i think i may have add

[psyko1]

i'll do a search on it later and read up on it, but can anyone tell me what kind of tests they do to determine if in fact i have it. and would i just go to a general practitioner?

[Shibby]

this might give you some info http://www.superiormuscle.com/vbulle...&highlight=add

[Puddles]

Try this questionnaire to start with:

http://mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.p...oc&id=974&cn=3

[Megiddo]

dude living with ADD is hell. I have done it for 28 years and only been on meds once for about a year. I would rather balance my ADD with my OCD and it works for the most part.

I went to a general practioner and got diagnosed. BAsically he gives you a questionaire that you fill out and then based on prescribed answers determines if you are a canidate or not. I got about halfway done before I flipped over to a blank page and drew the examining room in detail.

I would recomend not taking Straterra because you have to take it everyday for it to work and then there are the sideeffects which for me were night sweats and muscle spasms. At the least try to get on Atterol and at the most try for Ritilin. I have never take the above two but I think I may try atterol as my ADD seems to get worse the older I get.

[hlcn8]

I'm a little opinionated on the subject, so I hope I don't offend anyone with this, but i'd say avoid all drugs if at all possible, adderall and ritalin have a lot of side effects. modern medicine hardly understand things that go on with the mind. with an antibiotic they can put it in a petri dish and test its effects, everything for the mind is trial and error, and sometimes result in having to take further medication to counter the side effects, which then have additional side effects, etc. that said, if its out of control and you really feel you need some help, make sure you have a dr. who listens and is willing to work w/ you. sometimes you have to go through several drugs and months worth of waiting to find the right drug, or combination of drugs that work well for you. best of luck bro, look into coping strategies for individual behaviors when possible!

[imonboardtoo]

Both my kids are on meds for ADHD, and I am too. I think you need a combination of ,edication and counseling to pick up important tools to control the weaknesses (irritability, forgetfulness, anger). My son couldn't even concentrate on homework before meds. My daughter was angry al the time, and I could see alot of the way I used to be in them both.

I really believe that as long as you respond well, medications are the way to go. Sometimes the side effects are terrible, but a good doc (psychiatrist, not GP) can change and adjust to get you a level that lets you be happy. I've seen it. Just my opinion.

Good luck, either way.

[hlcn8]

seriously, i don't know of another forum where someone can present a question, be referred to multiple informational sites, & hear opinions of both sides of the coin. i mean, this is almost wrong how helpful everyone is.

[imonboardtoo]

Awersome, huh? :cool:

Like life ought to be all the time. And the fact that nobody on here is shy to give their opinion means you're gonna hear everything. Then decide based on a wider point of view than just one guy or just your doc.

[MuGGsy]

first of all,we don't know the cause for ADD, their is no cure either. I've tried every medicaiton for it and adderall XR is the only I would recommend, ritalin is a hellish rollercoaster ride. To me ADD is a complete interaction disorder, I also have some bad times with anxiety, I feel like ADD is not a loner normally it ties in with other neuro isues. This is just from what I've read, I have no science to back it, best of luck bro, ADD is not a fun ride.

[trip]

Originally posted by imonboardtoo
Both my kids are on meds for ADHD, and I am too. I think you need a combination of ,edication and counseling to pick up important tools to control the weaknesses (irritability, forgetfulness, anger). My son couldn't even concentrate on homework before meds. My daughter was angry al the time, and I could see alot of the way I used to be in them both.

I really believe that as long as you respond well, medications are the way to go. Sometimes the side effects are terrible, but a good doc (psychiatrist, not GP) can change and adjust to get you a level that lets you be happy. I've seen it. Just my opinion.

Good luck, either way.

Agree wholeheartedly.

I have it, I work with people on it. There are alot of posts on subject on this board so do research.

I have tried 3-4 drugs, they all made it worse, only one that works for me is EFFEXOR. I've been on and off it, and by and large stay on it.

You must realize that YOU are responsible for getting better, not a doc, not a drug etc.

