I have a question for Adults who have ADD?

Question

I have a boyfriend who was diagnosed with ADD as a child. He said the school diagnosed him as having that. My boyfriend doesn’t take any medication for his ADD. When I’m around my boyfriend I don’t notice his ADD. When he was a child he had a tough time focusing in school. He told me he was board in school and he hated it. He never completed high school but did get his GED. He got himself into drugs and drinking but now he’s been clean for almost 4 years. He works two jobs to help pay his rent. He kind, nice, sweet, and is loved by everyone I know. My family loves him too!! He’s a great guy with musical talent. I love having him as a boyfriend. How come my boyfriend doesn’t take any medication for his ADD? I don’t ask my boyfriend this question because I don’t feel it’s any of my business. Can you please help me out? Thank you!!

Answer 1

I have ADD I was diagnosed as a child with it by a pediatric neuroligist, as a kid I also had the hyper activity.  I out grew the hyper activity and I still struggle with the ADD but I do not take the medicine, mostly because I do not like the way it makes me feel.  Plus in general I just hate to take medicine.  I can read and watch movies just like everyone else, the problem comes when it is something I do not like or find interesting.  Like right now I have this really boring job and it is very hard for me to stay focused while I am at work, because I find it so boring and so easy.  I need something more interesting to do.  But if you want more answers about him you should ask him, because everyone is different.  good luck!

Answer 2

Everyone has different ways of dealing with ADD.

Myself I took medication as a child through high school, then weaned off of it has I found ways to adapt as an adult.

He might have had a bad experience with an ADD drug in the past, I know several people that have. He might have had a parent or teacher that felt strongly against medication that they past to him.

There are any number of reasons for someone to choose not to take medication, for each person those reasons are different. I'm afraid that if you want any kind of real answer you will have to ask him. (note: if you have a strong relationship this is not a question you should feel weird about asking him, it is perfectly normal to be curious, more than likely he will respect that)

- On another note, its not possible for a school to make a diagnosis like that, its possible that he was never actually diagnosed by an actual doctor, in which case it may not even truly be ADD

Answer 3

when your an adult they no longer keep you on meds for add... and also.. it can give you problems eating and stuff like that..

Answer 4

I have ADD too and unless you have it and are prescribed the meds you don't know how awful they make you feel. I always felt jittery and anxious when I was on them. They would keep me up at night and I would feel like a zombit all day long at work. I also felt socially detached from the world. Another factor may be if he's over the age of 25 his health insurance won't pay for them, if he's got insurance. And they are very expensive. I didn't have insurance so I was paying the doctor $150 a month for my appointment, and the pills were about $200 a month. I just couldn't swing it anymore. He seems to have it under control and functioning. If he's working and finding enjoyment in what he does, he's better off than most adults who still suffer with ADD. You should talk to him about it in a concerned way, not to pry just to show him you care.

Answer 5

He may feel that he is able to manage his ADD without medications.  Many people who took ADD medications as a child don't need to take them as an adult because they are more able to mange their time/ work schedule/activities in a way that works for them.

Some adults with ADD still need medications to help them  and some still have problems.  My sweet, intellegent brother-in-law (who has ADD) has just lost his high pressure job because he wasn't able to manage his time effectively.

Sounds like your boyfriend is a great guy who is managing well.

Answer 6

maybe he was misdiagnosed.