Do I have ADHD, a minor form, or something else?

Kadoken

I've been taking antidepressant and heat allergy medicines for years now, and a few years ago, I felt like I could concentrate on one thing for a long amount of time (Books, articles on news sites/wikis, games) but now, it feels like I'm too impatient to even read a full Wikipedia article half the time. I'm not hyperactive though, and my sleep problems are self induced (should probably go to sleep earlier, listen to less white noise), but I feel like I'm rushed all the time even though I'm not rushed by anything most of the time. I just feel like my attention-span is not as good as it used to be. Do I have some form of ADHD? For fidgeting in my desk (I mention things such as sleep, hyperactivity, and fidgeting because some webmd.com site told me) I do shake my leg, but I stop when I know I need to. My grades are relatively good (A's, B's, sometimes C's).

I feel impatient, rushed, and have a short attention span. I like to multitask but half the time it feels irritating when I try to play a game while listening to a video in the background. I've been trying to just solely play games lately, with better success at having enjoyment. When I was in middle school, I used to read, all the time. I felt that helped.

Could anyone tell me what I have, or lack thereof, and tell me how to deal with my problem.

EggyToast

First, anyone here who is a doctor won't diagnose you over the internet.

If you can't concentrate for long periods of time doing activities you're used to, perhaps you're just bored? Are you in a very similar routine from day to day?

Kadoken

Yes, pretty much. Besides the normal routine of activities (Karate, voice, counselor session, twice, once, once [all on separate days] respectively) my routine is get up, go to school, take an hour to 1:15 break right after school, 1-3 hours of homework, interspersed with dinner and aforementioned activities, free time (Exercise, play games) from 8:30 to 10, bed. That's a rough estimate of what happens most days.

Also, I'm getting really tired of getting talked down to because people assume I want to have a professional or some shit on the forums, I just want advice or some information, not someone to supply me with professional help at my beck and call. It's always in this section of the forums.

EggyToast wrote: »

First, anyone here who is a doctor won't diagnose you over the internet

I'm not asking for a full prognosis, just some advice. This sort of line sets me off.

Infidel

Kadoken wrote:

EggyToast wrote: »

First, anyone here who is a doctor won't diagnose you over the internet

I'm not asking for a full prognosis, just some advice. This sort of line sets me off.

Your OP seems otherwise.

It is explicitly "what do I have, and what do I do?"

The correct response is go ask a doctor.

Usagi

But the advice is: go to the doctor

ADD/ADHD manifests itself differently in different people and responds to different coping strategies/treatments for each of us, so asking for anecdotal advice on a medical issue is a bad idea

admanb

It sounds like you've come down with a severe case of Being Human. Unfortunately, it's chronic, untreatable, and terminal.

Seriously though... if anything, it sounds like you're just stressed or bored and need to slow down. You might try to work on some yoga or meditation.

bowen

You potentially have ADHD.

You could also have diabetes or a thyroid issue, or some dietary deficiency or hormone imbalance. Maybe bipolar, or a slight depression?

You should see a doctor.

My layman's diagnosis of you, because I'm not a doctor, is depression. A doctor will rule out all the hormonal stuff like thyroid with some blood work. The fact that you're able to focus somewhat makes me think it's not ADHD at all.

Relax, deep breaths, eat well, and smile.

acidlacedpenguin

*keep in mind I'm not a doctor*
it could be ADD. Ask your doctor about it, there's a standard questionnaire they can administer which if you honest truthfully (don't lie, seriously) should tell him/her whether you're ADD, ADHD, depressed, or normal. The thing is, the antidepressant could be a possible cause of your inattention symptoms and most non-quack doctors won't give you a medication to fix symptoms caused by other medications. If it is the antidepressant then the doctor will at least be able to cross-check other antidepressants that don't cause your issues or otherwise change your medication regimen.

Sargasso

Please do not follow the american tradition of handing out drugs for even the slightest problem. Before rushing to the doctor, try actually sleeping more, eating better, exercising, diminishing your computer time, and reading. You have no idea how much of a difference that can make to your overall attitude.

Kadoken

Thanks for the advice.

What would be a better title? I guess it isn't that appropriate.

Oddson

You could also have diabetes or a thyroid issue, or some dietary deficiency or hormone imbalance. Maybe bipolar, or a slight depression?

This is my first thought. Attention problems can be traced to sooo many different things. Dietary deficiency is probably the one most people never think matters, but it totally does. Maybe your diet isn't particularly bad by typical standards or the people around you, but your body could be extra sensitive. If you have an industrial diet, it can be deceptively bad for you.

Please do not follow the american tradition of handing out drugs for even the slightest problem. Before rushing to the doctor, try actually sleeping more, eating better, exercising, diminishing your computer time, and reading. You have no idea how much of a difference that can make to your overall attitude.

THIS THIS THIS. When people who definitely have ADHD can take good care of those aspects of their lifestyle, they often do not need to take medication. Ultimately this is the most desirable lifestyle because there are a lot of consequences to becoming dependent on pharmaceuticals and your healthcare plan.

