A few questions about ADHD?

Question

This is a long one, so get ready. I was at work last week and I have been having so many problems with actually working when i am at work, and not getting restless, and being able to focus on the things i need to get done instead of just letting my mind wonder off like it does all the time. I was talking with one of the girls i work with because she noticed i was having such a hard time. One of her children has ADHD and has low dosage adderall. She offered to just bring me one to see if it would help me. I figured it wouldn't, but it helped tremendously. I worked the whole day, I didn't have to get up every 20-30 minutes to just walk, I focused and finished my work, and I wasn't stressed about it all. I know it was probably not the wisest idea to take a pill that isn't prescribed to me but i am now debating on being testing for ADHD, for the third time.

I was tested when i was younger, the first time, I was 8 and they said it was mild, not bad enough to put me on medications since my mother wasn't too keen on the idea of it in the first place. However, it got worse, and when i was 14, and I was retested at the recommendation of one of my teachers, and my mother, who is also a teacher. However, I lied in the analysis with the doctor because I was so young and thought that it would mean I was stupid, and different in a bad way. I didn't want people to see me in that mannor. I pushed the idea to the back of my mind, and hadn't given it much thought until now. I am 21 by the way.

So to my questions now that you know the full story, I was wondering if now that I am older I have to go to a different kind of doctor to get evaluated? I really see no need in trying to pursue medications and medical help if my doctor confirms that I DO NOT have ADHD, but would like to make sure I am as prepaired and informed as possible.

Thanks for all your help guys!

Answer 1

just go see a psychiatrist and they will test u for adhd and if you are they will give u medication for it.  simple as that.  nothing to be embarrassed about.  

Answer 2

Many adults learn of their ADD/ADHD from observing their young relatives.

I had all sorts of issues growing up. My sister's daughter was driving her teachers and mom crazy in much the same way I drove the adults in my world crazy when I was a kid.  I was in grade school in the 1960s, so ADD wasn't really known.

I work as an artist and on my own.  No distracting cubicle farms for me!

So, you're normal.  You somehow slipped through the cracks growing up.  Get yourself checked out by a clinical psychologist and an MD that work with ADD.

There's a book about adults with ADD/ADHD called "You Mean I'm Not Crazy or Stupid?" It came out in the 1990s.