Posted by HelenInCalif on April 13, 2004, at 17:43:19
In reply to Why is it so hard to get diagnosed wit Adult ADD?, posted by twinmom on April 13, 2004, at 14:16:47
Here is something applicable I wrote a few days ago
on a thread on brain fog- I'm emphasizing a couple of major points with "*".http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040407/msgs/333745.html
"
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 very important that you ask if they've had other adult patients with ADD. If you are female or have the non H ADD, ask if they're familiar with that too**
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).) That I was about to get laid off for bad performance EVEN THOUGH I'm competent and could do the work was a BIG clue too.
Now, 8 years later, 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:336012
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040412/msgs/336077.html