it. [I've asked her to see an MD, she won't even talk about it.] My gripe is that ADD affects her work performance, and since I often quality-review her work, her frequent errors become MY problem. Any recommendations?

Yes, I truly believe that adult ADD exists. I am so glad to hear that people have had more luck with behavior modifications than with medications. I work in a Family Practice doctor's office however and I will tell you, I can't believe how many people take medications like Adderall and Ritalin. There is no way I believe that all of them have ADD. I think they are drug addicts who take uppers, often to to offset little sleep and a variety of downers. As do my colleagues.

Perhaps labels like ADD and ADHD were invented by the "normal" majority to make themselves look less like joyless, uncreative plodders. Thank Heavens we don't all think like them!

By the way, 'one guess', you're absolutely right to be suspicious, but you sound as if you might benefit from increasing some nutrients in your diet, such as Omega 3 oils and the minerals calcium and magnesium. They, along with B vitamins, enable the nervous system to operate efficiently and smoothly. More focus and better sleep. Less friction, irritability and depression. I can't get along without them myself, maybe they'll help others. And, obviously, avoid alcohol like it was poisonous because it IS!

And, 'marty', lists actually DO help! I make outlines, starting with the big items and working down to the little steps that are necessary to accomplish the goals. And then I try to stick with it, even though I fall off the wagon, a lot. Nothing ever happens, I think, without a master plan - even for the plodders. They call it disciplined goal setting and it's how sky scrapers get built.

I have an enlarged heart and messed up circulatory system now as the result of an adverse reaction to a recent wonder drug, so I'm leery of ever being made into a guinea pig by the pharmaceutical racket again. For any reason, even if it helps me to operate "normally". I'd rather be creative and disorganized than leave a spotless house for my survivors to hold a wake in for me.

One of my friends is almost 85 years old (I'm nearly 60) and he says that he, too, has been this way (ADD) all his life. He's a bright, funny former pilot who recites poetry, hits on the girls and is still teaching art. His house is a mess.

My neighbor across the street is a dull witless old plodder. His house is spotless. Nobody's perfect, I guess.

Stay hydrated, amigos.

My problem is, I am a recovering addict and alcoholic. My doc says I cant take any of the meds without affecting my sobriety. Suggestions?

Hip, hip hooray! Adult Attention Deficit is coming to the forefront...affirming those of us who have it as NOT being "stupid" or "slow." Finally, we are being validated for our brilliance and creative thoughts.

Oftentimes we are wanted for our ideas, but are criticized for not being able to produce...and then deemed worthless. This is devaluing, which further traumatizes us.

I will not go into my life story of struggle. I have had my days...many, many days. To say that getting an education was a struggle is an UNDERSTATEMENT! As an adult in my late 50's I have learned to find/create my own personal humor...laughing at the awkward moments that define my life. Believe me, it is necessary when one is the last born in a family of "normal" brilliants.

In my mom's latter years, she (finally) validated me, saying, "You are ADD aren't you? Trying to be "like us" has been so hard for you." Then she went on to share with me how she loved my creative thinking...and she bought me the following book, and we read it together. I HIGHLY recommend this book:

"Women with Attention Deficit Disorder" by Sari Solden. ISBN 1-887424-05-9.

With a book shelf of 11 books on organization, the one I found which works for me is: "How Not to be a Messie - The Ultimate Guide for the Neatness-Challenged" by Sandra Felton. ISBN 10: 1-57866-043-2.

I hope these suggestions help you, too. They don't erase the facts, but they help us to validate ourselves.

Be and live encouraged.

I was not disagnosed with ADD until college. The medication and support made such a difference. I finally understood why I am the way I am and how to adapt my study habits and life to make things work for me with ADD. I graduated at the top of my class for my bachelors degree. I am now at the top of my class for my Masters degree program.
The misconception that ADD children and adults are dumb is a horrible stigma that only adds to the pressure of hiding the diagnosis. It is sad that society wants to label anyone different from the norm and those with ADD or learning disabilities as dumb, second class, or wierd.
The book mentioned earlier by JT, Women with Attention Defict Disorder is great!!

I have known for a long time that I was a victim of this disorder. School was horrible for me and I was made to feel like I was a total loser by teachers, etc. I then turned into "super woman" as an adult, trying to make all my ideas "come to life", some successes some not.
I am now disabled and unable to work and my home and my life is ONE BIG MESS. I start things and never finish, can't seem to get through one project. My depression has worsened and these past few months I have become very close to being suicidial. Meds have not helped and my family has seemed to give up on me. Even cleaning has become a problem for me, what can I do? I have lost all hope.

Regarding “Adult ADD”

The difficulty of diagnosing and “treating” Adult ADD is that the symptoms and circumstances of everyone who might have AADD are subjective.

It is also confusing to equate people who have trouble focusing on a specific task with people who get easily distracted by other tasks. People in the latter group do NOT have AADD but rather have Attention Priority Disorder.

It is similar to why very “smart” students sometimes test poorly and do poorly in class because they are actually bored and they think their teacher is a jerk. If that sounds familiar, it is why our “education machinery” has more trouble dealing with smart kids than stupid kids and why the main motivation of giving children ADD medications is not to help them learn but to “dumb them down” so that they can be more controllable in class by likely mediocre teachers. (Of course, that is only MY opinion.)

