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Does anyone else here have ADHD?
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AFlowerKingCrimson View Drop Down
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    Posted: August 12 2024 at 14:43
Maybe a dumb question but you never know. Although I was never properly diagnosed imo I definitely feel like I have add/adhd. I have trouble reading unless it's something I'm really into and am overall a bit of a scatterbrain. I've experienced the symptoms my entire life and am still in the process of trying to figure it out. I don't currently take any meds for it though but try to eat healthy and exercise (though probably not enough especially for the latter). And although it's typically thought of as something that only affects children it can linger into adulthood for sure. I'm not sure at my age (I'm mid 50s) if it really makes sense to go to some sort of specialist but maybe I will. I would rather try to figure it out on my own. If you have it please share what works for you and what doesn't and whether you take anything for it (don't be ashamed) or if you have treated it without meds. 

Oh and one strange thing about it is that it has never really prevented me from listening to prog although admittedly there have been certain songs and bands where I would "space out." Lol.


Edited by AFlowerKingCrimson - August 12 2024 at 14:44
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progaardvark View Drop Down
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I'm not a doctor, but I'm not sure what you have ADHD. I'm under the impression the symptoms are more severe than what you're describing. Like I said, I'm not a doctor, nor have I any experience dealing with it. Maybe you just lean in that direction on a personality scale? It doesn't sound like anything to worry about, at least to me.

The closest I come to something like this is that I have many projects I start but don't always finish because something interferes with them being finished (like I'm missing a tool or something of higher priority deserves my attention) or I'm distracted by one of the other projects I find more interesting. I think I just have too many ideas and want to do all of them, but there isn't enough time in a lifetime to do all of them. That's probably not helpful, but it's the only thing I can think of.

I might lean more towards OCD I think. One example is that I like the trash and recycling that I place at the end of my driveway for pickup to be in an orderly fashion. My wife rolls her eyes every time I do this. They're going to take it away no matter what kind of order I put it in. I don't consider this worthy of seeing anyone about. It's just one of the quirks of my personality.
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Originally posted by progaardvark progaardvark wrote:

I'm not a doctor, but I'm not sure what you have ADHD. I'm under the impression the symptoms are more severe than what you're describing. Like I said, I'm not a doctor, nor have I any experience dealing with it. Maybe you just lean in that direction on a personality scale? It doesn't sound like anything to worry about, at least to me.

The closest I come to something like this is that I have many projects I start but don't always finish because something interferes with them being finished (like I'm missing a tool or something of higher priority deserves my attention) or I'm distracted by one of the other projects I find more interesting. I think I just have too many ideas and want to do all of them, but there isn't enough time in a lifetime to do all of them. That's probably not helpful, but it's the only thing I can think of.

I might lean more towards OCD I think. One example is that I like the trash and recycling that I place at the end of my driveway for pickup to be in an orderly fashion. My wife rolls her eyes every time I do this. They're going to take it away no matter what kind of order I put it in. I don't consider this worthy of seeing anyone about. It's just one of the quirks of my personality.
I thought I was the only one who lined my trash and recycling bins up in an orderly fashion for pick-up at the end of my driveway. Tongue
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Originally posted by Psychedelic Paul Psychedelic Paul wrote:

I thought I was the only one who lined my trash and recycling bins up in an orderly fashion for pick-up at the end of my driveway. 


There's a huge difference between liking a sense of order about things (such as arranging your music or books or movies collections) and being ADHD or OCD.

Edited by Floydoid - August 14 2024 at 06:39
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You might be autistic. I dunno. I'm not a doctor.
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Lewian View Drop Down
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Quote I would rather try to figure it out on my own.
Chances are that this is rather hopeless. ADHD is defined by symptoms that are very widespread to the extent that maybe even the majority of people nowadays show some such symptoms. The ADHD diagnosis depends on how extreme these symptoms are in your case, but note that ADHD is not diagnosed as an organic illness that separates people who have it in a clear way from people who don't. Rather it depends on the degree, there is no sharp dividing line between ADHD and non-ADHD, and official diagnosis will rely on a rather arbitrary threshold that is apparently applied differently in different countries. Any statistically proven treatment effects of any kind of therapy (medical or other), and particularly whether it is worth a shot, will depend on where on the scale you are, which I don't think anyone can figure out on their own. 

Of course you are can try to figure out as well as you can how to deal with your personal situation, and good luck with that, but for this my advice would be to not focus on whether it is ADHD or not, because unless you know where exactly on the scale you are, this will have little if any practical implication for you. 
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Originally posted by Lewian Lewian wrote:

Quote I would rather try to figure it out on my own.
Chances are that this is rather hopeless. ADHD is defined by symptoms that are very widespread to the extent that maybe even the majority of people nowadays show some such symptoms. The ADHD diagnosis depends on how extreme these symptoms are in your case, but note that ADHD is not diagnosed as an organic illness that separates people who have it in a clear way from people who don't. Rather it depends on the degree, there is no sharp dividing line between ADHD and non-ADHD, and official diagnosis will rely on a rather arbitrary threshold that is apparently applied differently in different countries. Any statistically proven treatment effects of any kind of therapy (medical or other), and particularly whether it is worth a shot, will depend on where on the scale you are, which I don't think anyone can figure out on their own. 

Of course you are can try to figure out as well as you can how to deal with your personal situation, and good luck with that, but for this my advice would be to not focus on whether it is ADHD or not, because unless you know where exactly on the scale you are, this will have little if any practical implication for you. 

