So there's a very good chance I have ADD

[Blue Protoman]

Not ADHD. ADD. There is a difference. Let me make this clear now.


The signs were fairly obvious, and not even my mother is sure how she missed them (especially since she herself has it). Sometimes I just am bad at paying attention. (Yes, if you have ADD, you can still have excellent grades. All of my averages are above 90.)


I first discovered it about a week ago; I didn't sleep well (even though I took melatonin), so I asked my mom if she had anything that would keep me going through the day. All she had (no time to make coffee) was her aderall (it's basically I Can't Believe It's Not Ritalin); an hour after I took it, my first thought was "Holy shit!", because I noticed that it make an extremely positive difference in my ability to pay attention AND it kept me awake. So I return home and tell my mother of this, she put two and two together, and now I have a doctor's appointment on the 22nd to confirm this and get a prescription of my own. (I'm on aderall as I write this, by the way.)


However; she has this book about ADD. Written in it is a list of things that can affect it negatively. Video games are on that list. I have a Pandora, which specializes in video games. Do the math.


But I actually got denied my video game privileges before this fiasco; partially about me hardly giving a fuck about things like doing well on the SAT (taking it in June), studying my Driver's Manual (got my permit in October), and a few other things I can't be arsed to talk about about.


The only reason I'm here is because of my school-given laptop and the lack of an ability (on my mom's part) to spy on me in school. Thank God there's nothing in the site's name that sets off the blocks.


I know that my mom cares for me; she really does. This situation is a bitch at the moment, though in the long run I'll benefit. And perhaps I'll get a bit of a break in the summer (when I'm not working, that is).

 

[SOLGarion]

Well your posts on this bored support your theory on ADD, but also easy to confuse that with lazy. Oh shit, my kid can't concentrate in school, he has ADD!! No, your kid just doesn't give a shit so he doesn't pay attention, teach him to give a shit. The fact that you don't give a *fuck* about the SAT and studying for things like drivers permits might fall more into the lazy then ADD. Not being able to concentrate because you don't care doesn't mean you have a disability, just lack of self discipline.

 

[Blue Protoman]

1. OK, I might have exaggerated a bit; "not giving as much of a fuck as my mom would like me to" would be a better fit.


2. We'll know for sure after my doctor's appointment. But my mom and I went through a chapter of her book (which lists a lot of signs), and we agreed on many of them. There are plenty more signs/symptoms of it than you think.

 

[Gerix]

Sharing prescriptions is illegal in the U.S. Enjoy your ban. J/K, but I wouldn't go around telling too many people.


I took a questionnaire about possibly having ADD or ADHD (I honestly can't remember). The results said it might be a good idea to consult with a doctor, but I figure I've lived with myself this long and haven't really had any problems. Plus, I don't like the idea of taking (what are in my opinion in my own situation) unnecessary drugs.

 

[breakpots]

900 posts in 4 months? In other news, the sky is blue.


One book is not the end all of ADD knowledge. If I were you, I'd get my hands on some medical journals to go right to the source and see what the REAL pros are saying about video games and ADD.


http://www.everydayhealth.com/adhd/specialists/do-video-games-cause-adhd.aspx


I know you kind of get a bad rep around here, but I really do like you, blue. Would be a shame to see you go. You give the place a nice dash of youthful energy, and for a retro gaming forum... Well, you see where I'm going with this.

 

[Blue Protoman]

No, I am not leaving for good. I will just be here less.


And, guys, remember, my doctor's appointment has not happened yet. I will tell you how it goes when it does.

 

[Caine]

Don't jump to conclusions too quickly Protoman. Better to get the professional opinion first.


Please be careful with taking prescription medicines of others, those things are on prescription for a reason.


I wish you the best and hope you will continue to be an active member in this community (despite the occasional clashes we've had )


Good luck.

 

[Blue Protoman]

Don't jump to conclusions too quickly Protoman. Better to get the professional opinion first.


Please be careful with taking prescription medicines of others, those things are on prescription for a reason.


I wish you the best and hope you will continue to be an active member in this community (despite the occasional clashes we've had )


Good luck.

1. Doctor. Future. Not present. Future. And my first reaction to this situation was "I think we should investigate the positive effect of this medicine on me further", not "I think I have ADD". My mom's a major player in this.


2. I haven't been taking it every day. Today is the fourth time in two weeks.

 

[GreenDream]

Whatever you do, please stay away from Ritalin, it's adverse side effects often create the need to take anti-depressants at the same time. This guy at my school has this issue and it's seriously messed up his mind. I hope you'll stay around just as often as well, I enjoy your posts

 

[Blue Protoman]

Didn't even consider Ritalin; Aderall works well enough for me.


But why can't they spell it as Aderol? It would make more sense. And don't get me started on Vyvanse.

 

[gadgetoid]

As someone who might probably be diagnosed with mild Aspergers (actually I think I have, as a child) and almost certainly ADD I would like to point out that I don't believe either should be labelled as negative conditions. Or even labelled at all.


You could point to any "personality flaw" and claim it a medical condition, and start pumping people full of drugs to try and cure it. Up to, and including, homosexuality. But I don't think it's justified. And in the terms of ADHD in particular, I think it's a massively over-diagnosed, non-condition that has more to do with shitty parenting, shitty diets, shitty culture and the general trend of all humanity toward a future not dissimilar to that portrayed in the film Idiocracy.


