Inattentive ADD vs. ADHD...going to get tested soon. Thanks to info on this site!

[steveb]

About a year ago I realized that I had ADD. (doing research about my son's ADD)

It looks like I have Inattentive-ADD, not ADHD.

I was not going to seek treatment because I couldn't see any real problems from it besides some organizational things.

 

But, because of the recent posts concerning ADD causing resentment in marriage, I have decided to call my doctor today to be tested or start treatment ASAP.

 

Thanks for the heads up people.

[dyermaker]

This has nothing to do with anything, and despite the irony of me being off-topic in a thread about ADD, I'm going to ask it anyway:

 

What's your avatar?

[moimeme]

Steveb - good on ya!

 

To absolutely everyone else; that adults can have AD/HD is still largely not well-known. Four percent of the population is estimated to have AD/HD; that's a LOT of folks. It is my hope that the symptoms of AD/HD will one day be as well-known as those of depression.

 

IS THIS YOU?

 

* I always feel as though I have not achieved enough

 

* I have trouble getting organized

 

* I often procrastinate or have trouble getting going

 

* I tend to juggle a lot of projects which rarely get completed

 

* I interrupt people and/or blurt out what comes to my mind

 

* I seem to always need stimulation

 

* I get bored easily

 

* Sometimes I get distracted or tune out easily; other times I am so totally focused I work for hours on one thing

 

* I am considered creative, intuitive, and/ or highly intelligent

 

* I have trouble going through established channels or following proper procedures

 

* I am impatient; I have a low tolerance for frustration

 

* I give in to my frequent impulses to spend money, change plans, start new things

 

* Sometimes I worry needlessly; other times I can ignore or disregard dangers

 

* Sometimes I have a sense of impending doom, other times I take big risks.

 

* I experience mood swings or depression, especially when disengaged from a person or a project

 

* I am often restless, with lots of nervous energy

 

* I have a tendency toward addictive behavior with respect to alcohol, caffeine, shopping, eating, and/or overwork

 

* I have always had poor self-esteem

 

* I am told I am bad at self-observation and that I misjudge the impact I have on others

 

* In my family, there have been cases of AD/HD, manic-depressive illness, depression, substance abuse, or other disorders of impulse control

 

Have you been called 'lazy', 'stupid', 'unmotivated', and 'selfish' all your life?

 

If you answered "Yes" to fifteen or more symptoms then you may have ADHD. Please contact an ADD professional for a complete diagnosis.

 

(Adapted from Edward M. Hallowell, MD and John J. Ratey, MD)

 

The above is a short version of test questions. If you want a more thorough self-test, go to http://www.amenclinic.com and click on the tests; there are two totalling over 100 questions.

[steveb]

go to http://www.amenclinic.com and click on the tests

 

That is where I found out that I most likely have the Inattentive form of ADD.

 

Oh, and the avetar is just a cool 3D streached out glass thingy I have as my Windows background.

[ca]

Thats very good news for you! Im happy for you, that you have decided to take note of the problems you are having and biggest thing of all, taking steps towards trying to analyse and rectify it if necessary!

 

I hope you are able to sort out your ADD problem soon, and get on with life in a better more peaceful, both for you and your loved ones !

 

I hope the same would happen to my husband too, someday! Gues, it needs some amount of sensitiveness, and a little less ego, to go ahead and try to check both sides of the same coin, to go ahead and browse through sites, talk to people, and get some counselling... He isnt there yet, very long long way to go.

 

Best wishes !!!!!

[VivianLee]

Originally posted by steveb

That is where I found out that I most likely have the Inattentive form of ADD.

 

Oh, and the avetar is just a cool 3D streached out glass thingy I have as my Windows background.

 

 

Phew..I thought it was a spider!!!!!

[dyermaker]

Originally posted by VivianLee

Phew..I thought it was a spider!!!!!

 

as did I

[Thinkalot]

Originally posted by steveb

That is where I found out that I most likely have the Inattentive form of ADD.

 

Oh, and the avetar is just a cool 3D streached out glass thingy I have as my Windows background.

 

Steve, I've done that test too, and found that I could have it too. I psychologist suggested I take the test. As a child I was very intelligent but had behavioural problems also.

 

I particularly notice that I start many projects at once, then forget to finish them all. My line of work is creative, yet I bore very easily and need lots of stimulation. Sometimes I think these traits have made the other problems I have posted on this site, more difficult, and more likely to occur.

