ADHD-PI

Just wondering if anyone could validate this for me. I'm fairly certain I have the predominately inattentive subtype of ADHD - I saw a Councillor recently, but she offered no insights and seemed more interested in my anxiety problems.

I am a bit confused however, because a lot of the symptoms of ADHD-PI could also be attributed to having developed coping methods and therefore having adult ADHD. I was a very hyperactive kid, with a minimal brain-to-mouth filter which often got me in trouble, very talkative, uninterested in the things I found boring and horribly impatient with an incredibly short fuse. As I got older I got less hyper and more tired, I day dreamed more, began procrastinating more, became increasingly forgetful about every day things (the amount of times I lose things that I have just put down is ridiculous) and became very introspective.

After entering into university I had to become more organized and focused which I found a real struggle, especially in modules I found boring. I started writing lists every day to keep me on task (and because I'd forget to do things otherwise) and taking Vitamin tablets to improve my nutrient intake (shoddy student meals made me feel even more tired and forgetful) because I felt noticeably knackered all the time, so was worried about anemia.

I only recently found the article about adult ADHD - in fact it is only since last year that I realised that I might have some form of it.

Could anyone clear this up for me? ADHD-PI or adult ADHD? Or both? I don't even know. It seems likely to me that it's the cause of my anxiety problems, and knowing what I'm dealing with would really help. I know medication is an option, but I'd like to avoid it if possible because I've heard a lot about bad side effects. I just really don't know what to do. I want it to just go away to be honest, but I know that's not really possible.

I think you should research what others do to cope with ADHD and try to implement those tactics. If that doesn't work then I'd suggest seeing someone (therapist or specialist) about it. They can help you come up with ways to work on it and egg you on to keep up with it.

No idea what ADHD-PI is. And I don't know anything about the connection between anxiety and ADHD in adults. I don't have anxiety but I have ADHD, but I lack emotional depth, lol.

Not sure here but am a parent of a teen who was initially diagnosed ADD-inattention, and we are trying to reinstate that as a probably correct diagnosis. (He has been re-diagnosed HFA, but only on the basis of a half hour interview).

He fits just about all the criteria in DSM - IV for ADD inattention. Now he is only a bit restless, but when he was little he was always pulling faces etc (all our early photos of him show this). Maybe I don't get quite what you have written, but for what it is worth I can't see why you can't be ADD inattention, regardless that you may have been a little hyperactive too as a youngster?

I am a little surprised that you are concerned about side effects of eg ritalin. Apparently it stunts growth a bit, but that has not happened to our son and is not an issue for an adult. It did not seem to have any side effects for our son when he was taking it, but it did seem to help some.

When he was younger I went to an ADD conference and was very impressed with a Sydney professor who pointed out that they are starting to have the technological tools to pick up differences in brain scans between ADD and NT's. So if there is some brain malfunction (and only in that instance, by the way), why not take medication to correct this?

Anyway, best of luck. There are a number of ADD persons who have managed ways of coping with university study.

marshmellow wrote:I think you should research what others do to cope with ADHD and try to implement those tactics. If that doesn't work then I'd suggest seeing someone (therapist or specialist) about it. They can help you come up with ways to work on it and egg you on to keep up with it.

Couldn't agree more.

marshmellow wrote:No idea what ADHD-PI is. And I don't know anything about the connection between anxiety and ADHD in adults. I don't have anxiety but I have ADHD, but I lack emotional depth, lol.

ADHD-PI is ADHD-Predominantly Inattentive, which I think is just plain ADD without the hyperactivity, though I'm not sure. Anxiety is also often associated with ADHD as a whole.

Doing research can really help with understanding.