Advice about ADD/ADHD

[Mr. DEM]

Hello all, it has been probably over a year since I last visited this website and have now returned to ask some advice.

Okay, little backstory first, last year was one of the worst in my life. I found a lump early in 2007 which I suspected to be cancer which I didn't go to the doctor about till the end of 2007 out of fear but thankfully tests proved that I didn't have it. My pet dog of ten years passed away which was extremely upsetting because she was like my best friend. I also started to suffer quite badly from anxiety and depression for which I was referred to a counsellor. I then decided to leave my job because the anxiety was causing me to burn out so by the end of 2007 I had lost my pet dog, had a cancer scare, lost my job and started to suffer bad from anxiety and depression.

This year has been the year where I have had to rebuild my life again, I successfully completed my course with the counsellor although I have had to start taking a herbal remedy to help with my anxiety. I have also started volunteering to help build my self-esteem back up and have started looking for employment again.

BUT lately I have found myself to have little motivation (even writing this topic has taken many days of trying to motivate myself to do) and I also feel like I am just lazy. I feel tired from the most simple of activities and can get angry at the click of my fingers (although I don't let it out, I just bottle it up out of fear of saying something I can't take back). I find myself unable to concentrate on things and I get easily distracted. Lately, I have also felt that my memory is slowly deteriorating so much infact that when I am driving I will see a road sign telling me the speed limit and then about 5 mintutes later I have forgotten what the speed limit was, which has forced me to only go on roads I know the speed limit on which basically limits me to a 5 mile radius from my house because I am scared of speeding and losing my license.

I have heard this may be ADD/ADHD so I completed an online test that was designed by a doctor and I scored in the "very high possibility of having ADD/ADHD." From reading though, the ADD/ADHD condition is sometimes over diagnosed so I don't know if I have it or not. I also don't want to visit the doctor incase I haven't got ADD/ADHD because I will be wasting his time and will feel quite stupid.

Has anybody got any advice about how to properly diagnose such a thing or maybe if you have a thought about what it is I may be suffering from, for example maybe I am lazy and just need to get motivation to do something.

Thanks for your time,
Mr. DEM

[{aspiring_to_clarity}]

Hi Mr. DEM. I know it's tough since you have anxiety and haven't been traveling far from your house, but I think it would be a good idea to see a doctor. Your health and well-being is important and even if you don't have ADD/ADHD specifically, it's no waste of the doctor's time or yours to get checked out. If you feel weird about going in with a self diagnosis, then just go in and tell the doctor all of your symptoms, basically as you've done here. Hopefully the doc can give you some insight or refer you to another professional who can help.

Perhaps talking to people on here could help too, maybe another has gone through the same type of thing.

I wish you the best. Take care of yourself. Start slowly if you have to to build the motivation, but take a little step everyday!

[Dannyboy1]

Originally Posted by Mr. DEM

Hello all, it has been probably over a year since I last visited this website and have now returned to ask some advice.

Okay, little backstory first, last year was one of the worst in my life. I found a lump early in 2007 which I suspected to be cancer which I didn't go to the doctor about till the end of 2007 out of fear but thankfully tests proved that I didn't have it. My pet dog of ten years passed away which was extremely upsetting because she was like my best friend. I also started to suffer quite badly from anxiety and depression for which I was referred to a counsellor. I then decided to leave my job because the anxiety was causing me to burn out so by the end of 2007 I had lost my pet dog, had a cancer scare, lost my job and started to suffer bad from anxiety and depression.

This year has been the year where I have had to rebuild my life again, I successfully completed my course with the counsellor although I have had to start taking a herbal remedy to help with my anxiety. I have also started volunteering to help build my self-esteem back up and have started looking for employment again.

BUT lately I have found myself to have little motivation (even writing this topic has taken many days of trying to motivate myself to do) and I also feel like I am just lazy. I feel tired from the most simple of activities and can get angry at the click of my fingers (although I don't let it out, I just bottle it up out of fear of saying something I can't take back). I find myself unable to concentrate on things and I get easily distracted. Lately, I have also felt that my memory is slowly deteriorating so much infact that when I am driving I will see a road sign telling me the speed limit and then about 5 mintutes later I have forgotten what the speed limit was, which has forced me to only go on roads I know the speed limit on which basically limits me to a 5 mile radius from my house because I am scared of speeding and losing my license.

