I'm starting to think I may have ADHD

[Mcupobob]

Before August 11 I was a heavy cannabis/Cigarette smoker(Actually haven't committed to stop smoking since a week ago), also occasional drinker. After August 11 and moving out here with my aunt and uncle I have been super active my brain just doesn't shut up, racing and multiply thoughts have returned, my nervous twitch is back, I've started pacing again. I didn't think anything of it in till my aunt kept saying I was ADHD. I thought bullshit, thats one of the most over-diagnosed things ever. However to humor myself I took a online test and it said I have adult ADHD.

http://psychcentral.com/addquiz.htm

Okay whatever I thought, just a online test. Then I looked up the symptoms and thought "Okay thats a little to close to home"

The following behaviors and problems may stem directly from ADHD or may be the result of related adjustment difficulties:
Chronic lateness and forgetfulness. (Check)
Anxiety. (Check)
Low self-esteem. (Ups and downs, though I've had therapy so I managed to work through it)
Employment problems. (Ehhh, my old job loved me and said I worked hard I just always had some kind of problem though with people and that I daydream a lot and would spill something while not paying attention)
Difficulty controlling anger. (Again lots of therapy worked me through this, though I still get easily angry, just know how to control it)
Impulsiveness.(Check)
Substance abuse or addiction.(check)
Poor organization skills.(check)
Procrastination.(Check)
Low frustration tolerance.(check, I'm on of those throws a fit and says fuck when something doesn't go my way though)
Chronic boredom.(Check)
Difficulty concentrating when reading.(Lately yes, though as a tad I had trouble in till a teacher helped me through it)
Mood swings.(check
Depression.(been down that road more than once)
Relationship problems.(And yes)

Now, I still don't know because this list almost feels like an excuse for being an idiot as my uncle would put it. So I'm not sure escapist, should I get this checked out?


EDIT: Ah never mind I think I got worked up over nothing

So now this thread can be about cake I suppose. Or post picture of kitten.

 

[Lyri]

The following behaviors and problems may stem directly from ADHD or may be the result of related adjustment difficulties:
Chronic lateness and forgetfulness. (Check)
Anxiety. (Check)
Low self-esteem. (Sometimes)
Employment problems. (If I get one I hold onto it)
Difficulty controlling anger. (Not really)
Impulsiveness.(Check)
Substance abuse or addiction.(Nah)
Poor organization skills.(check)
Procrastination.(Check)
Low frustration tolerance.(kinda yes kinda no)
Chronic boredom.(Check)
Difficulty concentrating when reading.(Yep)
Mood swings.(check)
Depression.(I have been)
Relationship problems.(Nope)

Honestly this list describes a lot of general emotion, I wouldn't really pay too much attention to it and if you do think you have ADHD then go see your doctor.

 

[genericusername64]

Weed helps a lot with ADHD, that's probably why you haven't noticed until now. Most online quizzes are complete bullshit though, so you should see a doctor before you diagnose yourself.

 

[zxvcasdfqwerzxcv]

Get it checked out if you think it needs to be. However those 'symptoms' are incredibly general, and don't mention to what extreme a case of ADHD would have them.

Also, generally a bad idea to self-diagnose online! If you want diagnosis, seek a professional. And also get a second opinion. ADHD is definitely over-diagnosed. Remember also that doctors (particularly in the states) are all too keen to diagnose and medicate based on a list as ambiguous as this online one. Be careful. Not saying you don't have ADHD, but it's incredibly easy to convince yourself you do have it.

 

[Thaluikhain]

As mentioned, don't self-diagnose online...that one looks particularly vague, but in general, they are as reliable as a "Which Twilight character are you?" quiz.

 

[Rawne1980]

Chronic lateness and forgetfulness.
Anxiety.
Employment problems.
Difficulty controlling anger.
Impulsiveness.
Substance abuse or addiction.
Poor organization skills.
Procrastination.
Low frustration tolerance.
Chronic boredom.
Difficulty concentrating when reading.
Mood swings.
Relationship problems.