 

Good luck to you.

[moimeme]

AD/HD often comes 'bundled' with one or more other disorders, including OCD, bipolar, anxiety disorders, depression - you name it, people have it as a comorbidity.

[lostforwords]

so if i answered yes to all questions.. does that mean im doomed?......

[moimeme]

Last I heard, people who tested positive for all the symptoms weren't put to death.

 

What it would mean, were it to be the case, would be that you should get formally tested and diagnosed by a psychologist in order to be treated.

[lostforwords]

well.... i answered yes to most of the questions... ok ALL... so i guess that explains a lot..... either that or i shouldnt drink or eat anything with sugar in it lol...... but it does give me something to definately look into.... thanks moimeme for posting that.

[moimeme]

You're welcome. Spread the word. ADD can make one's life awful rough. Fortunately, the majority of people with it can be helped by meds and other treatments.

[Errol]

Wait a minute. You mean everyone isn't like this? This descirbes me perfectly -- I can answer YES to all of them and give examples from throughout my life. I don't think there is anything wrong with me! Certainly no doctor has ever suggested anything is wrong with me and back in school I was simply called a 'realist', or an 'impatient realist.'

 

 

Originally posted by moimeme

Steveb - good on ya!

 

To absolutely everyone else; that adults can have AD/HD is still largely not well-known. Four percent of the population is estimated to have AD/HD; that's a LOT of folks. It is my hope that the symptoms of AD/HD will one day be as well-known as those of depression.

 

IS THIS YOU?

 

* I always feel as though I have not achieved enough

 

* I have trouble getting organized

 

* I often procrastinate or have trouble getting going

 

* I tend to juggle a lot of projects which rarely get completed

 

* I interrupt people and/or blurt out what comes to my mind

 

* I seem to always need stimulation

 

* I get bored easily

 

* Sometimes I get distracted or tune out easily; other times I am so totally focused I work for hours on one thing

 

* I am considered creative, intuitive, and/ or highly intelligent

 

* I have trouble going through established channels or following proper procedures

 

* I am impatient; I have a low tolerance for frustration

 

* I give in to my frequent impulses to spend money, change plans, start new things

 

* Sometimes I worry needlessly; other times I can ignore or disregard dangers

 

* Sometimes I have a sense of impending doom, other times I take big risks.

 

* I experience mood swings or depression, especially when disengaged from a person or a project

 

* I am often restless, with lots of nervous energy

 

* I have a tendency toward addictive behavior with respect to alcohol, caffeine, shopping, eating, and/or overwork

 

* I have always had poor self-esteem

 

* I am told I am bad at self-observation and that I misjudge the impact I have on others

 

* In my family, there have been cases of AD/HD, manic-depressive illness, depression, substance abuse, or other disorders of impulse control

 

Have you been called 'lazy', 'stupid', 'unmotivated', and 'selfish' all your life?

 

If you answered "Yes" to fifteen or more symptoms then you may have ADHD. Please contact an ADD professional for a complete diagnosis.

 

(Adapted from Edward M. Hallowell, MD and John J. Ratey, MD)

 

The above is a short version of test questions. If you want a more thorough self-test, go to http://www.amenclinic.com and click on the tests; there are two totalling over 100 questions.

[Tony T]

"I can answer YES to all of them and give examples from throughout my life. I don't think there is anything wrong with me!"

 

There very well may be nothing wrong with you at all. But at the same time, I have to think if you answered yes to most of the questions, you have some issues that may be worth exploring with a professional. Go take the entire test at http://www.amenclinic.com If you still feel the same way after taking the entire test, seek out professional guidance. Working on these issues could be a very life-changing experience for you!!!

[Errol]

I went and took the whole test and I have to say, I think it rates right up there with seeing a psychic! There is nothing wrong with the behaviors listed, well, most of them. Everyone I know shares a lot of those behaviors! It's called life and dealing with it.

 

Someone who is suicidal needs some help -- but who hasn't thought about killing themselves at some point? Has anyone ever NOT said "I wish I was dead" at some low point in their life? Or thought about how to do it painlessly? The people who attempt it for real may need some help because they are not handling lifes problems and that may be medical and environment pressures, but it doesn't mean that they are all mentally ill and need to be on some kind of mind-altering drug. Shades of Stepford Wives.