I have heard this may be ADD/ADHD so I completed an online test that was designed by a doctor and I scored in the "very high possibility of having ADD/ADHD." From reading though, the ADD/ADHD condition is sometimes over diagnosed so I don't know if I have it or not. I also don't want to visit the doctor incase I haven't got ADD/ADHD because I will be wasting his time and will feel quite stupid.

Has anybody got any advice about how to properly diagnose such a thing or maybe if you have a thought about what it is I may be suffering from, for example maybe I am lazy and just need to get motivation to do something.

Thanks for your time,
Mr. DEM

You'll need to go to a psychiatrist who's qualified to diagnose it. They've put restrictions so that only qualified Doctors can diagnose. That said, if you have it, get help. You don't even realize how bad it is until you get the right medication and realize how out of control your thinking really is. I take a very low dosage of adderall xr. Make sure whatever medication you try, get the slow release. I never understood why anyone would want the short burst medication that wears off quickly. Also, pay attention to your body. Don't take too much. Too much can give you mood swings. You just want barely enough to slow down your mind so you can think straight. You have to figure out your own dosage by listening to your body. Do not think that more is better. You're not looking for a high, you're looking for the ability to think in an organized fashion. Less is more when it comes to medication. I tried getting off a few times and then watched things turn into a big mess. I finally realized it's like a vitamin for me. I just need a little bit to help me stay on track. I would say, let the doctor prescribe an amount, then start taking half of what they suggest and see how that feels first. My doctor initially prescribed 4 times what I found I really needed. My temper became really bad and I realized I needed to cut down. I finally found that just 10mgs/day is perfect for me and has no side effects. With you it may be different, but remember, less is more. Oh, and don't look for a sudden change. If you do it right, the change will be so subtle, that the only way you'll see it is by how much more organized you've become after a month. Hope this helps.

[Remiel]

I find the medicine answer to be BS. I have aspergers and I live just fine without medication. To me the real solution lies within realizing the problem and then figuring out ways to deal with it. Aspergers and ADD/ADHD are things that I think are way too heavily overmedicated and are a cop out. I'm not saying that some people need the drugs but the rate at which we have a prescription for everything is just crazy.

Heck I relate to alot of things that you mentioned. I'm not sure that you memory is deteriorating. For myself it just was I wasn't using my memory. Heck I'd actually drive for minutes on end where I have no conscious recollection of what was going on. Scary huh .

Don't rely on online tests too much because there is only so much that they can do.


Personally I'd suggest the slow and steady route over drugs. If you find your mind blanking out then work on exercising your memory. Or create a system that you know you can trust such as as soon as you see a speed limit write down the speed. Then you know what the speed is when you forget it. Or just find out what the typical speed limits are for your city and only drive those or less when you forget. I also will follow someone that appears to not be speeding.

For the rest of it... Find something that motivates you and start working on it. Who knows maybe you'll find something that works for you.

I also don't want to visit the doctor incase I haven't got ADD/ADHD because I will be wasting his time and will feel quite stupid.

Who cares? You've got a problem and thats what doctors are there for. I'd suggest that you are far better off finding out the truth than you would be living life in fear.

[Dannyboy1]

Originally Posted by Remiel

I find the medicine answer to be BS. I have aspergers and I live just fine without medication. To me the real solution lies within realizing the problem and then figuring out ways to deal with it. Aspergers and ADD/ADHD are things that I think are way too heavily overmedicated and are a cop out. I'm not saying that some people need the drugs but the rate at which we have a prescription for everything is just crazy.

Heck I relate to alot of things that you mentioned. I'm not sure that you memory is deteriorating. For myself it just was I wasn't using my memory. Heck I'd actually drive for minutes on end where I have no conscious recollection of what was going on. Scary huh .

Don't rely on online tests too much because there is only so much that they can do.


