Unsure whether I have ADHD and still getting to know more about it

[daverussell]

Hi all, I've just joined this group and thought I'd just say hi and quickly introduce myself.

I've enjoyed reading through some posts and links to information. I've been considering seeking a diagnosis but thought I'd join the group to see options.

I have always had my suspicion but there is so much conflicting symptoms and information I've just always opted to crack on. Also, I'm quite complex character with childhood trauma and, in recent years, my tinnitus is 24/7. I'm more hyper-focused than anythi

Generally speaking I struggle to sit still, unless I have something of strong interest to focus on. Otherwise I get easily distracted, or more precisely, I struggle to switch off from the task I've just completed. This is where I think the conflicts occur. I'm actually very tidy (probably overly tidy) and organised.

I find I fit most of these symptoms..

- restless

- hard to prioritise

- takes me the to complete tasks

- but I overly focus and almost possessed on achieving or completing tasks (projects but have to complete tasks to perfection or personal objectives such as exercise (e.g. running a marathon or full workout at the gym)

- get frustrated with minor set backs

- mood swings/anxiety

- trouble managing finance

betterhelp.com/advice/adhd/...

However, when I read the following, for example, from CHADDs that would think is more precise, I don't relate to it quite as much.

chadd.org/for-adultsdiagnos...

On the other hand, I relate to much of Thomas E Brown's Smart But Stuck audible.co.uk/pd/1705261000....

Other symptoms I've heard abut is my lack confidence in myself and anxiety.

I appreciate I'm probably not alone.

My traits sometimes serve me wellbut at other times not.

In recently years (mid-40s) I completed a degree with First-class honours and PGCE and teach in a college.

I don't know from what I've read that I'd get a diagnosis. Anyway I look forward to reading more posts and any advice.

[Gettingittogether]

So what are your ADHD symptoms? And yes, we all are complicated. People can have ADHD and OCD and depression and anxiety and childhood trauma.

[daverussell in reply to Gettingittogether]

I've just updated my OP. Ironically, one of my traits where I over-edit something and don't/fail to proof read it correctly 😏.

[Gettingittogether]

We are all complicated ... and ADHD comes in a wide range of colors. And many people with ADHD also have other conditions.

I'd say are you getting therapy for anything? Definitely sounds like you could benefit from therapy. Start there if you have to.

[daverussell in reply to Gettingittogether]

Thank you again for your reply. I have a few coping strategies I use to help me with Tinnitus, such as listening to calming music at night and for sedentary work. I also try to be mindful. Again this is why I'm now uncertain my ADHD symptoms can be conclusive in that Tinnitus can make it difficult to focus and a busy mind. However, I would strongly argue that I've always had problems and a dislike for sedentary work and sitting still. I also take Sertraline to help me sleep and suppress anxiety and outbursts due to Tinnitus. I've only been prescribed these recently as my previous experience of AD for childhood trauma had negative effects. Though I understand AD aren't for treating ADHD as such (correct me if I'm wrong) they can have positive effects, as I've experienced in helping my reaction.

[75ADHDgal]

Do not try and diagnose yourself. See a professional - Neuro psychologist and others for a correct diagnosis. And I am Deaf without my cochlear implants and have a diagnosis from a Neuro psychologist and Psychiatrist . If I had tinnitus almsot continuously I would not be able to sit still or finish things either. And your excessive neatness points away from ADHD I do not know may folks with ADHD who are neat!

[Compton1]

You could also try the ADHD World Health Organisation questionnaire and see how you score - quite a useful first step to seeing if you might have ADHD.

[daverussell in reply to Compton1]

I assume you are referring to the 18 questions? I suppose I could show my GP. Thank you

[RussellRussell]

Hi, I would recommend going with the advice of speaking with a psychologist/ psychotherapist, however I would say that everyone has different symptoms and could be from overlapping conditions etc. someone previously mentioned neat isn’t a common trait for ADHD, that may be true, but I’m very neat and have ADHD. I figure this could be from being hyperfocused which is a common trait of adhd, so I end up focusing on tidying and things out of place when I should really be working. However this again might be some element of ocd. Who knows but I’d be careful to rule in / rule out specific traits and look more holistically, which hopefully a psychologist/ psychotherapist would do. Ps I also have tinnitus, and pretty much all of the other symptoms you have, yet I’m inattentive type so have no problem sitting still - like for 6 hours straight sometimes (might be an exaggeration), again with that hyperfocus element.