You need to:

1. Educate yourself
2. Understand all meds and effects
3. Find an EXCELLENT counselor or support group


Here's the sum total of it. They have uncovered and discovered more about the BRAIN in the last twenty years than in the whole history of man. Thus, most folks info is drastically out of date.

The brain can be wired 7,000 different ways. By and large the ADD brain, is wired such so that it hardly ever rests, even when sleeping. It's is like your brain is training 24/7, just imagine if it was your body training 24/7 , you may be in greater shape stronger than everyone else yet your probability for injuries and burn out are ten times higher cause your working ten times more.

On top of that there are Generalities and Specifics, we might both be ADD but our symptoms and degrees of how it hinders life could be and most likely are drastically different. Thus, what works for me, would most likely harm you. So, you need someone that is an expert in the field to negotiate the specifics.

Besides having it, I probably have done about 500 hours of research specifically on ADD, due to my profession, along with all of my other research.

My own testimony is I educated myself, did the research and work because it was very important to me to always improve all aspects of my life. And I have been very happy with my decisions on how I have handled this. One of the best ones I ever made.

What's kind of funny in this day and age, with all of the changes and education, even my own friends and family look upon it negatively.

I always respond the same way, "Well, I've done x amount of research, I'm curious, can you help learn more, what do you know"

What they know, is an opinion of what they see on TV.

Your Call.

Good Luck
Hoped It helped

[Primal Instinct]

Originally posted by trip
My own testimony is I educated myself, did the research and work because it was very important to me to always improve all aspects of my life. And I have been very happy with my decisions on how I have handled this. One of the best ones I ever made.

What's kind of funny in this day and age, with all of the changes and education, even my own friends and family look upon it negatively.

I always respond the same way, "Well, I've done x amount of research, I'm curious, can you help learn more, what do you know"

What they know, is an opinion of what they see on TV.

Great post, Trip! People don't always realize that they can sometimes help to solve their own dilemmas. Who has more motivation to cure something than one who is afflicted by it? Given access to research and opinions/experience of those who suffer from such things, new directions of research can be implemented and cures or at least effective treatments can be found. I have a friend who has developed a flexible spinal injury device using a hyrid alloy that acts as a spacer between vertebrae. He even developed a special instrument to insert the device. This could actually revolutionize joint injury and provide a solution for people currently suffering from spinal/joint injury. He's done all of this using his own personal research and pure willpower. A very well known funding source has taken notice of him and probably by the end of this year, he'll be sitting atop of a $450 million medical research company as the CEO and Chief Technical Officer. All from his own determination to solve a medical dilemma.

[imonboardtoo]

Trip - Good stuff, man. The psychiatrist I go to confirms what you said...most of the knowledge about brain chemistry is very new! Best advice is to do your research and take responsibility for your own treatment.

[trip]

Thanks PI, and Imon,

That story about your friend is so cool, and actually very common. LOt's of discoveries of late have come that way, and with the internet to help people do massive amounts of research on their own, which could not have been done before without tons of hours that made it a big hinderance, we will see lot's more.

Also, on a side note, diet does affect my ADD, since i've log diet for years and have awareness I can see the changes it has on me, fortunately it's only a temporary thing.

[TrippersGirl]

http://www.neuropsychologycentral.com

This has a lot of information about Neuropsychology on it. I'm actually going to see a doctor soon because I think I have ADD as well, but go to this website and see if it helps answer your questions.

[imonboardtoo]

Wow - TrippersGirl...good to see ya...miss ur pics.

I wanted to add something back from Muggsy's post about ADD/ADHD usually being tied to another neuro issue. Recent psych theory is that it can be related to mood disorders in adults. used to be they thought childhood ADD/ADHD went away. Now there are theories that it can become mood-related problems (anxieties, bi-polar, even ocd) in adults. So treatments are changing. Adderall really is a good med. We're using Adderall for the focus/memory issues and Depakote for the mood/irritability/anger. Another option for the mood issues is Risperadol (sp.) - haven't needed that cuz we're getting great results with Adderal and Depakote.

Good luck everybody. Get help if you need it.