Reply To: Not diagnosed yet but it fits so well–

[Blue Yugo]

I’ve laughed at and with myself many times when I realize I’m scatter-brained and disorganized at times. I never gave ADD much thought until I was prompted to take a look back at my life. I was not a hyper-active kid, but I was definitely inattentive and disorganized. (Still am.) The only thing I have in common with the hyperactive aspect is that I’m a constant foot-tapper, leg-shaker, and finger-drummer…which I’d first became conscious of in first grade and could never stop. I have also been extremely distracted (and often agitated) by noises around me, people talking when I’m trying to concentrate, and radios in the workplace…forget it! But in school and work I was quiet, never interrupted people, would either not talk at all or occasionally talk too much…but I can stay seated.

So, once I realized that the focus was on inattentive, I reopened my mind to the possibility of ADD. I’ve not been formally diagnosed, but the eye-opener was websites like this and a few others unrelated. I took various self-eval tests, and they are relatively consistent. 4 of 6…. 6 of 9…. The criteria seems to vary test by test, but I see the pattern. I see it in my life, too. Glazing over in boring meetings or social events in which I’m not fully engaged. Chronic disorganization. Distraction. Avoidance. Forgetfulness. Skipping obligations. Even just shifting from thing to thing even when the first isn’t done yet. (How many times have I removed one shoe, brushed my teeth, then removed the other shoe?) Degrees vary, but I think I have enough reason to address what I’ve noticed in myself.

I don’t have insurance, and I don’t really want to take meds because I do function highly and at times over-focus on stuff. I don’t see the need in someone like me. For that, is a formal diagnosis REALLY necessary? I don’t want the label, but in ways I wish I’d known sooner. I just assumed “That’s not me.” Even if I am consistent with inattentive ADD, so be it, label or not. I know I have these tendencies, and the self-eval’s only prove the obvious. “Mild ADD?” I guess. Either way, my distractibility and inattentiveness need to be addressed, but aside from “it’s just how I am,” I wonder what I can do on a conscious level to compensate.

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