Personally I'd suggest the slow and steady route over drugs. If you find your mind blanking out then work on exercising your memory. Or create a system that you know you can trust such as as soon as you see a speed limit write down the speed. Then you know what the speed is when you forget it. Or just find out what the typical speed limits are for your city and only drive those or less when you forget. I also will follow someone that appears to not be speeding.

For the rest of it... Find something that motivates you and start working on it. Who knows maybe you'll find something that works for you.



Who cares? You've got a problem and thats what doctors are there for. I'd suggest that you are far better off finding out the truth than you would be living life in fear.

But some people actually DO need the aid of drugs. From the sound of his post, he should get checked. I tried for years to deal with it without drugs. Then, once on the drugs, I tried several times to get off of them. I've found that my very low dosage is absolutely necessary. People should not be discouraged from getting checked. They could waste years of their lives being unproductive because well meaning friends and relatives insist ADHD is not real or can be easily dealt with when it can't always be. It is a very serious problem in some cases and some people DO need help. I know.

[Mr. DEM]

Thanks for all your replies. I have just done two more online screening tests which this time are done by two reputable health bodies and I have scored in the unlikely to have ADD/ADHD group. I am just guessing here but I have a lingering suspicion that all these conditions I am suffering from are more than likely just side affects of my trying to build my life back too quickly and I have worn myself out. I think I need to read some articles from Steve Pavlina's website about motivation and other such things.

{aspiring_to_clarity} - Thanks for your advice, I know what you mean about not wasting the doctor's time if I do have it and if I was found out not to have ADD then at least it has put my mind at rest.

Dannyboy1 - Thanks for your advice. I have heard a lot of good reviews from people who use Adderall so if I am suffering from it then it may be the medication I would ask for although I would prefer to solve the problem first without the use of medication.

Remiel Remiel - Thanks for your advice. I get where you are coming from with saying that ADD/ADHD is over medicated, I felt the same way with anxiety and depression but the herbal remedy I take at the moment is the only thing that has seemed to solve the problem. I would rather seek a non-medication route to solving this problem but I have no idea how to get started, any advice you could offer from your experiences with aspergers would be very welcome.

As I have said at the beginning of this post, it is looking more unlikely that I have it, maybe I am worrying over nothing.

Thanks for your time,
Mr. DEM

[{aspiring_to_clarity}]

Originally Posted by Mr. DEM

I am just guessing here but I have a lingering suspicion that all these conditions I am suffering from are more than likely just side affects of my trying to build my life back too quickly and I have worn myself out. I think I need to read some articles from Steve Pavlina's website about motivation and other such things.

That very well may be the case. You may just go to the doctor to in fact "rule out" any medically treatable condition. At that point, you have the option to work on yourself using self-help materials, meeting with others to help you, using these forums, etc. I personally have had times when things seem very much like what you've described. Yet, I don't have any condition or need any medication.

It's easy to get overwhelmed when you try to fix everything in your life at once. You may just need a rest and some good materials to help you get on track

Originally Posted by Mr. DEM

As I have said at the beginning of this post, it is looking more unlikely that I have it, maybe I am worrying over nothing.

Well, whether you have ADD/ADHD, some other condition or "nothing at all" it's never a bad idea to look at your own well-being and how it can be improved. Some good ideas to start out with are taking care of your physical self well through good diet, exercise, rest, lots of water...the usual. Reading back over your first post, you did have a lot happen in the past year! It's not uncommon to get overwhelmed and not know where to start or how to get past it...that can lead to lack of motivation.

It's a pleasure talking with you and I think that you will do very well. Take it slowly as I said before. Sometimes you just have to take a step at a time. I'm going to post some of Steve's articles that really helped me and some books for you to check out. I'll be back.

[{aspiring_to_clarity}]

Ok, here's my list (I know there are a lot more articles that Steve wrote which are awesome...I usually recommend starting at the beginning!). I realize this list in itself is kind of overwhelming. I just intend to give you some things to look at that really helped me along. Skip it if it's too much right now!

