Is anyone being treated for ADD?

I was diagnosed with ADD (though I guess now it's called ADHD without hyperactivity ) about 10 years ago. For awhile I was on ritalin, I think it did help, but I honestly had SOOOO much else going on in my life that it was hard to tell.

I was very proud of myself for muscling through college without any meds for my ADD. I had to really set myself up and struggle to handle long-term projects etc. I had to be very very systematic, but I got through it.

I've noticed my ADD symptoms in terms of working/organization get worse when I'm under a lot of stress, and the cracks are starting to show at work and at home. My messy desk at the office was kind of a joke at first, but it's not funny when I have to look for something for 20 minutes to complete what I'm doing, or when I'm working on something and get distracted by the phone ringing and completely forget to complete what I was doing...

I also noticed that on a few occasions when i've had coffee (I generally don't use caffeine), it has really really helped in terms of my concentration, which makes sense since ADD meds are also stimulaants..

So I am thinking about getting on some kind of medication for ADD. What will it help with? Will it help with day to day taks of organizing, or bigger things as well?

I've realized how much ADD is part of my personality and everyday life - big thinking, major impulsivity, distractability, talking a lot, interrupting people..will it change those thngs as well? I would like for it to help in my overall life, but at the same time I don't want to lose the positives of ADD. I mean we just think differently. I'm the one who can think outside the box for the next big idea and I don't want to lose that.

Any thoughts?

I've also been struggling at work lately and at my review the one thing my boss and I agreed was a problem was my lack of organization. Do you think it would be a good or bad idea to actually TELL him I have ADD and that I am seeking treatment for it?

Thanks!

Message edited 1/29/2008 11:12:17 AM.

Re: Is anyone being treated for ADD?

To me, concentration and organization are two different things.

Honestly, I would NOT say anything to your boss. Try and get help on your own first and get a script for medication. If you do not see a difference, and you feel that your work is suffering because of it, then you will have to see if this is the field that's right for you. You can then perhaps tell your boss.. you are protected by the American's with Disabilities Act, and your boss would have to make whatever accommodations you need, by law. but in reality, I think that if they really wanted you out, they would find a way to do so without crossing that line.

Good luck!

Re: Is anyone being treated for ADD?

I don't have ADD/ADHD but know a lot about it as a few people who are close to me has been diagnosed with it.

I would suggest going to a doctor & getting the medication. While I think it's great that you've found some coping skills, it is a true medical issue that they do have help available. The last thing you would want is for an untreated medical to be the cause for a poor review at work.

The drugs do help with the impulsivity & distractions. I've seen it first hand. Also when I googled the drug, the first site that came up was one where med students were debating the postive effects of the drug just to pass the boards.

Have you been diagnosed with it or is it a self diagnosis?

You know your boss better than I do but I would not say you have ADD and that I am seeking treatment for it - particulary because at this point, you aren't & don't have any legal protections if you aren't taking prescribed medication. Your job only has to accomodate a disability to a certain extent (think along the lines of an air traffic controller with ADD).

Personally I keep medical issues out of the office. I'm here to perform a job. If a medical condition prevents me from performing my job, I need to take sick time.

Here's a good article on the subject:
http://www.shrm.org/hrmagazine/articles/1202/1202mcmillen.asp

Re: Is anyone being treated for ADD?

Go see a Dr and ask about Concerta. I don't have ADD (DH would argue that though ) but I know a few people who do have it and they rave about Concerta. To the point that I've considered taking one just for the heck of it!

Re: Is anyone being treated for ADD?

Thanks!

A few clarifications

I have been diagnosed with ADD by several doctors. I just chose not to take meds.

ADD has a LOT to do with organization. A LOT. ADD so so much more multi-faceted than people really understand. A lot of people would NEVER know I have ADD (in fact no one knew until I was 15) because I can carry on a conversation and follow it, I can read long books if i'm interested, I've always done very well in school and at work and I catch on to things much more quickly than most..so because of that it's been posisble for me to mask it. ADD is so much more than people think, especially in adults. It;s not being able to organize, not being able to complete tasks once the difficult or novel part is over (It's not about not wanting to, it's about not being ABLE to), it even goes so far as to come up in times of happiness. People with ADD are never able to stop and smell the roses or enjoy the current moment because we're 3 steps ahead thinking of what's next. It shows up in so so many ways. For example. I love crossword puzzles and standardized tests, things like that..I can hyper-focus on them and do very very well. People would use this as a reason i *don't* have ADD, but really it's the opposite...they occupy my mind and there's always the next question and the next, so it's stimulating in that way... It's almost impossible to list the many ways ADD is part of my life and my personality.