 

I know that depression exists. I know that there are some cases where the brain misfires chemical impulses and triggers harmful behavior, but most of the questions on the test are harmless and part of normal behavior.

 

Going and getting tested for something that you suspect may be wrong is good - find out and go from there, but this whole test just seems like a big come-on for bored people and a way to initiate spending more money at a doctor.

 

Thats my opinion.

[Tony T]

EVERYBODY feels most of those things one time or another in their lives. However, if during the test the descriptions fit how you are or how you feel much of the time, then you have issues. More than likely you misunderstood the test. Answer the questions keeping in mind that they are asking if you feel those things a great deal of the time. If you do, you should get evaluated...plain and simple. There are a lot of people whose lives would change dramatically if they got help and didn't sink into denial.

 

Again, if you feel a lot of those things just once in a while, you are just fine. Merry Christmas!!!

[Errol]

I understood the test, and my answers were based on my overall feelings/experiences. However, I do not want my life to change. I am happy with the way it is going, even the disappointments, frustrations, and anxiety. I'm used to it and the thought of taking some drug for the rest of my life so that I can fit into some kind of prescribed 'format for life' is what I think is wrong. Everyone needs help sometimes, but to take a drug/substance to alter the mind/behavior to fit a pattern just does not feel right - I would be more upset about that.

 

My mother suffered from depression. She didn't know it until she was in her 60's. Prior to that it was considered moodiness, anger, or a surrender to outside forces and being a realist! In her 60's she was told that she was manic depressive by a doctor, who stuck her in therapy and put her on drugs. She was calm most of the time, didn't have mood swings, could still think clearly and function, but was the saddest person around because she didn't feel like herself and we all missed the "mom" we grew up with. Not having the mood swings was nice, but she lost something else too. She tried to get off the medications the doctor had her on, but that had some effect on her and she got very ill physically and her emotions were so far out of control that there was nothing to do buy stay medicated the rest of her life.

 

I'd rather be angry, anxious, and expect the worst, and experience those feelings as intensely as I do then be medicated so that all feelings are dulled - including intense joy, jubilation, etc.

[steveb]

When I took the test, I only went back about a month for reference.

Of course, if you use your whole life, one could probably say yes to all of them.

 

I believe that the issue is the combination and frequency of those yes answers.

[moimeme]

Errol;

 

If you answered 'yes' to this one in particular:

 

I am told I am bad at self-observation and that I misjudge the impact I have on others

 

Then it is unsurprising that you have answered the way you did. By the way, it's a myth that 'everyone feels all of those things' - but, again, if the above is true of you, then that's how you'd think.

 

Essentially, disorders ARE 'normal' behaviours. Washing one's hands is normal. Washing one's hands dozens of times a day is not. That test is designed to determine how many of those characteristics you have and to what severity. You are considered to have a disorder based on the number of symptoms and extent to which they occur.

 

Plenty of people with disorders remark, as you have; I'd rather be angry, anxious, and expect the worst, and experience those feelings as intensely as I do then be medicated so that all feelings are dulled - including intense joy, jubilation, etc.

 

First of all, this shows that you haven't bothered to learn about the treatment for ADD. I've read hundreds of accounts and met people who've been treated. They say they feel NO different; just 'more like themselves'. The changes in them are often not even noticeable to them - it's the people around them who see that their behaviour becomes much easier to deal with.

 

Secondly, people with disorders who state that sort of thing eventually get sick of not being able to hold jobs, maintain relationships, and generally not being able to do well in their lives. It is when they get completely crushed by all these events that they eventually seek help - only to be sorry that they didn't do so before.

[cdn]

I think there is a real tendency to form diagnoses for what are simply personality characteristics. Does that mean that there are no true sufferers of ADD (or fill in the name of your favorite disorder here)? Of course not. But are the current numbers of people being diagnosed credible? I'd say no to that, too.

 

The fact is that the quirky people of the world -- from Einstein to Sartre to Bach -- are who make things go. I'm not sure that ascribing a diagnosis to them all is necessarily beneficial for anyone.

 

To be sure, if a person is unable to hold a job or maintain relationships, something is wrong. But there is currently an obsession with labeling -- and medicating away -- every quirk of human nature. In the US , schoolchildren are routinely required to be drugged as a condition of attendance, ostensibly because they have ADD. The concept that perhaps the teaching or materials are stultifying is not considered, nor that different people learn in different ways and that a "one-size-fits-all" classroom is bound to create so-called behavioral problems.