The comparable problem with Adult Attention Priority Disorder is that a person becomes quickly disinterested in boring tasks. The challenge of diagnosis is that “what is boring” is a subjective as “what is pornography.”

There is also another factor that has been totally ignored, which is if you can’t see or find the task list, it becomes very difficult to follow or accomplish it.

Understanding that I can’t follow or comprehend what is on my task list is one of my accomplishments at age 60 after almost 5 years of disability CAUSED by my “progressive glasses” and their being 1 diopter too strong. My initial inability to be able to work for 2 years had me trying Concerta for two more years to “treat” my ADD to no avail. After being “certified sane” by a psychiatrist, and having nine months of excellent but unproductive weekly discussions with psychologist, I realized that not only could my psychologist not see the source of my inability to do “executive office work” but sitting eight feet away from the psychologist, I realized that I could NOT clearly see the psychologist.

The next day is when I had my eyes examined by a different optometrist who documented the fault with my glasses, and had that prescription verified two days later by an ophthalmologist. The problem with “my behavior” was not only could I NOT follow a list, my close vision was so distorted by my mis-prescription that I could not FIND the list. (Literally.)

Now that I have gotten both the correct prescription for my “progressive glasses” and have “computer glasses” to wear while working I have STOPPED taking the Concerta and have gone back to being extremely productive in an (office) executive capacity. (Two different lawyers have also informed me that I have NO legal action against the mis-prescribing optometrist, and I was stunned after stopping the Concerta at how it was actually “dumbing” me down.)

What I have learned, however, is that inherent in presbyopia associated with vision aging is not only the inability to adjust to seeing objects at closer distances, but the inability to comprehend what you seeing at close distances inherent in the narrow clear vision area of “progressive glasses.” Almost all “progressive glasses” have a clear vision area that is only about one-third the width of a normal computer monitor. It is the visual equivalent of trying to breath through a straw.

It is the reason why so many of my older associates are not able to adjust to “progressive glasses” and/or exhibit symptoms of dementia that are really visual and not biological. As one music teacher friend explained to me about her bi-focals versus the progressive glasses she tried, “You can’t sight read music one note at a time.”

What is needed is NOT more automatic medication for older adults who exhibit symptoms of ADD but rather a way of testing to see whether the dysfunction behavior is vision related. (The most likely victims of this problem are people who wear bifocals or trifocals because of their “inability” to adjust to progressive glasses.) Without such recognition of this vision and comprehension problem we are likely forcing a significant percentage of older people to take an early (or forced) retirement, and severely crippling their ability to enjoy being able to function productively.

More details and comments are on www.induceddyslexia.com and I would appreciate anyone who would be interested in being part of such a vision study or could help devise such a study.

Thank you,
Allan

I cringe to hear phrases like "I get bored easily" or "I can't concentrate to read a book" so I must be ADHD...Let's please not confuse personality traits with ADHD. If you have the flu, you can look at the symptoms of malaria and talk yourself into the fact you have that.

I think we need to slow down with the labels and look at the people individually and what they do well and don't do well. I understand as a society that labels allow us some alleviation of guilt in trying to understand others. I see it happening with autism as we speak. We feel the need to put autistic children in their own category so we can feel better. "Oh he's autistic, then his behavior is OK...I'm glad you told me that because I was going to say he is 'odd'."

Also, lets not underestimate the role becoming an adult can play...There are greater stresses with family, work, expectations, etc...We get less sleep, eat worse, and get less exercise...So if you have never had symptoms as a child and all of sudden you are having difficulties, please look here first.

My tips that I use(all a distant second from finding an incredible spouse/girl/boy/friend that understands and sees the greatness others don't)
1. Mindmapping tools (I use mindjets mindmanager)
2. I use a tablet pc
3. I have much better luck working with Doctors that predominantly work with children...to walk in and see toys laying around helps...he works with heroin addicts as well so I like to think I am maybe a bright spot in his day
4. This book http://thebackofthenapkin.com/

Good Luck...

Hello everyone, I'm larry and i have ADD. I have been taking meds and therapy for over ten years. I am 51 years of age and I am truely " great and getting better! Without the meds and the knowage I now have from years of retraining thru years of therapy,(which i believe was more of the life teachings I missed before learning of my ADD). it takes time and can be very frustrating but, I'll take the meds and knowege from therapy anytime to the feelings of failure and not being able to comprehend. I now am able to be a part of any conversation on any subject and know when to walk away from the ones i don't want to be a part of. This is also true in all situations from work to my relationships with friends and family etc.
I struggled with all the addictions, drinking and all the drugs of the 70s and 80s. Have been through a divorce and have two grown children. And now am planning to be married for the second time in a few months. Nothing is easy, nothing is given it's all hard work. To all who are struggling, get help it is out there, find support and if it works for you take the meds. I have been on several different drugs for ADD thru the years, dexerdrine, adderal, and now I am on a patch called daytrana. I put it on in the morning and 9 hours later I take it off. it is working good for me now cause i need only apply it once in the morning. And for the person who was taking adderall and asked if it wears out after taking it for a prolonged time. That happened to me with dexerdrine and adderall after taking it for a few years. So yes change meds when they stop working ,or increase the dosage. Talk to your doctor first.
I hope this does help some of you that it applies too. If anyone would like to you can email me at legmardigrasman04@yahoo.com