[Nicolai41]

Hi Dave, I’m very similar to you and dont stand out from neuro typical peers, partly to my numerous work arounds and where I am on the spectrum maybe? so my adhd went unnoticed until lockdown age 41.

Best thing I did was get registered in the system and get an official diagnosis. For some this can take a while but once you know and start to reflect back on past events, a lot of behaviourial patterns make sense. I am also dyslexic which also was discovered at age 35. Hope that’s helps

[daverussell in reply to Nicolai41]

Hi @Nicolai41 very helpful thank you. I'm judging from your response and others I should probably just ask. I'm just worried I'm over thinking it. It can't hurt really I suppose to get at least a holistic judgement. I'm also going to look at WHO questionnaire as suggested by Compton1

[Gettingittogether in reply to daverussell]

Isolating ... meaning you try to solve problems alone before taking steps to reach out to others.

[daverussell in reply to Gettingittogether]

Ha ha yes 100%. In fact, with most things in life. I like to understand things for myself and often feel too embarrassed to ask for help unless I've given something 100% effort. In fact, In fact, now you mention it this is pretty much what I mean by hyper-focused. Not thought about it like that before.

[Gettingittogether in reply to daverussell]

Isolating ain't great for ADHD. It can contribute to shame, and block us from taking action. You don't have to figure out things perfectly ahead of time. Let the world help you--as in therapists, doctors, and so on. You're doing that here--but do it in the real world as well.

[Gettingittogether]

Yes, you are over-thinking this starting with a terrible assumption: that you can diagnose yourself. That is a terrible, awful assumption, which can only lead to problems. Humans are terrible at diagnosing their own mind/brain/mood problems.

Basically you're wasting time by doing so (by trying to diagnose yourself). And you are isolating. Is that a pattern here? I had a sign of high blood pressure, I go to the doctor. I may do some reading, but ultimately I have to take concrete medical action.

Are you an isolater? If so, that's an issue you can probably get some help with by going to therapy (in addition to ADHD or other meds).

[daverussell in reply to Gettingittogether]

Forgive me, I'm not sure what you mean by 'isolator'?

[sharkticon]

Possibly ADHD meds might help. Trauma and ADHD can have a ton of overlapping symptoms. And ADHD meds are sometimes used as off label treatment for ADHD. It makes sense that ADHD meds could do the same thing for people that are not ADHD that have the symptoms, because ADHD meds do not reverse what's going on in ADHD, they just help with some of the symptoms. So if you are having those same symptoms from something else, it makes sense that the meds would help with that too. But hopefully in the latter you are able to get better and not need the drugs anymore.

But I am not a doctor, this is just my own speculation from my own research.

Also be careful. There are actually only very few symptoms that are actually ADHD. There are many different symptoms that people with ADHD often have, but they are not a good way to conclude that you have ADHD. They are just good indicators that you might want to go get check out against the DSM and see if it sounds like you. I would say the biggest thing to ask yourself is if you struggle with inattention and distractibility. For me I feel like ADHD is basically intense boredom. That's why I can't focus and I go from one task to the next and have a hard time remembering thing, or listening in conversations. I'm constantly looking for something to stimulate my brain. I think this is why most all ADHDers turn to some kind of addiction if it goes untreated in their lives.

Anyway I hope that helps. I would suggest going to the DSM and see if that resonates with you. And if it sounds true of yourself, then ask yourself questions like why am I easily distracted. Is it because I am anxious, depressed, or bored, or is what I'm doing triggering some kind of trauma? I think that can tell you a lot. I would say for ADHD it's usually boredom. And with ADHD you would see symptoms going back to when you were born.