 

Yet research has shown that many of the characteristics exhibited by those with ADD are the same in those who are simply bright:

 

James T. Webb and Diane Latimer ("ADHD and Children Who Are Gifted, ERIC Digest #522) list the entire diagnostic criteria for ADHD in the DSM-IIIR, and then follow it with: "Almost all of these behaviors, however, might be found in bright, talented, creative, gifted children."

 

Again, yes, there are some people who genuinely have disorders that need treatment. But the current trend toward labeling all manner of human behavior is not a good one, imo.

[Errol]

Originally posted by moimeme

Errol;

 

If you answered 'yes' to this one in particular:

 

I am told I am bad at self-observation and that I misjudge the impact I have on others

 

Then it is unsurprising that you have answered the way you did. By the way, it's a myth that 'everyone feels all of those things' - but, again, if the above is true of you, then that's how you'd think.

My, what uninformed and broad statements you make! It's simply called "impatience"!

 

Essentially, disorders ARE 'normal' behaviours. Washing one's hands is normal. Washing one's hands dozens of times a day is not. That test is designed to determine how many of those characteristics you have and to what severity. You are considered to have a disorder based on the number of symptoms and extent to which they occur.

That is just as silly as those relationships tests in magazines! "You are considered" by whom? by you? By some doctor who does not know me? Even people with Ph.D, MD, etc. after their name do not know everything and misdiagnose people and don't even agree with everyone else in their profession. All that test means is that anyone COULD have ADD. Whoopee. People without those so-called symptoms could have ADD also.

 

Plenty of people with disorders remark, as you have; I'd rather be angry, anxious, and expect the worst, and experience those feelings as intensely as I do then be medicated so that all feelings are dulled - including intense joy, jubilation, etc.

 

First of all, this shows that you haven't bothered to learn about the treatment for ADD.

You are really reaching here. My statment does not show anything. You don't know me and you are jumping to conclusions here big time. I HAVE bothered to learn about ADD and the treatments. You don't have near enough information to make such a conclusive statement.

 

 

I've read hundreds of accounts and met people who've been treated. They say they feel NO different; just 'more like themselves'. The changes in them are often not even noticeable to them - it's the people around them who see that their behaviour becomes much easier to deal with.

I know people too and I've read articles - just because its in black and white doesn't make it an absolute fact that applies to everyone. The part about being easier to deal with -- my mother was DIFFERENT to deal with and we all adjusted. She was diagnosed with manic depression and the manic phases kept the rest of us on our toes, but we all adjusted to dealing with her, just as we all adjust to dealing with everyone.

 

There is a BIG component in this and that is hyperactivity. That is not present in everyone who is diagnosed, or in everyone who has "15 or more" of those behaviors.

 

Secondly, people with disorders who state that sort of thing eventually get sick of not being able to hold jobs, maintain relationships, and generally not being able to do well in their lives. It is when they get completely crushed by all these events that they eventually seek help - only to be sorry that they didn't do so before.

People can be crushed by life without having some "condition" or being labeled. It's called LIFE.

 

There are people who get themselves diagnosed and on drugs who don't need to be. They want some kind of happiness that they feel is eluding them and they think a drug is going to help. Thats what the folks thought back in the 60's who took LSD.

 

If someone thinks they have a medical problem, then yes - see some doctors and be properly diagnosed - but be careful because some of these feelings and behaviors are NOT a symptom of an illness - they are just part of life--even if they transpire over your whole lifetime.

 

My friends and family do not have problems "dealing" with me. I have people who love me and who I love. I am a realist. I don't expect to be happy all of the time. I expect to have problems here and there and I'm prepared for them -- as best I can be. I get bored of one job - I go to another - that's why I work contract. Lots of perfectly healthy people are bored in their jobs! But we have to work so we do.

 

I did not put a smiley face after my initial comment of "wait, you mean everyone isn't like this?" which I should have done because I was being sarcastic. You seemed to take it seriously and jumped to a lot of conclusions based on your perception, even though you qualified your initial statment with "if".