You know what I call that list?

Being a bloke.

Seriously, that list just about describes every fella i've ever known including myself.

I woke up with a hangover once and decided for a giggle to google the symptoms. According to "medical" websites I was dying of some foreign sickness contracted around 3rd world countries.

Point being, never get medical advice from the internet. I swear thats how hypochondriacs appear. Google something and all of a sudden they have every illness known to man.

Seek professional advice.

And thats actual professional advice not Escapist forums armchair doctor advice.

 

[redisforever]

I do have ADD, and personally, I love it. It's more interesting for me. Everyone has some level of ADD/ADHD, but for some, it's more powerful. I have it quite bad, but if you learn to deal with it, it's fine.

Seriously, speak to a doctor about it.

 

[M-E-D The Poet]

Before August 11 I was a heavy cannabis/Cigarette smoker(Actually haven't committed to stop smoking since a week ago), also occasional drinker. After August 11 and moving out here with my aunt and uncle I have been super active my brain just doesn't shut up, racing and multiply thoughts have returned, my nervous twitch is back, I've started pacing again. I didn't think anything of it in till my aunt kept saying I was ADHD. I thought bullshit, thats one of the most over-diagnosed things ever. However to humor myself I took a online test and it said I have adult ADHD.

http://psychcentral.com/addquiz.htm

Okay whatever I thought, just a online test. Then I looked up the symptoms and thought "Okay thats a little to close to home"

The following behaviors and problems may stem directly from ADHD or may be the result of related adjustment difficulties:
Chronic lateness and forgetfulness. (Check)
Anxiety. (Check)
Low self-esteem. (Ups and downs, though I've had therapy so I managed to work through it)
Employment problems. (Ehhh, my old job loved me and said I worked hard I just always had some kind of problem though with people and that I daydream a lot and would spill something while not paying attention)
Difficulty controlling anger. (Again lots of therapy worked me through this, though I still get easily angry, just know how to control it)
Impulsiveness.(Check)
Substance abuse or addiction.(check)
Poor organization skills.(check)
Procrastination.(Check)
Low frustration tolerance.(check, I'm on of those throws a fit and says fuck when something doesn't go my way though)
Chronic boredom.(Check)
Difficulty concentrating when reading.(Lately yes, though as a tad I had trouble in till a teacher helped me through it)
Mood swings.(check
Depression.(been down that road more than once)
Relationship problems.(And yes)

Now, I still don't know because this list almost feels like an excuse for being an idiot as my uncle would put it. So I'm not sure escapist, should I get this checked out?

You can't self Diagnose this

And honestly, thanks to DSM IV and V more and more people are getting this diagnosis when it doesn't apply to them whatsoever

Relationship problems , depressions, mood swings,procastrination,poor organisation skills,addiction, chronic lateness.. etc.

These are not major key symptons as to diagnose the disorder with
The closest to a real key symptom you've got is chronic boredom, but boredom actually can't be chronic we'd call that perpetual


But yet again, that could be noted to other things

First go to a psychiatrist/doctor, with your parents if you're of young age, mostly males and their fathers share symptoms

second you have to know that ADHD is a condition that doesn't just start, it has to have been there all along.

 

[sam42ification]

Chronic lateness and forgetfulness. (Check)
Anxiety. (Check)
Low self-esteem. (Ups and downs, though I've had therapy so I managed to work through it)
Employment problems. (Ehhh, my old job loved me and said I worked hard I just always had some kind of problem though with people and that I daydream a lot and would spill something while not paying attention)
Difficulty controlling anger. (Again lots of therapy worked me through this, though I still get easily angry, just know how to control it)
Impulsiveness.(Check)
Substance abuse or addiction.(check)
Poor organization skills.(check)
Procrastination.(Check)
Low frustration tolerance.(check, I'm on of those throws a fit and says fuck when something doesn't go my way though)
Chronic boredom.(Check)
Difficulty concentrating when reading.(Lately yes, though as a tad I had trouble in till a teacher helped me through it)
Mood swings.(check
Depression.(been down that road more than once)
Relationship problems.(And yes)

