Do I have ADHD?

[Xiaa]

Im 30years old and I have a tourette syndrome with minor ticks which are manageable. It went from uncontrollable when i was young to now manageable in sense where I can control (hide) them when people are around. I believe i now have adhd and its stemmed from this.

Growing up was confusing, I didn't know why I wasn't comfortable around people I didn't know. I didn't know why I was never able to relax without a stimulant. When I would talk to people I could be looking at them dead in the eye and 30 seconds into the convo my brain drifts away. I would snap back shortly after and it would still seem like I'm engaged in the convo. But really I'm trying to figure out what I missed. This often happens with small talk or general conversation. If the topic stimulates me then all is fine, but very few convos do. Am i selfish? This caused alot of anxiety. So now I take every opportunity to not talk to strangers.

Keeping a job was impossible.i didn't know what adhd was so I always tried to work my way around it. It made me give up on getting a job years ago and seek some sort of self employment. I tried and failed or succeeded for a while then failed business ideas many times and I'm still going. On one of the occasions, it was actually my first attempt I created an online store. I was getting a decent amount of orders and it failed because it got to a point where I just kept delaying shipping. The simple task of taking the items to the post office to send it off. I felt like the stimulating part of started the business was over and the maintaining part didn't seem too appealing. My room is full of stock and supplies for 2 business ideas which I bought on different occasions. Built a website both times but in the time it took for the it all to arrive (2to3 weeks), I lost interest. I still believe in them ideas but working on my next one now. I'm very ambitious and motivated when it comes to attempting to start a business because I feel like financial freedom is the key to make sure I don't have to be in the workplace environment, come across people or just any uncomfortable situations.

I always felt like there was something wrong with me (still do) but I just couldn't pinpoint it. Even cried because of it a few times. Just a random cry which made no sense. People think I'm lazy but I do workout, well my brain does everyday. Because of how ambitious and motivated its made me in chasing my dreams and how its made me believe in myself wholeheartedly, my adhd feels like a superpower. So it's all good on that side.

But still, I feel something wrong. My everyday tasks are nearly impossible to do, if not then impossible. Sometimes I would be thinking and someone would talk to me and I would get irritated because they would interrupt my chain of thought. I would describe myself as an observant of life rather than taking part. If a movie or a series doesn't stimulate me withing the first 10 mins, on to the next.

[STEM_Dad]

Welcome to the forum.

What you describe about yourself does seem a lot like ADHD. Are you considering being evaluated for it?

I've read that stimulant medications can sometimes have a side effect of tics, so I wonder if it's more likely to cause tics in a person who has Tourettes syndrome.

[Xiaa in reply to STEM_Dad]

Thanks for your reply!

Yes I am planning to diagnose. Tbh the ticks isn't so much of a problem. It doesn't really affect the way I function and think. I am abit skeptical about the medication but I think I'll just get the diagnosis and take it from there.

[STEM_Dad in reply to Xiaa]

For me, the diagnosis was a welcome relief. But each person has to decide whether to try it or not.

[Knitting20projects]

People with Tourette’s have a higher chance of having ADHD than people without Tourette’s, I believe. I also think there are some non-stimulant medications, if you were diagnosed and interested in trying medication, that might help tics. Stimulants can sometimes make tics worse. You certainly sound like you might deserve some evaluation to help answer some questions and help you feel better and understand yourself better. I hope you can get some clarity on everything.