Feral

I just want to point out that the dividing line between "I have ADHD" and "I do not have ADHD" isn't exactly rigid. A lot of psych disorders (including ADHD) exist on a spectrum; they're exaggerated expressions of traits that a lot of people have in varying degrees. You might have ADHD, or you might be 'normal' with ADHD-like tendencies, or somewhere in between.

It is also possible that your medication might be exacerbating your attention problems. (Or, on the other hand, it might be keeping something bigger in check.) That's something a psychiatrist would be able to address. Write down a list of all the medications you take (even stuff you only take on an occasional basis) and bring it in with you when you see your doctor.

Stormwatcher

I was diagnosed with ADHD by a psychologist, and one thing seems pretty clear on the literature:
You never develop it. You are affected by it since a very young age. It can get worse with time, but it's never like "Oh I could concentrate just fine until last year, but now i'm 35 and BAM".

This is not contradicting Feral's post, but complementing. Even if it's a spectrum, you either always had those particular symptoms or it's something else. It might be something to do with medication, or a purely "state of mind" thing.

And that's precisely why you must look for a professional. That's the "some advice" any of us can responsibly offer. GO TALK TO A DOCTOR. Any other advice is terrible.

Oddson

It can be really easy to get an ADHD diagnosis. Because it is a spectrum, and that line between ADHD and non-ADHD doesn't really exist, personal experience has shown me that a lot of people can convince themselves and their doctor that they have it. Seriously, it's possible to create an entire narrative that explains your life and its 'secret' ADHD, especially if you've been drenching yourself in the abundant ADHD literature, not all of it being valuable stuff either.

I really want to urge caution and take Sargasso's route. Go see a doctor by all means, but don't go in there expecting an ADHD diagnosis. Focus on YOUR symptoms, not the diagnosis. It's no skin off a psychiatrists back if he prescribes you a stimulant or similar drug. But for you, it can dramatically change your life in ways you were not expecting. Don't go to a doctor just hoping he'll give the nuclear option for your focus problems.

Cultural Geek Girl

I am not a doctor, can neither diagnose nor prescribe, etc etc. Also, I don't say this to be condescending... it's kind of an internet boilerplate people use to protect themselves.

I have a psychology background and I have been formally diagnosed with ADD by a psychologist who specialized in that particular issue. He sought to treat it with combinations of behavior alteration, non-drug substances, and medication. With my particular variety of ADD, I don't have the problem that I get bored midway through a Wikipedia article... instead, my problem is that I go to wikipedia to check on something for a report that I'm writing, and I get stuck in a novelty!loop of Wikipedia articles for the rest of the day. Imagine if the whole world were as addictive and fascinating as tvtropes... that's what ADD is like for me. If you're immune to the trap of tvtropes, you probably don't have ADD.

You sound more like you have ennui or depression than the kinds of ADD I most regularly encounter, but you could still have ADD in combination with some other issue.

Rend

I am not a doctor, and my expertise with AD/HD comes from having ADHD, and thus a self-motivated desire to study it, and nothing more.

But as has been said before, from what I know, I don't think you really develop AD/HD, and the symptoms you describe don't sound particularly like you have it. Of course if you want a real opinion, go see an expert, but it doesn't sound like AD/HD is your prognosis.

Infidel

The importance of seeing a doctor is not so you can get drugs for your ADHD but so that you can identify other causes and tackle the problem appropriately.

If other things are ruled out, then you might be diagnosed with ADHD or such and you will be given options.

Kadoken

Well, I have high functioning autism/auspergers, maybe it's a result of that. I should go to a doctor to diagnose me. Also feel like I have some hearing problems sometimes (Sensitive ears, sometimes feel impaired), but that's off topic. Thanks for the help.

bowen

That sounds like a migraine, they are probably not all related and are each separate, though your attention and irritability could be linked to your autism.

Hahnsoo1

Kadoken wrote: »

Well, I have high functioning autism/auspergers, maybe it's a result of that.

This is the most relevant piece of medical history that was omitted from the OP. If you have an autism spectrum disorder, then you should see your regular doctor about the problem. It's less likely to be an isolated case of ADHD and more likely to be a manifested problem of your underlying disorder or a side effect of your current medication regimen (or both).

Even if you have ADHD, if it isn't affecting your functioning and success in school, work, and home, then you probably won't need medication. It sounds like you are having decent grades, but only you can be a judge of whether or not this is crippling you.

I will note that the vast majority of people can't concentrate on a video AND a video game at the same time. Multi-tasking is less of doing two or more simultaneous tasks and more of juggling your focus between multiple tasks, often with poorer performance in said tasks (unless the tasks were meant to be done together simultaneously).

Off-Topic (RE: Doctors giving forum advice): Most practicing medical professionals would be opening themselves up to legal trouble for diagnosing or dispensing medical advice on the internet, unfortunately. It's dependent on state laws, but most states do not have protection for medical professionals with regards to giving out advice in any form in a casual/non-professional setting. I'm sure Atomic Ross or some other forum-goers in the medical professions would know more about this than I.

bowen

Yeah they often won't, and if they do they preface it with , "I'm not your doctor, and you should go see one regardless of what I tell you."