[Chickadee1]

Hi daverussell - I can relate to some of the things you wrote about - perfectionism, overthinking, pay too much attention to detail in certain areas that no one else seems to even notice... - and feeling like lists of ADHD symptoms don't always fit me perfectly... I had NO CLUE I had ADHD and likely would never have thought of it because I had in my mind the hyperactive type (mine is the inattentive type)- and I thought I could pay attention well, didn't think I lost stuff, thought I had a good memory... but I was struggling at work with time management, productivity, prioritizing etc and not able to fix it despite my boss trying to help so I was recommended counseling. My counselor was the one who recognized the ADHD in me - she came to the point where she was nearly 100% sure I had it and she recommended I get tested. I had to go to 2 different professionals - the first thought I had it but then when I didn't do bad enough on his computer based test he decided I didn't... (my counselor still felt very confident I had it and recommended I get tested for it again). I went to a psychologist for neuropsychological testing - and he did diagnose me with ADHD...

Some of the things I thought I was good at that are commonly hard for those with ADHD...

I thought I could focus well - but maybe part of that was the ability to hyperfocus on things that are interesting to me... but at work I have trouble concentrating on my computer work - and now that I am more aware I recognized my difficulty concentrating there... whereas before maybe it was just my normal way of thinking so I didn't think anything of it - I thought I was focusing - just too slow - overthinking slows me down - I was also taught to pay attention from childhood - at church we had to sit still and look at the preacher the whole time (not play with quiet toys) - and not get up and wander around - or there would be consequences... so I think it was ingrained in me not to get up if I was supposed to be seated... so I thought I could focus and concentrate...

I also think I am hypervigilant about not losing things - I have strategies to prevent me from doing so because apparently I have some anxiety around the idea of losing stuff... but I'm coming to see that there are other things I forget - I remember things I hyperfocus on or am hypervigilant on but other stuff - I can forget - like several days in a row I forgot I needed to change my route home from work due to road construction I would get on my route and forget all about it...be on autopilot... or I work with my patients at the hospital and come out of the room and later realize I totally forgot to ask them standard questions that we ask most all our patients... or I forget to pay attention to certain details of the job that I would ideally document later but I forgot to pay attention when I was doing it...

So maybe when I read lists of symptoms I think it couldn't be me because I think of the times I hyperfocus or examples or things I am hypervigilant about but overlook the areas where I actually have issues I was not aware of or didn't give much thought too.

Also the stuff about ADHD that I relate to the most I think is the executive function stuff that I didn't know was a part of it.. like procrastination, difficulty initiating tasks, avoidance of tasks that require mental effort and decision making - difficulty with time management and prioritizing... and I am also having increasing awareness of difficulty concentrating, inattention, and memory issues on things I don't hyperfocus on... It took me time to see it -when my counselor first suggested the idea of ADHD to me I couldn't see it - but over time and after learning more about ADHD it fits me a lot better than I realized. Getting a diagnosis is validating to me - it helps to make sense of my struggles and to know it is not just "moral failing" or "laziness" etc... that there is actually a reason these things are hard for me and it is not all my fault...

Oh - you also mentioned neatness/tidiness - I grew up with a mother who had a big struggle with clutter and keeping things neat - and she used to tell me I was better at it than her... so I thought I was good at it - but I realize just because I am stronger at it than she is does not mean I don't struggle with it - getting myself to clean my house is actually a pretty big struggle for me now... but if neatness and orderliness is an area of hyperfocus for you I think just the fact that you are neat and tidy wouldn't rule out ADHD... but I'm not an ADHD professional...

ADHD can look different in different people -

I hope this helps... as others have said I would recommend counseling and further testing - if you can, try to find a counselor that has a lot of experience working with ADHD in adults as they will be more likely to recognize it if it is there. Sorry this is so long - I get wordy and too detailed and rambling in my writing...

[daverussell in reply to Chickadee1]

Thank you for this. This is great and I'm very greatful to everyone.

[daverussell]

I have completed the WHO ADHD Self-Report Scale and taken it to my GP. I discussed the bigger picture about my history of symptoms, suspected symptoms and research.

She has referred me for further assessment. I understand waiting times can be about 6 months.

Thank you everyone for your responses to my OP.

[daverussell]

Thank you. I'm really keen to try this or something. Im now more conscious than ever how this is affecting my productivity.