Self-Acceptance vs. Personal Growth
Feelings
Reaction vs. Response
A Better Life
Life Sucks, Then You Die
Soulful Relationships
Empowering Beliefs
Motivation for Smart People (Sans Chest Pounding)
8 Guidelines for Choosing Effective Beliefs
Installing Empowering Beliefs
Overcoming Depression
Overcoming Negative Emotions and Boosting Motivation
Emotional Mastery

As for books I love everything by Byron Katie, The Power of Now and A New Earth by Tolle. Those, while not specific to what you are dealing with are really good at getting you to look at things from another perspective.

All my best!

[Remiel]

Originally Posted by Mr. DEM

Thanks for all your replies. I have just done two more online screening tests which this time are done by two reputable health bodies and I have scored in the unlikely to have ADD/ADHD group. I am just guessing here but I have a lingering suspicion that all these conditions I am suffering from are more than likely just side affects of my trying to build my life back too quickly and I have worn myself out. I think I need to read some articles from Steve Pavlina's website about motivation and other such things.

{aspiring_to_clarity} - Thanks for your advice, I know what you mean about not wasting the doctor's time if I do have it and if I was found out not to have ADD then at least it has put my mind at rest.

Dannyboy1 - Thanks for your advice. I have heard a lot of good reviews from people who use Adderall so if I am suffering from it then it may be the medication I would ask for although I would prefer to solve the problem first without the use of medication.

Remiel Remiel - Thanks for your advice. I get where you are coming from with saying that ADD/ADHD is over medicated, I felt the same way with anxiety and depression but the herbal remedy I take at the moment is the only thing that has seemed to solve the problem. I would rather seek a non-medication route to solving this problem but I have no idea how to get started, any advice you could offer from your experiences with aspergers would be very welcome.

As I have said at the beginning of this post, it is looking more unlikely that I have it, maybe I am worrying over nothing.

Thanks for your time,
Mr. DEM

For myself I had to actually figure out what aspergers meant to me. For so long it dominated my life to the point I considered myself lazy, unmotivated and apathetic. Once I realized that apsergers is something I have but yet does not define me I gained a freedom from it. I have since come to realize that aspergers is simply one of the many aspects that make up me.

So what does aspergers mean to me? It means that I have a learning imballance. Simply put I learn math and logic far easier than I do english and arts. It also puts me at ease when I am by myself and not surrounded by other people. Ironically my personallity puts me at ease surrounded by other people so I'm both an introvert and an extrovert at the same time. Also I have figured out that I can learn how to do just about anything. The only thing that restricts me is me. Aspergers may skew my learning towards the math and english side and I may have very little in the way of common sense and yet it gives me a unique outlook on life. A freedom if you will to question the norm. It no longer holds me back in fact it is a gift and a blessing to me.

To me even ADD can be a blessing. The question really is what does ADD mean. What are its strengths and what are its weaknesses. Then the question is how do I build up the strengths while cutting back on weaknesses.

For myself and aspergers one of the problems is a lack of understanding when it comes to common sense. This means I have to pay more attention to my surroundings when doing things in social situations. It also means I make more mistakes more often and have more opportunities to learn . Another aspect I've struggled with is listening to people. part of this ties into a handicap I placed on myself for a while. I built in a half a second delay into going from thought to speach or action. This did not serve me well later on in life and in this past year I ended up discarding it. This led to me having a problem listening because I had to use the time you spent talking to form my next thought to say. Now I spend alot of time working on listening and understanding. Its definately hard work but its oh so worth it.


One thing I did that I've found helpful is I took the strengthsfinder.com test. I believe you have to purchase the strengths finder 2.0 book in order to take the test. One thing this helped me with was to realize things that I had once considered a weakness were actually simply me using my strengths to their fullest.

A good example. Growing up I used to disappear into books. I would start reading a fiction book and I would disappear until the book was finished. My mom could stand at my door screaming my name and I wouldn't hear her. Up until I took that test I thought it was my way of avoiding life. An escape into a fantasy world. I now know that while I likely did use books to escape that was simply only a minor part of the picture. One of my 5 talent themes is input. Interestingly enough the customized version of input that they provided had this first sentance "You absorb the written word like a sponge sops up water. You revel in the opportunity to lose yourself in a book. Time seems to float by when you are a grateful guest of an entertaining or informative author." Which is so me. I realized that what I had considered as a bad thing was actually me expressing my natural talents to their fullest.