 

You brough up some valid points, but I still maintain that these 100-question tests that give an automated response are no more valid than the "does your lover respect you? Take this quiz to find out" tests in magazines. Only a qualified doctor, using medical tests and talking to a person can make a diagnosis and with this new ADD AD/HD labeling system misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment happens.

[VivianLee]

At some point in our lives we could answer YES to all those questions but it could be due to depression, a chemical imbalance or hormones....Hey, my teenager and all her teenage friends, male or female could answer YES to all these questions but I think that's just due to being teens! I think it's important to have these self tests available to get a person aware of what might be wrong then they need to head straight to a professional for the proper therapy or medication.....

 

My world was sooooo limited due to depression and panic attacks! After seeing the symptoms online, I got help and have never felt better! Never hesitate to get help! I lived in a state of limbo for 10 yrs until I got treatment. Then I felt "ashamed" (due to family members that think they are too HOLY for medicine) that I had to take medicine to function. Now I don't care who knows I need meds to function and I don't mind suggesting to some people they may want to take some too!! LOLOL!!

 

In fact, if you find someone without any problems that doesn't require med intervention (some may be on this board)......they are the one's that aren't normal!! hehehehe!!

[Errol]

Originally posted by VivianLee

At some point in our lives we could answer YES to all those questions but it could be due to depression, a chemical imbalance or hormones....Hey, my teenager and all her teenage friends, male or female could answer YES to all these questions but I think that's just due to being teens! I think it's important to have these self tests available to get a person aware of what might be wrong then they need to head straight to a professional for the proper therapy or medication.....

 

My world was sooooo limited due to depression and panic attacks! After seeing the symptoms online, I got help and have never felt better! Never hesitate to get help! I lived in a state of limbo for 10 yrs until I got treatment. Then I felt "ashamed" (due to family members that think they are too HOLY for medicine) that I had to take medicine to function. Now I don't care who knows I need meds to function and I don't mind suggesting to some people they may want to take some too!! LOLOL!!

 

In fact, if you find someone without any problems that doesn't require med intervention (some may be on this board)......they are the one's that aren't normal!! hehehehe!!

 

Define "normal" please.

 

I'm glad you got the help you need. There is nothing wrong with taking medications, and staying on them, if you need them and they help.

 

If you saw a test on-line or in a magazine that made you suspicious about a problem you were having and prompted you to seek professional, qualified, medical help - good. I'm all for that.

 

I just think it is very humurous that some people can post a little bit about themselves on an internet board and other people will come along, ask a few questions, post a link, and then proceed to diagnose someone they never met!

 

cdn stated it well. My remarks are geared to these on-line/magazine quizes that can send an insecure person running to a doctor, convinced they have some disease and that drugs and therapy will help, when all they may need is to talk to someone that can help them figure out and address some problems in their life.

[moimeme]

You have just all spouted the myths which keep people with genuine disorders from getting treatment.

I am not going to dispute this with you.

 

Before you pose any further uneducated opinions, kindly visit http://www.amenclinic.com. LOOK at the brain spect scans of people with these disorders, please. Notice the differences in the brain scans between people who have them and people who don't.

 

Then, kindly visit this link and read the following sublinks which refute the myths you have all just spouted here.

http://www.help4adhd.org/en/about/myths

 

Myths & Misunderstandings

Myths and Misconceptions About AD/HD:

Science over Cynicism

By Phyllis Anne Teeter Ellison, Ed.D.

 

Myth # 1: AD/HD is Not a Real Disorder

Myth # 2: AD/HD is a Disorder of Childhood

Myth # 3: AD/HD is Over-Diagnosed

Myth # 4: Children with AD/HD are Over-medicated

Myth # 5: Poor Parenting Causes AD/HD

Myth # 6: Minority Children are Over-Diagnosed with AD/HD and are Over-Medicated

Myth # 7: Girls Have Lower Rates and Less Severe AD/HD than Boys

 

 

Finally, read the International Consensus Statement on ADHD written by over 100 scientists to combat the very myths you have just propounded:

 

http://www.addwarehouse.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/consensus.html

 

I know people with AD/HD. I lived with one. Trust me on this. There is a HUGE difference between the behaviour of a non-disordered person and that of one with a disorder. Unfortunately, it is people with zero knowledge about these issues who speak on them as though they have the faintest idea of what they speak.

 

Ignorance breeds only more ingnorance. Kindly educate yourselves so that you can speak with some authority on an issue.