ADD vs ADHD?

[Shibby]

I know this may be a tiresome topic on the board now, but instead of me giving you my interpritaion of the difference, maybe I can get some clear straight answers. I feel more confused on the topic now than before I started reading on it. If somone was to be told they need anger management, could it be one or the other possibly.

[MuGGsy]

let me put it to you this way bro, I think ADD and ADHD are VERY real things. I do not think you are automatically born with one or the other, i believe BOTH can be caused by other things, in my case I know my ADD lead from trauma and stress, now whether or not anger problems are linked to ADD or ADHD is something you would have to seeka good (and I emphasize good) psychologist on. If you go to a general doctor he will tell you that you suffer from one of the other give you a tub of ritalin or addies and put you on your way. ADD and ADHD are both alot more serious than just a prescription to clear away situation. Take it from me, I've been prescribed adderalls in the past, did they help ? Absolutely, but with my personallity having 30 day supplies of amphetamines laying around wasn't the smartest thing to do! I already fought with other drug problems and adderalls are no acception! I would strongly recommend going to a good psychologist about this I can tell you off the bat anyone who is trained in the field will be able to link add or adhd to anger problems very quickly.

[andy420]

I agree i recently just found out I have ADD and I began crying like a child I'm 29 but I wasn't crying because of why me I was crying to finally find out the hell was wrong with me and right now I'm in the process of finding a good therapist

[Shibby]

So it seems ADD is a mentaltay and focus issue. But is ADHD just because you have so much energy you can't focus? I read something that Trip said about everyone having like 10 signs of ADD/ADHD but when you start showing 15 or more is when it needs to be looked at more carefully. Or maybe it's more complex than that and they intertwine more than not.

[lxorl]

if your interested shoot me a PM... my faincee is working on her phd in ADD and ADHD. and im sure she would be more than happy to talk with you.

[trip]

Andy,

First off if you need anything PM, deal with this all the time, it's actually pretty simple, especially now you KNOW. Now, just fine tune things specifically for you.

Shibby,

Hey, man, how are you? Long time no see, lol

Okay.

Anger Management is in general a seperate issue, and not neccesisarily related to ADD or ADHD. Although, like everything it can be, normally though it's not.

Anger Managment has too do with IMPULSE control, and feelings of being THREATENED, for whatever reason. Before most all anger is expressed FEAR comes first, works like this: feel fear...express anger.

Okay, the tricky part, hard to get someone who's always angry to admit that, yet that is what it is.

ADD, again in general terms it's mostly the mind not being able to shut down and be relaxed, ie, the hamster is turning that wheel 24/7, so what happens is over time, it is hard too relaxe and get an emotional break, thus there is a tendency to feel quite a bit of internal stress that is not neccesarily related to reality. The mind tends to do a lot of PROJECTING into the future, rather than being rational about what is happening right now.

ADHD, add with a big old motor humming that forces you physically to constantly be moving, ie, you can't sit down.

Now, you can be hyper without having ADD.

Any other q's?

Oh, depends on who told you you need anger management?

Again, it's a tricky area.

Trip

[Shibby]

My dad told me. I guess he brings a side of me out that's not normaly there. When I've talked to all my friends they think I have a very friendly calm attitude. But sometimes my dad can push me over the edge like no one else can. I'm 23 next month and live with my dad again (for a year now) so I can go back to school. Been on my own the 4 years before that. It seems the more time I'm away from home the better things are. I always feel like I'm walking on thin ice when around the house.

[Shibby]

Oh and the reason of the original question is because he thinks it's why I have trouble with focusing on school. And I talked to somone who is ADHD and takes ritalin. I noticed when I get all hopped up on caffiene I can do great at multi tasking and retain what I'm doing a whole lot easier.

[andy420]

see with me it's the opposite I try to stay focused on something let's say a project I started and then all of a sudden i'll lose focus and boom i'm into something else, it's sooooooooooo frustrating that i can't complete one task but have to start another.

[trip]

Oh Daddy!!!

Just joking.

From previous stuff, agree with your friends, if your normally calm, then that's what you are. Plus, in the last two or three years on the boards has Shibby flamed anyone in anger, NO. You've only been helpful and kind. Enough said.

Now, you're dad is very logical, and probably questions you like a lawyer, well, that is annoying and would get anyone's goat.

He probably thinks everyone in world should have an education and a 9 -5 job, and then they would never have any problems.

Guess we can get rid of all great artists, writers, body builders, CEO's and genius's, cause they don't fit into that schedule.

People throw terms around in the media cause they kind of think that's what it is, when they don't really know.

Caffeine, pretty common, kind of helps ge things in gear.

One of weakness's with ADD is you will hear folks call someone a procrastinator, well, most times with ADD it's not true at all, the difficulty is that very simple meaningless tasks our so boring to the ADD mind, it is painful to do. Simple stuff, cooking, balancing a checkbook, washing the car. The ADD mind wants and needs anc craves more stimulation almost all the time.

Just remember almost all conflicts in life are value conflicts, and you and your dad have extremes when it comes to value systems.
His main motivation is security, do any and all for security.

Well, you're's is happiness, all in all a much more emotionally filling one.

So, naturally there will be a conflict here and there. Tough part is seems he does not understand your values because they are not security related.

Any more?

Trip

[trip]

andy,

Is there anything at all you can stay focused on for long periods of time? Anything?

[Shibby]

Thanks a bunch trip. I just got back from class and remebered something. Well actually it happened again like most stuff that is not related to physical activity I'm listening or reading and next thing I relize my mind is on anything but what's going on. Does this mean anything to you?

P.S. I felt the most calm and happy when I was kickboxing. I'm going to be getting back into it ASAP

[trip]

Ummmmm, Yup.

The ADD mind is in some cases a Contrarian Mind.

Meaning when it is highly focused, ie, kick boxing, it is actually relaxed. It's when nothing is going on, or boring stuff, that it wonders searching for more interesting stuff to focus on, and that stuff is well a bunch of thoughts that may or may not be worth anything.

Now of course, always have too be careful here. You might be of a high IQ and quickly bored.

Is school a struggle for you?

Meaning, you're obviously smart , and very literate, and when you write your thoughts are clear and brief, so.....

trip

[Shibby]

Is school hard? Not really. I have always had trouble in english but everything else as long as I put some effort forth I do fine.

[andy420]

Originally posted by trip
andy,

Is there anything at all you can stay focused on for long periods of time? Anything?

You know the only thing I tried which kept me focused on things is after I smoke a bone but as I read about ADD sometimes we have a dependence on drugs and alcohol and I haven't really found anything that really kept my attention well except my PS2;)