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707438 tn?1240959640

Adult adhd

So my doctor said to me the other day that ADHD/ADD is only a childrens disorder and that adults cant have it. I for one highly disagree but was wondering about how others felt regarding Adult  ADD/ADHD. All opinions are welcome but PLEASE be considerate about others thoughts and feelings.
24 Responses
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1312010 tn?1273707416
Thats dumb to say children only have ADD/ADHD.

I'm 21, and I'm still ADD.

when i was a kid i did have ADHD. i was real disruptive in classes, and would constantly get notes sent hope from school. The hyper-ness went away once i became aware of what i was doing and was able to mature from it... not i'm the quietest person you'll ever meet.

I still have trouble in college. ESPECIALLY with reading.
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Avatar universal
I disagree with that program.  I still, at age 27, have difficulty with impulsiveness and hyperactivity.  I have times of trouble interrupting, arguing, talking super fast without a breath, fidgiting, urge to dance around wherever I am (just when with a friend though, but it sure annoys her, heh.)  Yep.  It's still a problem for me.  Yet on the other side, I tend to be sluggish, tired, sleepy, and I'm still looking for the cause of that.  I looked into my thyroid and it went out-of-range once, but it's back to normal so no diagnosis yet.  Looking into adrenal, CFS, etc.
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Avatar universal
I was diagnosed around age 5 or 6, and the symptoms are still there to this day now that I am 27.  Your doctor sure is misinformed.
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Avatar universal
I have a 19 year old son with ADHD and after he was diagnosed we realized that this is one of the many issues that my 57 year old husband has been dealing with his whole life.  He is all over the place with his thoughts, can change his mind 5 times in one conversation--and that's without prompting or input from anyone else.  He loses things constantly and has no focus.  You don't have to be a doctor to diagnose this kind of behavior.  It mimics most of my sons behavior
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203342 tn?1328737207
I know I have ADD as an adult and it can be frustrating. I get distracted easily and what really bugs me is I will get excited about some project but become quickly bored and leave it. So I always have half finished projects. RR is right, though, about the creativity. I guess it has it's good points. I think you learn to compensate a lot as an adult. But yes, adults certainly can have ADD. I don't think you just outgrow it. You learn to deal with it better, that's all.
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Avatar universal
i highly agree with you and disagree with your doctor. in my oppinion that was a very ignorant and closed-minded thing that he said. i am 18 years old and went to a psychiatrist about a week ago, and i was diagnosed. i know i am i very young adult but i believe anyone could have add.
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754501 tn?1234979080
ADHD are two Different disorders easyest way to explain the Difference is
ADHD is high energy
ADD is more lethargic

As we grow into adults some of the symtoms will be less glaring and maturity if you will, offers natural coping skills that only intergrate with adult hood.
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Avatar universal
i might be able to.i dont know her at all.ive only talked to her once about schedules.i dont know if she is even the right one to go to.but ill try.thanks for the help by the way.oh and is it bad if i dont get help?
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707438 tn?1240959640
I think the sandman2 has a good idea do you think you could try that?
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189897 tn?1441126518
COMMUNITY LEADER
Try talking to your school counselor.  They should have experience in dealing with this and parents.  Plus your parents might listen to them.
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Avatar universal
i have tried to tell my parents that i think i have adhd but they just think im always hyper.they dont believe me
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535822 tn?1443976780
Yes good idea to get your self checked .
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707438 tn?1240959640
can you get your parents to take you to a doctor or a specialist you really should get treatment as soon as possible i didnt get help for my ADHD until i was 17 and by then it was hard to unlearn the behaviors i had learned as my way of coping with undiagnosed ADHD
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535822 tn?1443976780
Hi Go and get some multiple vitamin-mineral supplements,with anti oxidants,Vit B Coomplex and Vit C also Fish oil is useful, these will help you, experts have said many times that this has the same efficacy  as Ritalin a Med prescribed to help hthere is also someting called Attend By Vaxa any health food stiore will carry it, there is help for you, let us know how you are doing,
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Avatar universal
i think i have add or adhd.i cant sit still or pay attention.its annoying but i cant help it.and im 15
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535822 tn?1443976780
Was just watching a programme about the brain on TV KOCE and the Doctor was talking about ADD and ADHD and he said that as we reach adulthood we loose the Hyper part most times but still have the ADD and he also said it does have an impact on their lives  that the folks with it were more likely to suffer from substance abuse.He said that try suppelments first but if that doesnt work then try the drugs but one a time Doctors should not put anyone on several and not keep trying everything out there.
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Avatar universal
I am 23 and I am currently taking Concerta for what I've been told is ADD, even though all tests I've ever taken have had results that show that I most likely do not have ADD. (Those tests where you push a button on the computer when you see certain things, etc.) But I know it is definately something that people of all ages deal with. My mother has taken medications for focusing and paying attention, and she's in her fifties. I see her struggle to focus and stay on task almost daily. She even uses a timer that is always going off to remind herself of things. She'll go around and tell herself, "Focus! Must stay on task!" But don't fear, for all of the attention problems she seems to have, she has two college degrees and two part time jobs.
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Avatar universal
wow. i think your doctor and mine are related lol....

what an idiot. light searching about ADD from credible websites will assure you, it is very much also an adult problem.
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707438 tn?1240959640
thank you all for the support you have shown me it means so much to me. and all the helpful ideas
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535822 tn?1443976780
Go for another opinion , you may want to try supplements before taking any meds with side effects, I always recomend that parents who have children with ADD and ADHD try their children on  multiple Vitamin-mineral with anti oxidants, Vit B Complex and Vitamin C also Fish oil has been shown to be good , I read recently that experts have said supplements like these have the same Efficacy as Ritalin. There is also something Homeopathic  called' Attend 'by Vaxa. some have found it to be  very useful.
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505907 tn?1258369340
What third world country was your doctor educated in? I have some advice for you - switch doctors. Now! That thinking is extremely antiquated - perhaps your doc is due to retire? Scientifically how would that idea work exactly? It's much more logical to assume that we have different levels of this disorder and some of us are able, for what ever reasons, to learn to control some of the symptoms.
  I do see the creative side of ADHD - it's very evident in my own family but I do want to say that there is an alarming number of people in the prison population who test positive for it - as high as 30%. I have also experienced this side firsthand.
   Best of luck. Either way it's alway good to know what you're dealing with so you can start to develop strategies like RockRose said.
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13167 tn?1327194124
I wonder what your doctor thinks happens to children who have ADD/ADHD.  They like,  magically cure sometime in teen years?

I agree maybe you need to change docs.

I'm sure I have it,  and certainly had it all my childhood.  If I were a child today I might be put on Ritalin to improve focus - although I never had the "hyperactivity",  I can NOT sit through boring stuff.  At 49,  I still can't.

It sounds like you are thinking maybe you have ADD,  frustrated?  To me,  honestly,  it is kind of a gift.  People with ADD are far more creative and inventive than "regular" haha people.  If you can learn strategies to get by,  and don't choose to work in fields that require plodding along at a boring snail's pace,  I think it's a positive thing to have ADD characteristics.


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599170 tn?1300973893
girl your doc needs to go back to class......my 50 year old next door neighboor is add...its very common..one of my husbands coworkers is too he takes meds for it...I do know ritalin is not for adults its like speed for them..its for kids...
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707438 tn?1240959640
I see so far most people agree with me thank you all for taking the time to participate in this pole it means alot to me. Feel free to share your thoughts on the subject or anything related to it. I am always open to different thoughts and opinions so long as everyone keeps others feelings in mind when doing so.
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