Just a side note: I've added a syndicated feed for your journal on LiveJournal:

http://www.livejournal.com/users/promoguyrss/.

For any of your LiveJournal users interested in keeping up without having to visit the page everytime.

I followed a link from Meredith's journal. I'm her mother. And like her, I also have ADD.

I can relate to everything you said, but two of your comments really struck home: "Have you ever noticed many of my posts look like freakin' Research Papers????" and "I will even hold off taking time to pee until it nearly hurts because I am so into what I am hyperfocused on."

Both of those are true of me too, as a look at an all-too-typical journal entry will attest. That post took me hours to research and write, but I couldn't stop. Right now it's almost 11:30 pm and I'm sleepy (and I do have to pee!), but I can't get up from the computer. After I finish posting this comment, I'll go check my e-mail again, and then there'll be something else I "have to" look at, and even when I manage to close the browser I'll play a game of mah-jongg or something because I can't tear myself away.

I do read books, but they have to be intensely absorbing. Fortunately my interests are very wide-ranging and I love to learn, so there are plenty of books I can get through (and hyperfocus on!). I don't read novels because I can't follow the characters and plot -- I have to keep looking back through the pages to see who's who, who said what, and so forth. Movies are torture because I can't even do that -- so unless I go with someone who's willing to answer my whispered questions like "who's that?" or "is he a good guy or a bad guy" all through the movie, I have no idea what's going on.

You didn't mention impulsivity, but that's also been a major problem for me all my life. I still blurt things out, sometimes much to my dismay and embarrassment. People expect middle-aged women to know how to behave in a meeting and conduct a polite conversation; I do know how -- but that doesn't mean I'm able to.

When I was raising Meredith, people would say "Oh, she can't have ADHD -- she can concentrate on [whatever] so well." I never could get people to understand that ADD doesn't mean a short attention span -- it means a variable attention span over which the person has no control. Something that would absorb a normal child (or adult) for 20 minutes might absorb one with ADD for 2 minutes -- or for 2 hours. I'm so glad she found a drug that works for her. I'm reluctant to take any more drugs because I already take half a dozen different ones for health reasons, but maybe I ought to give Strattera a try.

Now I'm hyperfocusing on this comment(!), so I'll just stop here.

Oh my gosh.. maybe that's what's wrong with me. I keep seeing commercials for AdultADD on tv. I go take the tests (and fail.. or is it pass? hehe) and am instructed to see my doctor ASAP *laughs* Yeah, right.. hehe I don't think I'll bother.

I think that hyperfocus is my main problem. I thought it was just me. Don't think I could actually handle medication to slow me down and get things all "normal" hehe. I talk pretty fast (though with the RSDS medication, I'm a bit slowed down), my brain races and sometimes that irks me, but I just use it to my advantage and keep various creative things going. Writing, drawing, sculpting.. all sorts of projects all over. None of them done, but that's okay hehe. Gives me somethign to do hahaha

Oddly enough, Zoloft works wonders for my ADD. I started taking it for depression 4 years ago and it did wonders for that. Over the years though, I have studied the drug and realize that it also helps with the symptoms of OCD and ADD. I have a touch of both and Zoloft has helped a lot. I was on 50mgs at first and all that did was make me sleepy so make sure you take at least 100mg (my dosage now) or else it won't help. Just a note from an old friend.

Why not try the meds, for your family--for you. My ex-step children take it let me tell you when they're not on it, day and night.

I hope you find what works for you soon.

Much love,
Michele

I've been taking zoloft for a while now, but it's done nothing for my ADD. So I just started strattera the other day, hoping it goes well.

That's one thing I'd like to be able to do again. Read a damn book!

I'm male, 43, and have known I've had ADD for about 14 years. It's a miracle I ever got through school. Anyway, nothing (meds) has worked. As I get older, my temper gets worse as does my forgetfulness. The "Doc" just perscribed Provigil. Who the hell knows what will happen next. I'm just about ready to go the "natural" root or go to a Homeopath. Isn't it great that depression and compulsiveness go along for the ride as well. N-I-C-E!

I'm male, 43, and have known I've had ADD for about 14 years. It's a miracle I ever got through school. Anyway, nothing (meds) has worked. As I get older, my temper gets worse as does my forgetfulness. The "Doc" just perscribed Provigil. Who the hell knows what will happen next. I'm just about ready to go the "natural" root or go to a Homeopath. Isn't it great that depression and compulsiveness go along for the ride as well. N-I-C-E!

Three of my four sons (two are adults now)have ADD, and I have to agree with what's already been said about the attention span thing. Son #1 is an artist, and he can concentrate on his drawings for hours upon end, but he barely made it out of high school, despite the fact that he is very bright (and that's not maternal pride talking, I've been hearing it from his teachers since kindergarten). Son #2 is graduating from high school in 2 weeks with a GPA of 3.1 (and that was hard earned, because he'd rarely turn in homework, but he was getting the material in his own way and tested very well.) He got a 24 on the ACT and military colleges are tripping all over themselves trying to get this kid into their schools. He's been accepted by OU and UCO. If I ever get on Who Wants to be a Millionaire, this is the kid who would be my phone a friend in the World War II subject. If it has to do with WWII, chances are Jeff knows about it (his grandfather, a WWII vet, would be proud.)
Son #3 is 13 years old, and just got his best report card ever, mostly because we finally found the right combo of meds to keep him from bouncing off the walls. This kid is high strung anyway, so that was a challenge. He likes to draw like his oldest brother, but he also likes to read.
Son #4 is the only one without ADD. Lucky him!

Sorry this is so long...TG