Find what makes you tick. Discover your strengths, find out what your liabilities areas are and grow in both areas.


For myself I am a very unorganized person. Due to my personality I revel in fun and I often times spend hours having fun but getting nothing important done. I have learned that I can take responsibility for my life and work on developing those areas.

Also I've found a path that I am passionate about and that I can apply 100% of my talents to. Right now that path is building a game development studio. I have found something that excites me to my very core and I HAVE to do something to get it done. To not do something to work towards my passion just seems like an absurdity to me.


Find your strenghts, acknowledge the areas that aren't strengths, and then build up the areas that are weaknesses. Then find somewhere to apply it.


Do you have something that you are on fire for? Something that burns in the core of your being? If not, find something.

[The David]

Originally Posted by Remiel

I find the medicine answer to be BS. I have aspergers and I live just fine without medication.

Asperger's Syndrome is entirely different from ADHD, and in some cases opposite. Autistic people tend to be introverted and therefore more able to draw on their own resources. ADHD could be described as pathological extroversion.

To the OP: What you described doesn't sound at all like the profile of ADHD. Is this something you have had your entire life? Depression and anxiety tend to be episodic, and if your concentration problems only appear during those times, or if they only recently surfaced, you probably won't get the diagnosis. Emotional problems tend to mask ADHD, as do certain circumstances (i.e living with a family like mine, where every member has 'attention surplus disorder'). ADHD is a very specific diagnosis intended to be made when mood and anxiety disorders have been ruled out.

Personal research is always a good recommendation, and even if you're really sure you have something, it should be done first to save a lot of time and money.

[Remiel]

Originally Posted by The David

Asperger's Syndrome is entirely different from ADHD, and in some cases opposite. Autistic people tend to be introverted and therefore more able to draw on their own resources. ADHD could be described as pathological extroversion.

To the OP: What you described doesn't sound at all like the profile of ADHD. Is this something you have had your entire life? Depression and anxiety tend to be episodic, and if your concentration problems only appear during those times, or if they only recently surfaced, you probably won't get the diagnosis. Emotional problems tend to mask ADHD, as do certain circumstances (i.e living with a family like mine, where every member has 'attention surplus disorder'). ADHD is a very specific diagnosis intended to be made when mood and anxiety disorders have been ruled out.

Personal research is always a good recommendation, and even if you're really sure you have something, it should be done first to save a lot of time and money.

Let me add a little context. Before I was diagnosed with Aspergers I was thought to be ADD / ADHD. I showed alot of the symptoms and was extremely hyperactive, forgetful, impulsive, and easily distracted. In fact ironically I was very much so an extrovert. It wasn't till junior high / high school when I found out about it and became conscious of it that I became an introvert ( a habit I have gotten out of in the last year).

Again I believe ADD is over diagnosed and over medicated. I do not believe that medication is the solution in most situations.


I personally believe that knowledge of the problem can allow us to take responsibility for the problem and find a solution. That does not mean medicating it first thing. I also believe that things like depression tend to be an outward sign of an inward hurt. Medicating doesn't solve the root problem it just makes us reliant on a drug to control it. I'm not saying that medicine is bad mind you. Just that I think its taking the place of personal responsibility in alot of situations.

[Dannyboy1]

Originally Posted by Remiel

Let me add a little context. Before I was diagnosed with Aspergers I was thought to be ADD / ADHD. I showed alot of the symptoms and was extremely hyperactive, forgetful, impulsive, and easily distracted. In fact ironically I was very much so an extrovert. It wasn't till junior high / high school when I found out about it and became conscious of it that I became an introvert ( a habit I have gotten out of in the last year).

Again I believe ADD is over diagnosed and over medicated. I do not believe that medication is the solution in most situations.


I personally believe that knowledge of the problem can allow us to take responsibility for the problem and find a solution. That does not mean medicating it first thing. I also believe that things like depression tend to be an outward sign of an inward hurt. Medicating doesn't solve the root problem it just makes us reliant on a drug to control it. I'm not saying that medicine is bad mind you. Just that I think its taking the place of personal responsibility in alot of situations.

