Depression or ADD?

I'm a 22 year old college kid studying engineering. Over the past couple years, I've gotten a really strong feeling that something's just not right. After a bunch of research, I think I've narrowed it down to ADD or just depression (even though I'm not necessarily sad all the time). Here are a bunch of the symptoms:

- unstable eating patterns
- lack of motivation
- poor self confidence
- brain fog
- feels like a rubber band is physically wrapped around my brain
- low self-esteem
- can not concentrate
- forget what I did 2 minutes ago
- zoning out
- hard time keeping up in a conversation (I.E. having to think for a while to produce an answer)
- feels like information from class just bounces off my skull and doesn't sink in
- have a hard time recalling information
- my mind just goes blank sometimes

I think that covers most of them. Sometimes this will all go away, and I'm fine, but that only happens about once a month. My dad claims he had me tested for ADD twice when I was a kid (my brother was officially diagnosed with ADHD), but I don't remember either of those and it sure sounds like ADD to me. I've started taking some Amoryn, which is supposed to help with depression stuff, but it seems like there's more to it than just some chronic depression. If anyone else has some opinions, please share them because this makes engineering school freaking hard.

Here's a couple more symptoms:

- I can't really get going very well without some coffee in the morning
- Mountain Dew makes me really sleepy, but only Mt. Dew. Monster energy drinks and such are fine.
- tea seems to help clear up my mind
- there seem to be certain people/situations that make it worse and others that make it slightly better

go with the ADHD and get an adderall prescription. It will help both disorders IMO. I have both and I take antidepressants and stimulants. It will help with your course load as well

I'm 2 weeks into the Amoryn and it seems to be helping with the depression side of things. I'm kinda nervous about going in for the Adderall because it'll probably take multiple visits to convince the docs to let me give it a shot (especially since I'm never hyper) and I hardly have enough time to get everything done as it is. I think I'll see what happens after the Amoryn takes full effect and if I'm still convinced there's more to it, I'll bite the bullet and head in. This would be exponentially easier if they would just let you take a test dose of ADD meds a couple times to see if that works instead of going through this stupid long process just to try it out. Yes, it may be a bit easier for some people to fudge a couple doses, but compared to how many people don't even go in because it takes so long to make any headway, it seems like it would be worth it. That's just my experience anyways.

you don't have to be hyper. there is more than one type of ADHD (hyperactive, inattentive and combo). If anything you may have the inattentive type. this implies that you are easily distracted, forgetful, generally inattentive, make careless errors. try googling adult adhd it sounds like you do have some symptoms, of course they are similar to depression. But also as an adult, you are not going to be climbing on the furniture; the symptoms present differently. for instance you may just feel restless and fidget often. If you had it as a child you probably have it now. Adderall (well generic amphetamine salts) has been a god send for me. look up the symptoms in adults and stress them to your psychiatrist. It's really worth a go and i think it helps with depression as well.

-- Mon Dec 10, 2012 2:02 pm --

Symptoms in Adults[12]
Often making careless mistakes when having to work on uninteresting or difficult projects
Often having difficulty keeping attention during work, or holding down a job for a significant amount of time
Often having difficulty concentrating on conversations
Having trouble finishing projects that have already been started
Often having difficulty organizing for the completion of tasks
Avoiding or delaying in starting projects that require a lot of thought
Often misplacing or having difficulty finding things at home or at work
Disorganized personal items (sometimes old and useless to the individual) causing excessive "clutter" (in the home, car, etc.)
Often distracted by activity or noise
Often having problems remembering appointments or obligations, or inconveniently changing plans on a regular basis

**it is still important to work on your self-esteem even after starting meds, it could be a source of some of your current issues

I'm well aware of the differences between ADD and ADHD. It's just convincing the doc that one can indeed have ADD without being hyper that's the problem. I've heard the argument that ADD can look like depression too, so that's another possibility. I'm just tired of going to my doc about this only to have him take a wild shot in the dark and be totally wrong.

are you using a regular doctor instead of a psychiatrist? can u get a referral?

At the moment, I'm using the generic K-State student's doc's office (non-psych) because my current insurance doesn't cover any psychs out here. We're changing plans a little bit so I can get one this coming January.

This is probably a stupid question, but who cares... Can ADD make it seem like your brain is only engaging about 70-80% of your brain sometimes as opposed to going a million miles an hour with random thoughts? Kinda like when you've just woken up, only all day long.

Surely someone has something to weigh in on this - or point me to an ADD section of this site because I can't seem to find one.

Edit - Nevermind, I found it. Opinions and advice are still very much welcome though.