A lot of these don't sound like symptoms at all. Some of these are just every day problems that every encounters. I wouldn't use a lot of these symptoms to diagnose some one if i were a psycholigist but what do i know. chronic latness and forgetfullness, employment problems, impulsiveness, substance abuse or addiction, poor organizational skill, procrastination, chronic boredom, difficulty concentrating when reading, depression and relationship problems are all things i don't think really count as major symptoms of anything. I think if you have a problem with these things there is nothing wronge with your brain chemestry your just a normal person.

I don't think it's wise to self diagnose. But go see a docter any ways. can't hurt. If these are real symptoms then i may have ADHD but i don't think so.

 

[Mcupobob]

You can't self Diagnose this

And honestly, thanks to DSM IV and V more and more people are getting this diagnosis when it doesn't apply to them whatsoever

Relationship problems , depressions, mood swings,procastrination,poor organisation skills,addiction, chronic lateness.. etc.

These are not major key symptons as to diagnose the disorder with
The closest to a real key symptom you've got is chronic boredom, but boredom actually can't be chronic we'd call that perpetual

But yet again, that could be noted to other things

First go to a psychiatrist/doctor, with your parents if you're of young age, mostly males and their fathers share symptoms

second you have to know that ADHD is a condition that doesn't just start, it has to have been there all along.

Thats why I would have blown all that off it wasn't that all those problems have been prevalent in my life and since I've stopped substance abusing they have been coming back. I hate to self diagnose, but it would explain a lot about me. Which is another thing I hate to do is blame all my problems on a condition that I don't even know if I had. Though If I think I might have it should I get checked out or am I just overreacting?

 

[setting_son]

I think we tend to over-medicalise things these days. What our parents and grandparents would have considered behavioural traits or quirks of personality are now being classified as problems that need to be medicated away.

I know we aren't talking about depression here but using it as an example...Based on my own meandering experience of the healthcare system, the cruel thing is that depression is probably over-diagnosed in people who don't have it but overlooked in people who do. For example - moody teenagers with concerned/pushy parents get dragged to the doctor and are diagnosed incorrectly with depression whereas an old age pensioner who really is depressed might find their crippling illness ignored because nobody takes the time to notice they're sad.

As for ADHD and suchlike; a cynical part of me thinks that these are dreamed up just to push drugs, classify people and make them conform. Any deviation from some societal notion of 'normal' is seen as inherently unhealthy and needs to be annihilated. Even if we give ADHD the benefit of doubt and accept that it is actually a thing that exists, I reckon it's still being over-diagnosed.

If I went by that list, I would have ADHD and so would everyone I know and EVERY child in the country would be on Ritalin.

As Doug Stanhope said "I was terrified when my doctor told me that I had a rare and interesting personality trait..."

And no, I don't have any facts or statistics on the above. I fully accept that I could be wrong, that my experience is anecdotal and that my views are subjective.

 

[M-E-D The Poet]

You can't self Diagnose this

And honestly, thanks to DSM IV and V more and more people are getting this diagnosis when it doesn't apply to them whatsoever

Relationship problems , depressions, mood swings,procastrination,poor organisation skills,addiction, chronic lateness.. etc.

These are not major key symptons as to diagnose the disorder with
The closest to a real key symptom you've got is chronic boredom, but boredom actually can't be chronic we'd call that perpetual

But yet again, that could be noted to other things

First go to a psychiatrist/doctor, with your parents if you're of young age, mostly males and their fathers share symptoms

second you have to know that ADHD is a condition that doesn't just start, it has to have been there all along.

