Posted by HelenInCalif on April 7, 2004, at 16:54:11
In reply to Brain fog, posted by jms600 on April 7, 2004, at 14:07:33
The daydreaming, mind-wandering, unable to concentrate and get things done sounds like me. I have the non-hyperactive type of ADD, and didn't get diagnosed until after college (too bad, I might have gotten A's not C's).
Because of this ADD I became depressed and stressed at times- poor school or job performance- and it really was the effects of ADD causing those problems. Post diagnosis they went away because I can finally live up to my potential.
Luckily a family member was diagnosed and I saw that "hey, I'm like that too." I started reading and researching it. (A book I liked was "Women with ADD..." because it focuses on this lesser known type of ADD. (useful to read even if you aren't female.)) I found a pdoc familiar with ADD, got ritalin, and my life changed. I could focus on tasks and not get constantly distracted.
Its true he probably won't give you a prescription right away. You'd want to come prepared for scepticism and/ or diagnosis tests.
One problem is some docs believe ADD only exists if you were diagnosed in childhood. I think that's wrong, because
1. the Daydreamy ADHD type of ADD wasn't well known then
2. This ADHD isn't disruptive to others, so is less likely to be noticed
3. If you're smart enough you can compensate throughout high school. I could. But then college- what a nightmare. Everyone was just as smart and I couldn't study as well as them = trouble.So you might have to show that retrospectively you had ADD. For me I had good evidence (high SATs, high GREs, yet low grades in college, inability to study like everyone else, inability to focus at work and in meeting like everyone else (yes, high grades in high school but you never needed to study that long).)
But now, adult ADD is better known. Just saw an advertisement for it in a major magazine recently (for Strattera?). Of course, you'll have to show that you're not just jumping on a bandwagon. Instead, be able to show a long term trend of ADD symptoms, and also perhaps show how they are the core cause of your other problems. Like for me: I didn't have depression And ADD, I had depression Because of ADD. Treating the ADD made that depression go away.
poster:HelenInCalif
thread:333745
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040407/msgs/333789.html