[timkuk]

Hi Mrsfletch

I’m a 52 yer old guy in the UK and I’m at the same point as you. Started having what seemed like memory related issued generally, say my doctor who did some simple tests and agreed that something wasn’t quite right. Referred me to specialists who ran something similar. About 5 hours of psychometric testing later, I find out that the problems weren’t with memory but attention or rather inattention.

Then read Ricks book “ADD Stole My Car Keys” and totally identify. Like you, my symptoms go back to when I was around 6 years old and had exactly the same experiences and comments at school that you had.

There is absolutely no doubt that ADHD is a life long condition and I am currently on a waiting list to see an ADHD/Autism specialist. THey aren’t very common in the UK so I’m having to go outside of my local area for the assessment.

I feel like I finally understand who I am and why I’m the way that I am and like you, will be very disappointed if I don’t get diagnosed. But we have to just trust in the medical profession, I guess, to recognise the symptoms.

Good luck with your journey. Like you I just want to know so that I can start to do something about it.

Let us know how you get on.

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[timkuk]

Hi Debbie, this resonates really strongly with me, so I feel for you and wish you all the best with your journey.

I have been working as an engineer for about 34 years and while I’ve never been a star performer, I’ve always got by and contributed to every team I’ve ever worked on.

Unfortunately, whilst working for my last employer and after nearly two successful years, I produced two poor pieces of work and although it didn’t put the project at risk at all, I was challenged about the quality of my work and the company made a huge deal of it. One of my superiors was rude, obnoxious and absolutely going for me. I was just sat there not knowing how the hell this was happening, in total confusion and listening to this superior berate and belittle me.

That event made me look at myself and realise that actually what ever was going on was also effecting my home life too. Whilst I was seeking medical advice, of which the company was aware and their doctors had all the same information as my doctor, they put me on a PIP (Performance Improvement Plan) which I was deemed to fail and then put me through a disciplinary and a second PIP knowing that my cognitive impairment would mean that I was incapable of improving.

The stress and anxiety that this caused made things much worse of course and made me feel terrible. I ended up seeking and using legal support so i strongly suggest you do the same. Don’t be bullied or intimidated and fight for the discrimination that you are being subjected too. It’s truly shocking what a company is prepared to do and they certainly do not support you.

Good luck with your journey, things will get better.

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[timkuk]

Love it.

One morning I was getting ready for work made my breakfast and my cup of coffee. Went about the other morning ritual tasks that I do and went back to finish my coffee.

I couldn’t find my cup anywhere . . . not in my bedroom, not the bathroom, not in the lounge or the kitchen . . . just vanished, gone.

So I figured “Ok I’ll just tidy my breakfast dishes away and put the butter back in the refrigerator . . . opened the refrigerator door and there was my coffee on one of the shelves!!!!

Mystery solved, however, how and why I put it there . . . I don’t know and any recollection of doing it . . . nope!!!

I suppose that’s an ADD moment right there!

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[timkuk]

Hi there

I’m not sure which country you’re in, that may make a difference but here in the UK I was misfiring at home and at work and began to wonder whether I was starting to get memory related problems, which at 50 years old was worrying.

First I was given a blood test for Thyroid condition which can cause cognitive impairment if you have it. That came back negative.

Then my doctor did a short set of cognitive tests and deduced that something wasn’t right.

Next stage was referral to the Older Persons Memory Clinic where I had about 5 hours of cognitive tests run on me over two sittings. The results of those tests showed higher than average IQ, memory OK BUT attentional difficulties. My scores in the attention area were lower than the other scores. I was discharged from their care and have since been trying to get a referral for ADD / ADHD specific tests with a specialist.

During this time my work situation became very difficult leading to occupational anxiety which made my cognitive impairment even worse. I self referred my self for CBT but like you, I found it of little to no relevance. I’m still on medication for the anxiety which seems to be an automatic easy ‘get out’ for doctors to just shrug and say “Well it’s anxiety then isn’t it” even though I have had all the traits since I was 6 years old on and off.

All in all the process has been going on for two years and I have to say that reading ‘ADD Stole My Car Keys’ has taught me more and explained many traits that I have, in two days than I have so far learned from the medical community in two years. I heavily identify with most of whats contained on the books’ pages.

I’d say eliminate all the physical causes, then start working towards getting assessed for ADD /ADHD by a specialist. Like me, you will probably have to keep pushing and pushing for this BUT if the diagnosis comes at least you know what you are dealing with and can, like me, start trying to offset the effects of ADD / ADHD.

Good Luck and keep us posted on how your journey is going.

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[timkuk]

Well done stormwitch, thats a real achievement, so pleased for you.

I know how that feels because my ADD cost me my job, they knew I had a cognitive impairment but chose to constructively dismiss me. As an engineer, the confidence I’ve spent 34 years building disappeared in 6 months as the company I worked at pushed me closer and closer to a dismissal situation.

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