Help, should i get tested?: I am a 22F... - CHADD's Adult ADH...

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Help, should i get tested?

flakynegotiator profile image
10 Replies

I am a 22F who always felt like they were wearing a mask but now reading up on ADHD I can recognise myself in some symptoms but I want to check out if I should or if it's just all in my head.

- I suffer what I call a "brain fog" where sometimes in conversations or class or tutorials my brain just zones out. sometimes I think of other things and sometimes of nothing at all. I started teaching myself confirmation words at 11 such as "mmh" , "okay", "really?", "no way" to make it seem like I was following what was said. i have a fear of offending people.

- I daydream easily.

- I FORGET people's names easily but also so many things in general; I had the same instructor for an entire year and still struggle to remember their names.

- Or I will double-check everything but still have a feeling I forgot something just to walk out and remember what I forgot on my way to class. Or I tell myself to remember something just to remember that i need to remember but not what it is??

- I had/have really bad anxiety going out into public spaces as it felt like everything is hyperfocused; looks of people, sounds, conversations. i preferred sitting near the walls in classrooms as they gave my senses a bit of rest and i can focus better.

- During exams, I feel like I can hear the entire room and can't concentrate. I was dreading my end of secondary schools exams with sharing it with other people due to all the new sounds and I knew i wasn't going to concentrate fully. During my exams for Uni I was designated a separate room to accomodate my extra time for a hand injury and I loved the silence while focusing.

- My friends say I hibernate after social interactions I get really tired and reply to texts nearly days later.

- I can clean my room or desk but it will be messy within hours. I HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING TO ORGANISE MY CLOTHES AND DESKS.

- I can spent hours reading a book for pleasure forgetting to eat food or taking care of myself but 1-2 hour for a 20 page chapter for college.

- Growing up, I had no patience for certain things such as brushing my teeth or waiting for people talking long periods. but I now own an electric toothbrush with a timer which made me realise how short I brush my teeth.

- Ever since going into uni I never focus in class, the minute I am in the room I go into social media on my laptop even though I try.

- I shake my leg when concentrating or studying.

- I hated orals because I felt like my brain was moving to fast for my mouth.

- People always ask to me slow down or repeat what I say as I try to compensate for my brain.

- I feel like even though I spent hours doing work it never pays off. I can spent 12 hours sitting on a desk and only getting 50%.

- I hate short answer questions as I make silly mistakes as my brain is trying to condense all I know into one sentence.

I am in my fourth year of dental school and I need to be organised and stop making silly mistakes in clinical work but I feel like things are slipping through my hands. but I don't experience the typical hyperactivity nor being extremely talkative(maybe as a younger child but it has gotten less significantly)

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flakynegotiator
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10 Replies
Bellatrix2020 profile image
Bellatrix2020

I'm almost 30 and this sounds just like me!! I never thought to even question ADHD as the culprit either until just recently. I would def. try to get evaluated at the least! I'm currently waiting to hear back from my doc. I just sent in my self assessment papers/other paperwork yesterday. Hoping to hear back soon for a sit down in person appointment!! Do yourself the favor and at least get it checked out. Good Luck!

flakynegotiator profile image
flakynegotiator in reply toBellatrix2020

Thank you for replying back! I think I will call the student health centre at my university on monday! did your symptoms worsen in uni? I was a straight A student in secondary school(although I did work for 12 hours a day to get those grades) but now i barely pass.

Bellatrix2020 profile image
Bellatrix2020 in reply toflakynegotiator

My symptoms got worse through out late teens-adulthood. They were always bad symptoms my whole life but it wasn't until early-mid adulthood that I really got fed up and was like, okay seriously, what is going on and why?! I did my best in Uni for first 2 years only because I had a goal to reach which kept me going (wasn't easy though), which was a study abroad trip to France. After the trip I knew I wasn't going to finish my degree because I didn't feel the same way I did because I felt I had nothing much to look forward too. Like, it all sounded so boring from then on!

flakynegotiator profile image
flakynegotiator in reply toBellatrix2020

Interesting to hear, very similar in which my symptoms started annoying me until recently! I had a huge burnout after my christmas exams and not seeing my effort being worth it, as I had never been more organised, and still failing was the turning point.

FullAgonist profile image
FullAgonist

Classic symptoms here. The initial screening is pretty quick, just a handful of questions and you can find the questionnaires online to get an idea. Don't make the mistake of not seeking help, I feel that ADHD people try to solve their own problems and that delays treatment, with serious consequences.

flakynegotiator profile image
flakynegotiator in reply toFullAgonist

Thank you for answering @

Please do get tested! A diagnosis will make a big difference in your life, as schools make accommodations for ADD these days. I can relate to your trouble concentrating--a diagnosis and meds will help. I went my whole life knowing there was "something wrong with me," finally figuring it out and getting diagnosed later in life. I had pretty much learned to compensate by then, but meds might have made my life a whole lot easier! Don't wait--help is available! Good luck in your studies!!!

winnifred1966 profile image
winnifred1966

Oh my goodness! From everything you have said it sounds like you are definitely struggling. I too felt very different from everyone and I always knew that something was wrong with me, but I couldn't figure it out. I am a 54f and I just recently found out and the only reason I finally decided to get tested was that my son tested positive. I am not a doctor, but if you feel that you might have ADHD then I would, if I were you get tested. Btw my son went to our family doctor and told her that he felt like his brain was always in a fog. I wish you all the best.

flakynegotiator profile image
flakynegotiator in reply towinnifred1966

Thank you for replying back! I will go on monday and make an appointment!

winnifred1966 profile image
winnifred1966 in reply toflakynegotiator

You're very welcome😀

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