Question:
I am a male in my 30's. I have often wondered if I was ADD. My youngerbrother was on ritalin when he was younger. He was hyperI am kind ofthe opposite. A little lethargic, tired all the time.
I am very disorganized and have toruble concentrating unless I am veryinterested in something. It is affecting my work.
I did make it through school and eventually earned a Masters Degree.Does this prove I am not ADD?
I would really like to try some meds to see if it made me better. Ithink doctors are scared to prescribe anything for the potential forabuse.
Will a family doc normally diagnose ADD or does it have to be a pschydoc?
Answer:
That could be the inattentive form.Well known phenomenon, "hyperfocus". It's not really a matter of interestso much as what "grabs" us--I find that I can get locked into things thatare boring me to tears. Diagnosing mental and neurological disorders is specialist work--there aremany other conditions that have symptoms similar to ADHD but differentcauses, ranging from some forms of epilepsy to obstructive sleep apnea.It's only ADHD if you still have it after all those others have been ruledout or treated. You really need to see a specialist, who can be apsychiatrist, neurologist, or one of the psychologists who specializes indiagnosis.