This all sounds like conjecture to me. What is your qualification for making these statements? It all sounds just like your opinion without having any real expertise. People who have ADHD have certain tendencies and habits that develop because of the way their brain is wired. I'm not an expert either but I do know that you either have these tendencies or you don't. Maybe it's not black and white but some people have them more than others. Almost everyone has at least some of these symptoms sometimes but not to the degree that those who have ADHD have them. If you are easily distracted, have racing thoughts, have a habit of not listening to people and talk over them and start things (often starting multiple tasks) without finishing them (as well as many others) then you might have ADHD. It took me 9 years to complete a bachelors degree. For your average person it takes four.  Maybe things aren't as bad for me as they once were but I went mostly diagnosed when I was younger. Medication helps a lot for a lot of people but I never stayed on anything too long and at one point I was even in denial about having it. I know you probably mean well in your response but to be honest you really don't know what you are talking about.


Edited by AFlowerKingCrimson - August 14 2024 at 17:18
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AFlowerKingCrimson View Drop Down
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Originally posted by Hrychu Hrychu wrote:

You might be autistic. I dunno. I'm not a doctor.

And neither is Lewian otherwise he (?) probably would have mentioned that. No, I don't believe I'm autistic although several years ago my brother insisted I was. Anyone can be wrong about these things including myself but based on my own research I have a lot more in common with someone who has ADHD than someone who has ASD (which these days includes aspergers which is no longer an official diagnosis having been subsumed by the ASD - autism spectrum disorder- diagnosis). 


Edited by AFlowerKingCrimson - August 14 2024 at 17:16
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I was diagnosed as ADD as an adult. And certainly a lot of the typical signs and history of being unable to focus on tasks. Diagnosing is not an exact science. I have done therapy and medication. Medication worked positively in some ways but I often 'crashed' out when I was off. More so with Adderall than Ritalin.

My son is much worse than me with ADHD (I am really not so hyper) and has Type 1 autism (formerly Aspbergers) on top of that. Diagnosing was difficult on the ASD though I though it was obvious, but ADHD for him was clear.

Diagnosing should be done professionally but it's not exact and often, it's just a confirmation there is a problem, but doesn't mean there is a good path for treatment. I stay off meds even though it helped because it affected me in other ways.

I struggle with job performance, having to put in extra time because I get easily distracted. When I can, I do find mindfulness/meditation to be helpful.

I see a therapist and it helps a little.
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Lewian View Drop Down
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Originally posted by AFlowerKingCrimson AFlowerKingCrimson wrote:

Originally posted by Lewian Lewian wrote:

Quote I would rather try to figure it out on my own.
Chances are that this is rather hopeless. ADHD is defined by symptoms that are very widespread to the extent that maybe even the majority of people nowadays show some such symptoms. The ADHD diagnosis depends on how extreme these symptoms are in your case, but note that ADHD is not diagnosed as an organic illness that separates people who have it in a clear way from people who don't. Rather it depends on the degree, there is no sharp dividing line between ADHD and non-ADHD, and official diagnosis will rely on a rather arbitrary threshold that is apparently applied differently in different countries. Any statistically proven treatment effects of any kind of therapy (medical or other), and particularly whether it is worth a shot, will depend on where on the scale you are, which I don't think anyone can figure out on their own. 

Of course you are can try to figure out as well as you can how to deal with your personal situation, and good luck with that, but for this my advice would be to not focus on whether it is ADHD or not, because unless you know where exactly on the scale you are, this will have little if any practical implication for you. 

This all sounds like conjecture to me. What is your qualification for making these statements? It all sounds just like your opinion without having any real expertise. People who have ADHD have certain tendencies and habits that develop because of the way their brain is wired. I'm not an expert either but I do know that you either have these tendencies or you don't. Maybe it's not black and white but some people have them more than others. Almost everyone has at least some of these symptoms sometimes but not to the degree that those who have ADHD have them. If you are easily distracted, have racing thoughts, have a habit of not listening to people and talk over them and start things (often starting multiple tasks) without finishing them (as well as many others) then you might have ADHD. It took me 9 years to complete a bachelors degree. For your average person it takes four.  Maybe things aren't as bad for me as they once were but I went mostly diagnosed when I was younger. Medication helps a lot for a lot of people but I never stayed on anything too long and at one point I was even in denial about having it. I know you probably mean well in your response but to be honest you really don't know what you are talking about.
Not sure whether you realise that nothing of what I wrote is in contradiction to anything that you wrote. Of course it's an opinion and I'm not a doctor. And actually my opinion is go see a doctor/somebody qualified if you want to know for sure. There is a certain background to my opinion (I know a thing or two about classification of diseases including mental health issues), but as always on the internet you can take or leave whatever you want, and stuff that is said should be taken at face value. It wouldn't help at all did I claim to have any relevant qualification, would it? So make of it whatever you want, and all the best to you!
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Being scatterbrained certainly sounds very familiar to me. I take after my Mum and she is really bad. I'm likely also 'on the spectrum' and often very lazy and lack motivation. At the end of the day you have to power through everything. Ultimately you have to earn enough money to eat and have somewhere warm to sleep and rest. After that life takes care of itself. A better version of yourself is going to do what? Change the world maybe, ending hunger and curing cancer. I dunno. You got this far so it can't be that bad (?)
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