Edd

From experience, it definitely seems possible that a doctor in the USA (though not necessarily a general practitioner) might give you a low dosage of an ADD/ADHD drug in response to those symptoms. Who knows, and everyone who has restrained themselves from offering a diagnosis is of course correct to do so, but if someone did professionally diagnose you and place you on medication, there is something you should probably keep in mind.

Also from experience, the medication will not suddenly grant you discipline you never had before. One of the problems of ADD/ADHD is the self-defeating feeling of knowing you cannot focus, and so your expectations for yourself can become rather low. But, if you can first put in the effort of committing yourself to a task, say reading a long, dense article, you may find that the effects of the medication make such tasks more achievable. This feeling can of course enable better and healthier behaviors. So, generally healthy living, good sleep and nutrition, is not exactly an alternative to medication for those who need it, but since the effectiveness of this medication is predicated at least in part on modifying your behaviors in that respect, you might quickly find that you don't need the boost of medication to get to that same level of discipline and concentration.

Edit: Though, yes, that Autism detail perhaps dismantles some of my advice's relevance.

Gaddez

As someone who has dealt with attention issues, one thing I might suggest (with a grain of caution), is that I noticed a marked improvement after I started consuming higher quantities of caffeine. The best way I can describe it is that my mind was able to respond faster to stimuli and that I could focus better on things like conversations and such.

The caution factor, comes from the fact that too much caffeine (either consumed too much in one sitting or too frequently over a long period of time) can have serious side effects on sleep, "twitchiness", irritability, lack of focus, and diminishing returns.

Just a thought.

badger2d

Kadoken wrote: »

Yes, pretty much. Besides the normal routine of activities (Karate, voice, counselor session, twice, once, once [all on separate days] respectively) my routine is get up, go to school, take an hour to 1:15 break right after school, 1-3 hours of homework, interspersed with dinner and aforementioned activities, free time (Exercise, play games) from 8:30 to 10, bed. That's a rough estimate of what happens most days.

Sounds like you have a pretty busy schedule. It could easily be the case that you're just too tired to concentrate.

Septus

I'm curious about what the norm is for getting a diagnosis. I had thought there was actually a somewhat rigorous test(tracking eye movements while reading? I don't know). Instead, I went to a psychologist from a standpoint of being very unsure about it, was asked a lot of questions that necessarily have vague answers, and got my diagnosis.

I don't know if Kadoken would be ansy about an incorrect diagnosis, but are there actual tests of a sort, and are they commonly prescribed?

Orikaeshigitae

we don't actually know that much about ADHD, its neurochemical triggers, or even its effects on the brain. there are actual tests, but they are filled with caveats and they are not standardized. my GP used tests, my psychologist did not. the process of diagnosed has taken nearly a year. most psychologists will not see ADHD patients because they are a huge pain to narrow down for little potential reward and adderall/ritalin is seen as a tremendous potential liability/abuse factor.

Stormwatcher

Also, having an experienced and trained professional who studied psichological disorders at a college level use all that to come to the diagnose is a lot smarter than reading a 5 minute article and going "OH I HAVE THAT" (This is not addressed to anyone in this thread). Also, the effects of Aspergers are so OPPOSITE to ADHD's, that I guess it would be pretty hard to have both (but, of course, I have no idea if I'm talking shit here, just an observation).

Wulf

Orikaeshigitae wrote: »

we don't actually know that much about ADHD, its neurochemical triggers, or even its effects on the brain. there are actual tests, but they are filled with caveats and they are not standardized. my GP used tests, my psychologist did not. the process of diagnosed has taken nearly a year. most psychologists will not see ADHD patients because they are a huge pain to narrow down for little potential reward and adderall/ritalin is seen as a tremendous potential liability/abuse factor.

I just want to mention, as someone who is on the generic form of Adderall, Orikaeshigitae is not kidding around about how much of a pain in the ass it is to get. I have to see my doctor for face time every month, they have to hand write the script for every refill, and then every six months they have to send in documents to my insurance or I can't get my medication at all.
But it's that or I can't function, so... yeah.

Septus

I don't know if it's an insurance thing, but in my case, I should theoretically be able to pull back appointments to maybe every 2 months. I'm going every month right now because my body is apparently crazy resistant, and at 50mg, Ritalin seems to have almost no effect, and Adderall had a minor effect outweighed by crazy insomnia.

This is just adding to my uncertainty about the diagnosis, and yet, I am reassured that the majority of people, ADHD or not, see a noticeable, but different effect from it.

I'd really love a good test, but I probably just need to get a second opinion.

Kadoken

As a conclusion, I did go to my doctor, and he prescribed me some ADHD meds. They seem to be working. I'm able to focus more, less distraction. I'm reading more, and the only negative side effect so far was I think it might have popped my ears. Though they've been like that for a while. I also feel a little "floaty" if anyone understands that. Thanks for the advice.