But, seeing as you don't have it, I don't believe you have the experience or the knowledge base to make that assumption. I've tried many of the "alternatives" to medication and they do not work for me. I only need a small amount of the medication, but I do need it. It's very difficult for people who actually have ADHD to seek out the help they need because of people who make uneducated blanket statements like you just made. You make them doubt themselves and they never even go in to be diagnosed. Meanwhile, they waste years of their lives spinning their wheels and blaming themselves. Anyone who thinks they may have ADHD should not listen to people like this. Go in. Get diagnosed. Don't ignore the problem because of anyone's opinions about it. They don't know what they're talking about. There's so much misinformation about ADHD it's crazy. Find out for yourself. Do research on all types of treatment. Get help.

[Mr. DEM]

Hello all, sorry for the very late reply but I have had the flu for the past couple of days. I went to the doctor and he said it isn't ADD/ADHD and it is probably something to do with my dieting and exercising which after consideration I believe is probably right. I don't exercise at all, I have never been the athletic type and was never encouraged by my family, saying that I don't think I have ever been encouraged by my family to do anything with my life.

{aspiring_to_clarity} - Thanks for the links to the articles, they were extremely informative and truly hit home with me. I have read them all and have started to set goals to do each day to help me have a focus and it has worked, I started today and have done 2 out of the 3 goals I set myself to do and I have really enjoyed myself. I am planning a visit to the library so I will have a look for the books you have mentioned.

Remiel - I loved reading what you had to say about Asperger's Syndrome, I must admit to feeling like I am lazy quite a lot and like you I usually get wound up doing something fun instead of something constructive (playing a video game instead of cleaning my work desk) but I am learning to discipline myself through using goal setting which is what I am trialing at the moment. I also agree with your medication point of view to an extent, I think people should try to treat problems first by self-help then if that fails you could seek a doctor's consultation because in the long run you could probably save time and money but I do think some people need medication to overcome their problems. You did ask at the end of your post;

Do you have something that you are on fire for?

Well at the moment I am on fire for learning. I adore learning new things when I put my mind to it. I have signed up for a training program to help me get into the career I truly desire, Business Administration. I have usually dismissed this career option because the pay structure is limiting but I have come to realise that success doesn't just mean wealth, it means to be doing something you enjoy and what I know I will be good at, so what if the pay isn't the best as long as I leap out of bed every morning looking forward to another days work then that'll do for me.

The David - Thanks for your reply, I do know that the two conditions are entirely seperate but was curious about Asperger's Syndrome and how one treats the condition so I could try to take the way people get by with Asperger's and implement them into how I could overcome ADD/ADHD but thankfully I have found out I do not have the condition.

Dannyboy1 - Like I told Remiel I think people should try to help themselves first before taking medication which you have done so at least you tried alternative therapy first for which I commend you.

I think without the motivation from all you people I wouldn't have sought help and for that I thank you.

Mr. DEM

[lasti]

Originally Posted by Mr. DEM

BUT lately I have found myself to have little motivation (even writing this topic has taken many days of trying to motivate myself to do) and I also feel like I am just lazy. I feel tired from the most simple of activities and can get angry at the click of my fingers (although I don't let it out, I just bottle it up out of fear of saying something I can't take back). I find myself unable to concentrate on things and I get easily distracted. Lately, I have also felt that my memory is slowly deteriorating so much infact that when I am driving I will see a road sign telling me the speed limit and then about 5 mintutes later I have forgotten what the speed limit was, which has forced me to only go on roads I know the speed limit on which basically limits me to a 5 mile radius from my house because I am scared of speeding and losing my license.

I'm not a doctor but I think that it's very unlikely that you have AD(H)D because this is a disease which begins in childhood. For me it sounds more like a depressive disorder or something like that. In any case you should see a doctor, maybe a psychologist.

[{aspiring_to_clarity}]

Hey, Mr. DEM, glad you are doing well and that you have some more ideas about why you've been having difficulties. I hope you are feeling well now after the flu! Stick around here and keep us updated on how you're doing. If you need help or advice there's always someone here willing to help. Best wishes.

