How do I know?

How do I know if I have adult ADD or not? Oftentimes I think that I might have it but then I second guess myself. Im going to talk to my doc. but in the meantime any advice?

[LetaB]

  There must be dozens of sources on the net alone which will give you a run down on the symptoms. Why don't you tell us what you're experiencing so that we can give you our impressions rather than me list a whole bunch of things which may be irrelevant to your case.

[kay221]

Ok, I dont really know where to begin.
1. Hard time concentrating.
2. Memory problems/Forgetfullness. I ask people the same questions over and over forgetting I asked or forgetting their answers. I go to do things but forget why or what Im doing. Ill be talking and then I forget what Im talking about.
3. My thoughts are disorganized. I have a hard time talking b/c I cant exactly say what I mean so that it makes sense. Writing essays for schools is extremely difficult and quite a mess. Even writing things like this I have to reread it over and over to see if it even makes any sense.
4. Anything academic is exhausting. It takes forever for me to do my schoolwork and I dread it. I tend to procrastinate b/c of it.
5. It just seems like everything goes in one ear and out the other.
6. I just always seem to be missing something. In conversations, movies, books whatever. Theres always something I never quite got the first time, maybe even the second time.

The other day at work, a coworker asked me to do something pretty simple. I went back and asked him what exactly he wanted me to do at least twice. I then had him write it down, and I still had to go back and ask him again.

I also have a hard time with things. Ex. If Im watching tv I have to be doing something else like be on the comp., drawing, daydreaming or something. Im never really just doing one thing.

What really makes this difficult is that I also have epilepsy. The seizures are under control but I heard that there can be a correlation between ADD and epilepsy. Plus my mom has ADD along with bipolar.

[LetaB]

  From what I've read patients with epilepsy are at substantial risk for memory loss. Has this source for your troubles been ruled out? I, myself, am diagnosed with BP and ADD and I have a very poor short term memory (i.e. don't ever send me to the store to get more than three things without a list)  but your symptoms sound even more tough than mine. Since you have epilepsy I take it you are under a doctor's care? It would be good for you to see a psychiatric professional to rule out either of your mother's conditions as they are often inherited. Personally I believe your symptoms sound a little more bipolar than ADHD but I'm no expert.
  I feel for you, kid. Sounds like you've been dealt a difficult hand in life. I commend you on your trying to get the right diagnosis so that you can better deal with whatever you have. Make an appointment with a psych doctor as soon as possible.

[Sandman2]

Also, there is a very strong association between parents with ADHD  (and bipolar) and offspring.  You also might want to check out  two  good books - "Driven to Distraction" by Hallowell, and "The Gift of ADHD", by Honos-Webb.

[kay221]

Thanks you guys, Im making an appt this week so Ill update it when I know.