Thats why I would have blown all that off it wasn't that all those problems have been prevalent in my life and since I've stopped substance abusing they have been coming back. I hate to self diagnose, but it would explain a lot about me. Which is another thing I hate to do is blame all my problems on a condition that I don't even know if I had. Though If I think I might have it should I get checked out or am I just overreacting?

I think you might be overreacting, BUT, if you feel the need to see a doctor then by all means do so

Just note that a diagnosis like ADHD will mark you for the rest of your life

 

[Mcupobob]

You can't self Diagnose this

And honestly, thanks to DSM IV and V more and more people are getting this diagnosis when it doesn't apply to them whatsoever

Relationship problems , depressions, mood swings,procastrination,poor organisation skills,addiction, chronic lateness.. etc.

These are not major key symptons as to diagnose the disorder with
The closest to a real key symptom you've got is chronic boredom, but boredom actually can't be chronic we'd call that perpetual

But yet again, that could be noted to other things

First go to a psychiatrist/doctor, with your parents if you're of young age, mostly males and their fathers share symptoms

second you have to know that ADHD is a condition that doesn't just start, it has to have been there all along.

Thats why I would have blown all that off it wasn't that all those problems have been prevalent in my life and since I've stopped substance abusing they have been coming back. I hate to self diagnose, but it would explain a lot about me. Which is another thing I hate to do is blame all my problems on a condition that I don't even know if I had. Though If I think I might have it should I get checked out or am I just overreacting?

I think you might be overreacting, BUT, if you feel the need to see a doctor then by all means do so

Just note that a diagnosis like ADHD will mark you for the rest of your life

I think you're right, prolly shouldn't have let the Interwebs suck me in. Glad I came here first to have some sense talked into me. I can be pretty gullible at times and forget to take things at face value.

 

[Wushu Panda]

The following behaviors and problems may stem directly from ADHD or may be the result of related adjustment difficulties:
Chronic lateness and forgetfulness. (Check)
Anxiety. (Check)
Low self-esteem. (Ups and downs, though I've had therapy so I managed to work through it)
Employment problems. (Ehhh, my old job loved me and said I worked hard I just always had some kind of problem though with people and that I daydream a lot and would spill something while not paying attention)
Difficulty controlling anger. (Again lots of therapy worked me through this, though I still get easily angry, just know how to control it)
Impulsiveness.(Check)
Substance abuse or addiction.(check)
Poor organization skills.(check)
Procrastination.(Check)
Low frustration tolerance.(check, I'm on of those throws a fit and says fuck when something doesn't go my way though)
Chronic boredom.(Check)
Difficulty concentrating when reading.(Lately yes, though as a tad I had trouble in till a teacher helped me through it)
Mood swings.(check
Depression.(been down that road more than once)
Relationship problems.(And yes)

Now, I still don't know because this list almost feels like an excuse for being an idiot as my uncle would put it. So I'm not sure escapist, should I get this checked out?

OH WOW!! i guess i have ADHD too! My friend has it, his brother has it, my friends in school have it my teachers have it....THE WHOLE WORLD HAS ADHD!! We have to tell someone!!

The list describes 100% of teenagers age 14-18 and beyond. Did you ever think your "symptoms" were just from smoking and drinking too much and now you've stopped? Grow up.

 

[LooK iTz Jinjo]

According to that list I have ADHD. But I think in reality it's just called being generally lazy and unmotivated.

 

[crudus]

Now, I still don't know because this list almost feels like an excuse for being an idiot as my uncle would put it. So I'm not sure escapist, should I get this checked out?

The plural of "symptom" is not "disease/disorder". These are common traits in everyone. Also, why are you taking credence in on online "test" from a questionably credible website. The thing is if you are looking for something wrong with you, you are going to find it. I.e. if you think you have ADHD, you are going to look at all of the slightest symptoms and say "evidence"! Besides, you, I, nor anyone else here can really make that diagnosis. We are not trained professionals.

Although to quote Doctor House: "You're right. Who needs a medical degree when you have wifi?"