Do I have ADD?

Question

I am 16 years old. I get annoyed easily if something isn't working right away and I often stop trying, I get mood swings alot, I blurt out the first thing that comes to mind (not so great in social situations) I procrastinate over pretty much everything, I find myself constantly worrying about almost everything, during things that require alot of concentration (such as driving) I often find myself zoning out and I realize that I am infact zoned out and I try to fix it, BUT I CAN'T! I try slapping myself accross the face to wake up but it doesn't work. I find it really hard to remember small things, names, math formulas etc.. I find myself slacking off at school even though I want to work but the second I settle down to do something I get distracted and or frustrated.. I know if I approach my parents with this question they will just say "it's all in your head!".Some days I am perfectly fine I can consentrate and work well.. but most days i'm can't, i what should I do? suggestions pleas

Answer 1

You sound like just about every teenager of about your age. You are probably above average in intelligence, possibly even one of The New Children. You are going through the same difficult things that we all went through when we were your age. You are a bundle of new thoughts, new feelings, frustration with how the world is messing with your life, and quite probably far more talented and capable than all of our systems are equipped to handle~! Too bad too, because it is our "systems" which need fixing, not you~! It may sound too simple to believe, but the things you should do to help are very easy and don't reqire much effort: First, watch, and I mean VERY carefully, your diet. No junk foods, or as few of them as humanly possible. NO Soft drinks, or as seldom as possible, as they are hell on your energy. As many green vegetables as you can stand, the more the merrier. Cut down on all Dairy and red Meat, as these things aren't as safe as they used to be when we were kids; far too many wierd things and non-life enhancing chemicals in the feed of the poor unsuspecting animals. DIET, DIET, DIET. You have heard all of this before, but don't forget, YOU asked. Time to listen for your own reasons. You don't even have to admit that you are listening~! Lastly, you need to define something, or some things that REALLY interest you. Concentrate on these things, or this thing, and remember that if you focus very well on these things, you will even get to live the next 20 or 30 years really loving doing it and making huge progress in your own development. Note that I do NOT mean to suggest that you become lopsided in your development and specialize at this point, just bring your keen mind and infinite potential to a finer focus to help you through your raging storm of hormones just now, OK?

Answer 2

You almost certainly have it. Let me give you some advise from someone who was diagnosed with A.D.D. from the time when it was first discovered. (For what is it worth -- I can tell you are HIGHLY intelligent which is normal for us.)



1 - Most importantly -- Do not take advise from these discussions. Just look around at some of the these inflated opinion posts; which might be funny if they were not so sad. You do not need opinions from self-proclaimed arm-chair experts who know nothing about it. Get the facts. A.D.D. has been studied and elaborately documented for years. The real information about it awaits you to simply retrieve it.



2 - Beware of the medications, and do not blindly trust the doctors in regards to them. Read about them yourself and protect yourself by being an educated patient. For instance, anti-depressants are neither safe nor effective in long term use, although the establishment has been unethically pushing them on us for years (cough... kick-backs). Ritalin is by far STILL the safest (ie. "as safe as aspirin"), and often the most effective medication. Again, become an educated patient.



3 - Carefully monitor what you eat. Try to eat foods void of anything artificial, including colors, favors, and etc. A.D.D. people are extremely sensitive to toxins and allergies, and these include the chemically engineered garbage ... I mean "food"... that most people eat regularly. If you pay attention, you will also notice mood reactions to foods at many fast-food restaurants such as McDonald's and KFC -- and possibly worse than just mood swings.



4 - For concentration, use something to provide just a bit of background noise ("white noise"). It is like shooting a gun with the sight bent -- you have to aim slightly off to hit the target. If you try too hard to concentrate, you will fail.



5 - Feel good about yourself. While in some ways A.D.D. can be crippling, at the same time, it will give you abilities that other people lack. For instance, you should develop the ability to mult-task in a way that vastly surpasses your peers, and your passions will give you a relentless energy in the pursuits you enjoy.



6 - If you ever have trouble sleeping, then drink some coffee! It is funny and true -- stimulants effect us in an opposite manner than is normal. I drink coffee to relax and focus better on my work. Of course, if you overdo it, then it will begin acting as a stimulant. This has been a problem with medications in fact -- giving too much can make the symptoms worse.

Answer 3

Nowadays most people with ADD are diagnosed fairly early, by teachers, since this is a well known syndrome. If you went to ordinary school ( not home tutoring, for instance), and none of your teachers questioned the possibility of ADD, you probably don't have it. If your grades in most subjects are reasonable, thats another sign that you are ok. Many ADD sufferers have social problems and are seen by their peers as 'weird', so if you have good friends thats another sign that what you are going through is normal adolescence, which is a hard enough time without any other factors!

Answer 4

Just gotta relax bud. Don't worry about stuff so much. Like stated before me. Pick up something to center yourself. There has to be a point during your day, or an activity that you do, that your completely at ease. Something you do, or have done has gathered your attention to the extent of forgetting everything else. Even if only for a short while. Fall back on that, it's your safe haven.

Answer 5

Sounds to me like you are 16.

This is pretty common in teens. I wouldn't stress over it too much. Even the best go through at least short periods of it.



I want you to take a real close look at your diet. What types of food are you eating?

A whole lot of these symptoms of yours can be caused by a poor diet or even a food allergy. Some dyes and preservatives in foods can cause these symptoms.

I also think the prevailing solution to ADD (drugs) is worse that the disease.

Maybe you need more sleep or more exercise to get your blood pumping.

Answer 6

No. Teach yourself how to focus and relax. There are many fun and easy roads to this. Some try meditation and yoga, while others take up reading and philosophy. Ask questions and try out whatever strikes your fancy.



You sound normal to me...just tense and very hard on yourself.

Answer 7

you sound just like me



and no we dont have ADD

Answer 8

you probably do have ADD as well as bi-polar disorder.