Adult Attention Deficit Disorder

hi - was wondering if anyone has been diagnosed with Adult ADD?

I got psych tested by my GP for depression after recent mc and it also turns out I have ADD, which shocked me. I thought it was just badly behaved children - turns out there's the adult version. I've done some inital reading and can relate a lot, so think that may be a label for me. Not sure if it helps or not, but a least a label means I can see what might help with what I've always seen as normal, though exasperating behaviour.

Would love some advice from anyone with AADD - how do you deal with it? Does medication help? I'd rather not get into meds given we want to TTC again soon. Any natural remedies? Or do I just spend the rest of my life making lists and trying to complete things without distracting myself with internet forums?:p

How do you find pregnancy & preggy brain with ADD? Any tips for pregnancy & parenting (Fx we get that far)

TIA

:hug: hun, that must have been a shock for you. I have not been diagnosed, but DS1 is either ADHD or borderline ADHD. At the time, much of what the paed said about DS1 rang true for me - that chewing and music help concentration etc etc. Then I did some reading about ADHD and came across some information about adult ADD which I totally related to. I am in two minds about pursuing it. The paed has recommended fish oil for DS1 so that would probably be a good place to start for adults also.

As for baby brain - well I'm not sure whether it was worse for me during pg than for others or not, but I don't seem to be doing so well coming out the other end. I think it's the lack of sleep causing the problem so I really need to get to bed earlier!

GL hun, I wish you all the best.

Not adult ADD but my 8 year old DD has ADHD and as well as medicating we have found removing preservatives, colours and flavours also helped. try looking up failsafe - although we are not as strict as she is.

HTH

Dr Phil had an episode on adult ADD last week, maybe someone has a copy of it?

Definately google Failsafe, i don't have ADHD but found positive changes in my mental health by removing the unsafe additives & preservatives from my diet and also Dairy.

And also don't think that because something is natural that it is okay. For instance i used to give my DS1 apricot yoghurt (a popular childrens brand), it is "naturally" coloured with 160b (annatto). He would become defiant and hyperactive after having one. It took me a bit of research and observation to link this but it is definately worth looking in to. I now buy a yoghurt completely free of colouring and no more hyper episodes. I think sensitivities run in the family, so it will be worth looking in to for once you have children also.

my XH had ADD (totally out of control a lot of the time which is one of the reasons he's now a XH), but when he was willing to take responsibility for it, we pretty much had it under control. He had it from a child, his parents used to just medicate him (and use him having ADD as an excuse for his behaviour - his mother still does it to this day - or did last time I spoke to her which was about a year ago) instead of helping to give him coping strategies and do other things to manage it. (a good friend of mine was diagnosed with ADD as a child, his parents got him into meditation and things like that - he is now a university professor with a phd)

I found that by cooking most of our foods from scratch, reducing the amount of "junk" and take-awy that he put into his body that he was more "in control". I also made sure he had fish oil every day and a decent multivitamin. When I went through a period of us just eating organic it was like I was married to a normal person! He also was prescribed dex-amphetamines which did help him when he took them.

There is a good book that my x-mil gave me about ADD & ADHD in adults, if I can find it (don't' know if I kept it when we split) I can send it to you - I don't need it any more.

Thanks for the replies

AngelPunks - I've order a couple of books, one specifically for women with ADD (apparently we're underdiagnosed)

Mantaray - AD/HD seems to be hereditary. My Mum thinks she may have it (this from the a woman you'd think was the most organised in the world - turns out she's overfunctioning to compensate). I think my Dad may too (he's definately Aspergers or something IMO & they seem to be linked)

I've figured it's not the end of the world - I've managed to get 3 degrees with it (though if I'd known the angst/procrastination/ late night cramming/ last minute assignment drama was ADD related I might have been able to get more help :rolleyes:). I seem to have evolved behaviour that helps manage it anyway, without knowing I had the label. I don't want to use it as an "excuse", but more to understand why I am the way I am and find ways to deal with it. I'll look into the food intolerance thing too - that looks useful. It's just weird - being dx at 35!