A perfect example of my ADD at home..I'm about to put something away, but I get distracted and literally drop whatever I'm holding to put away and completely forget about it.

I'm cooking and phone rings as I'm taking food off the stove..i take the food off, but leave the gas on.

At work:
I'm writing something up for a project, the phone rings and I start working on something else, then something else. I don't realize until the end of the day when I see the document on my computer that I didn't finish the first thing. I will have completely forgotten about it.

Another time I went upstairs to get something for a client, got to my desk, saw something I was working on, started working on it, and completely forgot the client was downstairs.

In relationships:

FH is contnet to cuddle and wants to enjoy some tender moments..I am fidgety and impatient and although I love cuddling can't enjoy the moment because I have a need to go on to whatever we're doing next.

A few other common symptoms of ADD: impulsivity, risk-taking, promiscuous behavior or drug addiction, etc etc... it's so much more than people realize.


My job is in no way in danger My review was overwhelmingly positive..but I do have problems with organization and I fear it will hurt me in terms of future job growth. Like I said I'm quick enough that it makes up for my lack of organization in most cases, but I don't like feeling this way.

The reason I asked about telling my boss was because of the Americans with Disabilities Act, but also because I feel that then maybe he would be more understanding of the things I need to function properly. I work in a very very idistracting environment and I complain about it a lot, but I don't think anyone understands how harmful it is for me.

Re: Is anyone being treated for ADD?

When I was on ritalin people used to try to buy it from me in HS to help stay up to study.

In college I was saying I was too tired and had to stay up all night to do a paper or something and someone offered me Adderall saying it would have a speed-like effect..I said "no, i actually have ADD, for me it slows my mind down to normal speed...it might help me with the paper, but it won't amp me up"

Re: Is anyone being treated for ADD?

If you're interested in a non-medicated route, I would highly recommend going to a therapist / life coach who can help you set realistic goals regarding behavioral modification. I give you so much credit for getting through college without meds. If you could do that, I bet you could work on strategies to keep you on task now.

Re: Is anyone being treated for ADD?

Message edited 1/29/2008 5:46:32 PM.

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Re: Is anyone being treated for ADD?

I would definitely go to a therapist. Hopefully s/he would be able to help you with the skills you need to become better organized.

And.. then pass them on to me

I'm so disorganized!

Re: Is anyone being treated for ADD?

I have ADHD, and was just diagnosed less then a year ago. Prior to being medicated, I was a DIET COKE FIEND. I have it from the minute I woke up to the minute I went to bed. It never made me hyper, it made me focus, I was clear, at night, my head actually slowed down and I could sleep. Since March, I have been on Adderall XR. I did a stint of concerta, but it did not agree with me and made me worse. The Adderall has made me a new person, one I always knew I had the potential to be if I could just slow down. The issue with me is, it has some side effects and off course if you ever want to have a child, you need to be off the Adderall. I can give you more info about that via FM if your interested. So, for me now, being on Adderall is only a temporary situation. My doctor does not want me on meds forever, and honestly, I dont want to be on this forever either. SO for me now, I have an ADHD coach, I go to CHADD meetings, I have a group therapy session and I immerse myself on ADHD chat boards to find ways of coping with the meds now and eventually learning to cope wihtout them. Also, on Adderall, you need to change your diet (no caffeine, no citrus in the am, no fatty foods in the am, you need to drink ALOT of water, b/c all these things effect the absorbtion and the adderall being a stimulant can make you dehydrated and when that happens my heart races etc), it is a life change, but for me it was worth it.

Ha...after all of that, I have no clue what your original question was and if i answered it. oh well, meds wore off, so...you know. Any other questions, FM me.

Re: Is anyone being treated for ADD?

Thanks Tina!!!!!

My mom took Adderall for awhile but she coudn't give up her coffee so she had abd side effects. Can you please share where you get all these resources? Docs? Coach? Group? I am trying to find all of this now and I'm not having an easy time of it!