# Yay! I have ADD! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 5, 2005, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yay-i-have-add/302496 "2005-05-05T04:58:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yay-i-have-add/302496/21 "2005-05-10T08:15:56Z")
I bought the book on adult ADD, \* You Mean I’m Not Lazy, Stupid, or Crazy?\* I learned some interesting things from it, but I never finished it… Yes, I have ADD and have used it to my advantage. sometimes… ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yay-i-have-add/302496/22 "2005-05-10T11:25:36Z")
IMHO, self-diagnosis of mental disorders is a horribly flawed process. Symptoms of nearly every mental disorder occur in practically all of us to some extent and people tend to selectively pick out traits that they feel describe them and ignore ones that don’t. Think horoscopes. The key to actually having a mental disorder is that your symtoms are markedly more severe than that of the general population and it inhibits your everyday functioning. ---
**Author:** ![LifeOnWry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/96bed5/32.png) [@LifeOnWry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LifeOnWry)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yay-i-have-add/302496/23 "2005-05-10T14:27:32Z")
> [@Shalmanese](#): > > IMHO, self-diagnosis of mental disorders is a horribly flawed process. Symptoms of nearly every mental disorder occur in practically all of us to some extent and people tend to selectively pick out traits that they feel describe them and ignore ones that don’t. Think horoscopes. > > The key to actually having a mental disorder is that your symtoms are markedly more severe than that of the general population and it inhibits your everyday functioning. This can be very true - which is why pretty much everyone here has suggested getting a doctor’s verification of the self-diagnosis. However, it helps to have an inkling when you go in. Before I was diagnosed, I did a lot of reading on depression, because frankly, I was pretty damn depressed about my life. The more I read, the more confused I got, because I didn’t “fit” the criteria for depression well - I had a few indicators, but not enough to ring any chimes. Still kept reading, because I knew SOMETHING was wrong with me. A newspaper article on depression caught my eye, and there was a sidebar article with it that was titled something like, “ADHD often misdiagnosed as depression in adults.” THAT one rang all my chimes - I recognized myself very clearly, and got myself to a doctor. ---
**Author:** ![N.Sane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f19dbf/32.png) [@N.Sane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N.Sane)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2005, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yay-i-have-add/302496/24 "2005-05-10T17:05:33Z")
Well, when I shared my thoughts with my mother and step-father, my SF said, “She just now figured that out?” Mom said she had no idea I’d never made the connection. And yes, I have an appointment to discuss this with my doctor next Monday. ---
**Author:** ![N.Sane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f19dbf/32.png) [@N.Sane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N.Sane)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2005, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yay-i-have-add/302496/25 "2005-05-18T01:58:22Z")
An update . . . I saw my doctor, he did diagnose me with ADD, and started me on Adderall. I took it this morning for the first time, and the difference is astounding. I’ve also been learning some techniques to help me be more productive and organized, and I seriously feel like a new person. Thanks for the book recommendations. I’ve gotten several useful books, and plan to get _Driven to Distraction_ that so many of you have recommended. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yay-i-have-add/302496.md?page=1)