I think pretty much everyone here would show signs of ADD/Aspergers under scrutiny. They are the hallmarks of a geek, and they're what make us retreat into our bedrooms and learn things upon which we can successfully build a career.


You speak of taking drugs to make you pay attention. That's fine, but don't tie their positive effects to some imaginary, arbitrary and highly suspect modern-medical-mumbo-jumbo condition. You might just as well say that all human beings are suffering from muscle wastage and weakness of the limps, and subscribe them all steroids. It's bullshit. Sure, the drugs might increase your attention span and keep you awake, but they're fucking designed to do just that. They'd do the same for anyone. And if they didn't, they've failed.


Anyone making any professional judgement on ADD/ADHD is a quack. That shit wasn't even invented when I was a child and had a shopping list of behavioural problems so long that they couldn't keep me in a mainstream school.

 

[DaMummy]

you ass...you didnt realize that you have ADD, its cause i told you to start taking ritalin!

 

[Blue Protoman]

you ass...you didnt realize that you have ADD, its cause i told you to start taking ritalin!

dsdsfdsfdsafdaf

 

[WizardStan]

I think the fact that you sat still long enough to read a book about ADD is enough evidence that you don't have ADD


edit: in seriousness, Ritalin and Aderall have been abused by college students cramming for exams for years. The fact that it helped you stay focused is not necessarily an indication that you have ADD since they do that for everybody. Good luck with the doctor, though.

 

[Blue Protoman]

1. I didn't read the whole book, just a chapter.


2. I need to stress that there are a lot of signs of ADD, not just having difficult focusing. I can't be bothered to think of any right now.

 

[Aethix]

Whatever you do, please stay away from Ritalin, it's adverse side effects often create the need to take anti-depressants at the same time. This guy at my school has this issue and it's seriously messed up his mind. I hope you'll stay around just as often as well, I enjoy your posts

I took Ritalin for years in grade school, it worked wonders for my concentration (although I had Asperger's and was misdiagnosed with ADHD) with no adverse side effects.

 

[ZXDunny]

1. I didn't read the whole book, just a chapter.


2. I need to stress that there are a lot of signs of ADD, not just having difficult focusing. I can't be bothered to think of any right now.

I got a book out of the library on ADD, but kept losing interest in it.


D.

 

[Blue Protoman]

Zing!

 

[darfgarf]

Didn't even consider Ritalin; Aderall works well enough for me.


But why can't they spell it as Aderol? It would make more sense. And don't get me started on Vyvanse.

Because that's how English works the ol sound at the end is your regional pronunciation ;p


I refused to be tested in school, would've ended up a ritalin vegetable and not got anywhere with life, much better to deal with what you get and come out a better person

 

[Moron]

As someone who might probably be diagnosed with mild Aspergers (actually I think I have, as a child) and almost certainly ADD I would like to point out that I don't believe either should be labelled as negative conditions. Or even labelled at all.You could point to any "personality flaw" and claim it a medical condition, and start pumping people full of drugs to try and cure it. Up to, and including, homosexuality. But I don't think it's justified. And in the terms of ADHD in particular, I think it's a massively over-diagnosed, non-condition that has more to do with shitty parenting, shitty diets, shitty culture and the general trend of all humanity toward a future not dissimilar to that portrayed in the film Idiocracy.I think pretty much everyone here would show signs of ADD/Aspergers under scrutiny. They are the hallmarks of a geek, and they're what make us retreat into our bedrooms and learn things upon which we can successfully build a career.You speak of taking drugs to make you pay attention. That's fine, but don't tie their positive effects to some imaginary, arbitrary and highly suspect modern-medical-mumbo-jumbo condition. You might just as well say that all human beings are suffering from muscle wastage and weakness of the limps, and subscribe them all steroids. It's bullshit. Sure, the drugs might increase your attention span and keep you awake, but they're fucking designed to do just that. They'd do the same for anyone. And if they didn't, they've failed.Anyone making any professional judgement on ADD/ADHD is a quack. That shit wasn't even invented when I was a child and had a shopping list of behavioural problems so long that they couldn't keep me in a mainstream school.

As someone with ADHD, I have to half disagree with you. ADHD, along with several other disorders are indeed used as a catch-all for any kid with behavioral issues. But that doesn't mean it doesn't exist, just that an ADD/ADHD (Actually ADHD is used to cover both conditions now in the DSM IV) diagnosis should be taken with a grain of salt. I think it's all about severity. Everyone on the planet has trouble paying attention sometimes, or is sometimes a bit restless, etc. ADHD just means that those symptoms are always on, all the time, and disrupt normal activity.


I also used to have huge behavioral problems, and had to be taken out of public school. I used to take ritalin, but stopped due to side effects. Switched to adderall later, but stopped due to not wanting to take what's pretty much speed every day. I haven't taken anything for it since I was 13 or so. But if I'm not doing something to keep busy, then I find myself pacing back and forth through the whole house without really realizing. I can barely read if there's so much as a murmur in the background, because I'll keep forgetting what I just read, and read the same line over and over, and not remember what I do manage to read. I frequently space out due to my thoughts racing all day and all night. I could go on and on. But I do get excellent test scores.


tl;dr adhd is real but it really depends per person.