[mercuryrising]

I agree with the other folks here about seeing a professional...

Here is a suggestion, though, that may help. Practice some exercises in concentration. I found some exercises here that you might try. It may sound simple, but sometimes the simple answers are the most direct solutions.

Another thing to look at is diet. Caffeine, nicotine, simple carbs (sugar) give a sudden boost to concentration, but have an opposite effect in the long run. My son is ADHD and if he has any form of sugar, you'll be peeling him off the ceiling.

I'm glad I ran across this thread. I'll probably do these exercises and I need to cut out those things in my diet as well. I've often wondered if I'm not ADD myself.

[Remiel]

Originally Posted by Dannyboy1

But, seeing as you don't have it, I don't believe you have the experience or the knowledge base to make that assumption. I've tried many of the "alternatives" to medication and they do not work for me. I only need a small amount of the medication, but I do need it. It's very difficult for people who actually have ADHD to seek out the help they need because of people who make uneducated blanket statements like you just made. You make them doubt themselves and they never even go in to be diagnosed. Meanwhile, they waste years of their lives spinning their wheels and blaming themselves. Anyone who thinks they may have ADHD should not listen to people like this. Go in. Get diagnosed. Don't ignore the problem because of anyone's opinions about it. They don't know what they're talking about. There's so much misinformation about ADHD it's crazy. Find out for yourself. Do research on all types of treatment. Get help.

I don't believe I've made any uneducated blanket statements here. I'm talking about from my own opinion and my own viewpoint. I see it as overprescribed and over medicated. I did not deny the problem and I did not say that medicine does not work. As someone who has made it through aspergers without medication I do believe that some people can find ways to turn ADHD into a strength instead of a weakness. I am not denying that you have it and that you need that medicine.

When in doubt seeing a professional is definately a good thing. To me knowledge about a weakness is the first step in finding a solution, whatever it may be.

I am making general statements about drugs here. These are simply my personal belief about the industry. I do not use this to judge anyone though. You are you just as I am me and we all have our various circumstances in life.

Originally Posted by Mr. DEM

Remiel - I loved reading what you had to say about Asperger's Syndrome, I must admit to feeling like I am lazy quite a lot and like you I usually get wound up doing something fun instead of something constructive (playing a video game instead of cleaning my work desk) but I am learning to discipline myself through using goal setting which is what I am trialing at the moment. I also agree with your medication point of view to an extent, I think people should try to treat problems first by self-help then if that fails you could seek a doctor's consultation because in the long run you could probably save time and money but I do think some people need medication to overcome their problems. You did ask at the end of your post;

Do you have something that you are on fire for?

Well at the moment I am on fire for learning. I adore learning new things when I put my mind to it. I have signed up for a training program to help me get into the career I truly desire, Business Administration. I have usually dismissed this career option because the pay structure is limiting but I have come to realise that success doesn't just mean wealth, it means to be doing something you enjoy and what I know I will be good at, so what if the pay isn't the best as long as I leap out of bed every morning looking forward to another days work then that'll do for me.

I've been exercising for the past few months and find it to be awesome in terms of motivation and energy. Currently I do both taekwondo and the gym. If you have problems exercising consistently consider getting a trainer. I have and I like it so much I've signed up for 48 lessons (got a nice deal on it). It is well well worth it.

As far as motivation in general goes I have found 3 things that do wonders for my motivation and getting things done. The first is a purpose. I have found my purpose in life and it excites me. I'm eager and passionate when I'm working in line with that purpose. The second thing is goals. When I have goals (that are in line with my purpose) I have a far greater ability to act and get things done. The third thing is my strengths. I have learned my talents (www.strengthsfinder.com) and I have found that when I work within my talents my ability to create is 100x greater than normal. By understanding my strengths I can use them to their fullest potential and I enjoy using them because it comes so naturally.

One thing I'm currently lacking is organisation. This is hurting me fairly bad so I'm actually currently working on using the system described in getting things done. I'll post back later in how it is going if you are interested.

Edit: I meant to also say that I'd bet you that your love for learning is one of your talents. Find ways to harness it.